NHTSA PUBLISHES LIST OF JUNE RECALLS

VEHICLES

SCHOOL BUSES AND HEAVY TRUCKS

Navistar International Transportation Corporation

Models:

Number Involved: 588

Dates of Manufacture: February 1982-April 1982

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V096000 Navistar Campaign No.: 96502

Vehicle Description: School buses and heavy duty trucks equipped with "Rockwell" Model RA-42, 17,500 lb. rear axles. (See Rockwell campaign 91E047).

Description of Defect: The axle housings were manufactured with a tight friction weld curl radius on the inside diameter of the axle housing. Under operational loads, cracks can initiate at the weld on the inside of the housing. These cracks can propagate, eventually allowing the axle spindle to separate from the axle housing.

Consequence of Defect: Separation of the axle spindle from the axle housing can result in loss of vehicle control and a possible accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the rear axle housing with a new housing.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin July 2, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Navistar at 1-800-448-7825.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc.

Models:

Number Involved: Not available.

Dates of Manufacture: July 1991-February 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V105000

Vehicle Description: School buses equipped with certain front heater options and outward opening service doors.

Description of Defect: An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory can become caught in a small opening at the floor level of the forward door post.

Consequence of Defect: A passenger's clothing could become caught in the small opening and if the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. This can result in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: Thomas Built has not yet developed a remedy for this recall campaign.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Thomas Built at 1-910-889-4871.

Western Star Trucks, Inc.

Model:

Number Involved: 325

Dates of Manufacture: January-June 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V100000 Western Star Campaign No.: W-9605

Vehicle Description: Conventional trucks and truck/tractors.

Description of Defect: The windshield wiper arm can interfere with the main cab dash harness which passes behind the center dash section. The wiper arm can wear through one or more of the wires in the harness and cause a short circuit.

Consequence of Defect: In trucks equipped with Caterpillar electronic engines or the Detroit Diesel Allison 440A engine, a short in the main cab wiring harness could cause the engine to stop. If the engine were to stop suddenly when the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and maneuvering through traffic, there would be potential for a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will modify the main cab wiring harness routing.

Owner Notification: Owner notification began June 28, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Western Star at 1-604-868-6222.

CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS

American Honda Motor Company

Models:

Number Involved: 160,689

Dates of Manufacture: August 1995-May 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V106000

Vehicle Description: Sedans, hatchbacks and coupe model passenger vehicles.

Description of Defect: A soapy lubricant was used to insert the brake booster check valve into the vacuum hose which causes the check valve to stick.

Consequence of Defect: This condition can cause a loss of the power assist for the brake resulting in a reduction in braking performance increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will clean the check valve by washing the vacuum hose with hot water.

Owner Notification: Owner notification began June 21, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Chrysler Corporation

Model:

Number Involved: 140,000

Dates of Manufacture: July 1987-June 1990

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V094000 Chrysler Campaign No.: 688

Vehicle Description: Light duty 4x2 conventional and club cab pickup trucks equipped with V-8 engines only.

Description of Defect: The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.

Consequence of Defect: The steering gear can separate from the vehicle frame resulting in a loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will add reinforcements to the frame and replace the steering gear mounting bolts. If the frame is already cracked, the steering gear weld nuts will also be replaced.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Chrysler Corporation

Models:

Number Involved: 321,000

Dates of Manufacture: July 1990-June 1993

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V099000 Chrysler Campaign No.: 685

Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles and mini-vans equipped with anti-lock brake systems (ABS).

Description of Defect: The ABS hydraulic control unit can experience excessive brake actuator piston seal wear causing pump-motor deterioration.

Consequence of Defect: If this condition occurs, the ABS function could fail and reduced power assist would be experienced during vehicle braking, increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will test the vehicle's anti-lock brake system and repair the vehicles if necessary. Also the warranty on all ABS components will be extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles (except for the brake actuator piston assembly and the pump-motor assembly which will have a lifetime coverage). Owners will also be reimbursed for previous ABS component repair costs.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Ford Motor Company

Model:

Number Involved: 6,600

Dates of Manufacture: July-August 1995

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V089001 Ford Campaign No.: 96S40

Vehicle Description: Passenger minivans equipped with sliding third row bench seats.

Description of Noncompliance: An out-of-specification condition in the seat cable roller pulley assembly can allow the cable that connects the seat adjust lever to the latch to be pinched in the roller assembly.

Consequence of Noncompliance: This condition can prevent the latch on the left side from fully engaging the seat rail. This does not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.207, "Seating Systems."

