NHTSA Complaint #720559 — 1998 PETERBILT 379

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH PACCAR FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. MY HUSBANDS TRUCK, LISTED ON THE INCLUDED FORM, WAS ALMOST BRAND NEW WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT BEYOND REPAIR. WE HAVE RECENTLY HIRED A LAYWER TO HELP US IN THIS CASE. THAT IS WHY I DON'T WANT YOU TO NOTIFY PETERBILT . OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HIRED A FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY BRAKE SPRING. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET THE REPORT FROM OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THEY HAVE THE REPORT AND THEY WON'T RELEASE A COPY OF IT TO US. OUR HANDS ARE TIRED AT THIS POINT. PLEASE SEND US ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE OBTAINED ON ANY SIMILAR FIRES IN PERTERBILTS (OR MERITOR BRAKES). WE ARE DESPERATE TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. MY HUSBAND WAS ALMOST KILLED! HE ALSO ALMOST LOST HIS HAND WHEN THE TRUCK TIRE BLEW FROM THE HEAT AND THE BUMPER FELL