Corrective Action: Dealers will replace a component in the third row sliding bench seat latch assembly.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin on or before July 17, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Ford Motor Company

Model:

Number Involved: 2,740

Dates of Manufacture: November 1995

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V090000 Ford Campaign No.: 96S41

Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles.

Description of Noncompliance: The supplementary inflatable restraint caution label located on the driver side sun visor does not contain the statement, "do not install rearward facing child seats in any front passenger seat position." This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS No.208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence of Noncompliance: Operators could fail to notice and heed the warning label.

Corrective Action: A new caution label, with installation instructions, will be sent directly to owners. Owners can install the label or, if they wish, can have their dealer install the label for them.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin on or before July 17, 1996.

Note: Owners who do not receive the new caution label within a reasonable time without charge can contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Ford Motor Company

Model:

Number Involved: 350

Dates of Manufacture: August 1995-May 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V109000 Ford Campaign No.: 96S42

Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles equipped with new safety belt assemblies that use a switchable electronic/automatic locking retractor (ELR/ALR) feature.

Description of Defect: The ELR/ALR feature is used to accommodate child restraints. When servicing the rear belt assemblies, wrong parts could have been used which do not contain the automatic locking feature.

Consequence of Defect: In the event of an accident, the serviced seat belt assemblies may not properly secure the child restraint increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.

Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the rear belt assemblies with the appropriate design retractor and tongue assemblies.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin July 17, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

General Motors Corporation

Models:

Number Involved: 105

Dates of Manufacture: October 1995-March 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V092000 GM Campaign No.: 96-C-31

Vehicle Description: Cargo vans equipped with 7,700 lb. or greater gross vehicle weight rating.

Description of Defect: One of the four rear axle U-bolts can break. This can potentially lead to the spring lifting from the axle under certain rebound, braking or cornering maneuvers.

Consequence of Defect: This condition could result in sudden loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the four rear axle U-bolts on the affected vehicles.

Owner Notification: Owner letters were mailed during June 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.

Land Rover North America

Model:

Number Involved: 4,254

Dates of Manufacture: December 1992-December 1995

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V108000 Land Rover Campaign No.: D873

Vehicle Description: Multi-purpose passenger vehicle.

Description of Defect: The "hazardous substance label" warning was not installed on the batteries in these vehicles.

Consequence of Defect: Personal injury could occur if these batteries are handled incorrectly.

Corrective Action: Owners will be mailed a battery warning label with instructions for the placement of such labels and a letter informing them that they can also bring the vehicle to any dealer and have the label installed for them free of charge.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin July 12, 1996.

Note: Owners who do not receive the subject battery labels free of charge within a reasonable time should contact Land Rover at 1-301-731-9040.

Nissan Motors Corporation

Model:

Number Involved: 2,000

Dates of Manufacture: July-August 1995

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V089002

Vehicle Description: Passenger minivans equipped with sliding third row bench seats.

Description of Noncompliance: An out-of-specification condition in the seat cable roller pulley assembly can allow the cable that connects the seat adjust lever to the latch to be pinched in the roller assembly.

Consequence of Noncompliance: This condition can prevent the latch on the left side from fully engaging the seat rail. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS No.207, "Seating Systems."

Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the puller assembly in the third row sliding bench seat latch assembly.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin during July 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Toyota Motor Company, Ltd.

Model:

Number Involved: 15,707

Dates of Manufacture: November 1995-April 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V098000

Vehicle Description: 2-wheel drive multi-purpose passenger vehicle.

Description of Noncompliance: The sticker required by Part 575, "Consumer Information Regulations" to alert the driver of "the particular handling and maneuvering characteristics of utility vehicles" was not affixed to the driver's side sun visor.

Consequence of Noncompliance: Owners may not be aware of the handling and maneuvering characteristics of this vehicle increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the sun visors on the affected vehicles with visors containing the correct labels.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin July 10, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Motor Company, Ltd.

Models:

Number Involved: 627,858

Dates of Manufacture: June 1992-January 1995

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V107000

Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles.

Description of Defect: If liquid is spilled in the console box area, the air bag warning light can illuminate during normal driving conditions and cause the air bag to malfunction..

Consequence of Defect: This leakage condition could cause the air bag to inadvertently deploy.

Corrective Action: Dealers will install a protective cover over the air bag sensor to prevent possible malfunction caused by the spilling of liquid substances on the sensor. Air bag sensors damaged by previous liquid spillage will be replaced.

Owner Notification: Owners have already been notified of this campaign.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

MOTOR HOMES, FIRE TRUCKS

Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.

Models:

Number Involved: 881

Dates of Manufacture: January-May 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V102000 Fleetwood Campaign No.: 60522

Vehicle Description: Motorhomes equipped with an optional expandable room.

Description of Defect: The electric wire used to power the expandable room hydraulic pump motor was not equipped with a circuit breaker and could overheat.

Consequence of Defect: This condition can cause the wire insulation to melt, causing smoke and possible fire.

Corrective Action: Dealers will install a circuit breaker to the expandable room system pump motor wire. Fleetwood will also provide a vehicle label to identify the location of the circuit breaker, and will provide owner's manual literature to identify the circuit breaker location.

Owner Notification: Owner notification began June 28, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.

Jayco, Inc.

Models:

Number Involved: 2,002

Dates of Manufacture: September 1995-April 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V104000

Vehicle Description: Tent campers equipped with optional removable step.

Description of Defect: The removable step can break off at the arms which attach the step to the unit.

Consequence of Defect: Personal injury could occur when a person uses the step.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin during July 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Jayco at 1-219-825-0670.

Pierce Manufacturing, Inc.

Model:

Number Involved: 35

Dates of Manufacture: April 1989-May 1994

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V101000

Vehicle Description: Front wheel drive fire trucks equipped with anti-lock/anti-skid air brake and traction control systems.

Description of Defect: The double check valve installed on these vehicles can fail allowing front brake air to be exhausted out during brake application.

Consequence of Defect: The loss of air can cause a loss of front brakes increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the double check valves on these vehicles.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin July 1, 1996.

Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Pierce at 1-414-832-3000.

MOTORCYCLES

Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Models:

Number Involved: 251

Dates of Manufacture: April 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96V103000

Vehicle Description: Motorcycles.

Description of Defect: The seal on the rear master cylinder piston can move out of position.

Consequence of Defect: This condition can result in a loss of rear braking performance increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the rear brake master cylinder.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin during July 1996.

Note: Owners who take their motorcycles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Harley-Davidson at 1-414-342-4080.

EQUIPMENT

Moog Automotive, Inc.

Brands:

Number Involved: 94

Dates of Manufacture: April-June 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96E017000

Equipment Description: Aftermarket ball joint/control arm assemblies for use on 1988 through 1993 Ford Festiva model vehicles.

Description of Defect: Due to mispackaging, certain ball joint/control arm assemblies were incorrectly placed in the wrong boxes.

Consequence of Defect: These ball joint/control arm assemblies will not fit into the frame recess without being altered. Also the stud is undersized and will not fit the spindle properly possibly causing a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.

Corrective Action: Moog will replace the incorrectly packaged assemblies with correct ball joint/control arm assemblies.

Owner Notification: Distributors/dealers have already been notified of the problem and customers will be notified shortly.

Note: Purchasers who do not receive the correct assemblies free of charge within a reasonable time should contact Moog at 1-314-385-3400.

Q'straint

Brands:

Number Involved: 111,000

Dates of Manufacture: January 1992-June 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96E016000

Equipment Description: Wheelchair lap belts supplied by Q'straint, Part Numbers Q5-6110, Q5-6111 and Q5-6320.

Description of Defect: The bushing on the rivet pin is cracked or missing.

Consequence of Defect: If the bushing is missing, the harness could disconnect increasing the risk of injury to wheelchair occupants in the event of an accident or sudden stop due to brake application.

Corrective Action: Q'straint will either send a new belt assembly or a retrofit bushing. A replacement belt or retrofit bushing will provide a replacement for the cracked or missing bushing.

Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin September 1996.

Note: Owners who do not receive a replacement belt or retrofit bushing free of charge within a reasonable time should contact Q'straint at 1-716-675-2222.

CHILD SAFETY SEATS

Century Products, Inc.

Models:

Number Involved: 376,000

Dates of Manufacture: September 1995 through May 1996

NHTSA Recall No.: 96E-013000

Equipment Description: Infant car seats/stroller systems.

Description of Defect: The car seat buckles can release on impact.

Consequence of Defect: Occupants of the safety seat would face an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident.

Corrective Action: Century will provide owners with a retrofit kit so owners can easily replace the buckle.

Owner Notification: Owner notification will begin in July 1996.

Note: If owners do not receive the retrofit kit free of charge within a reasonable time, please contact Century at 1-800-837-4044.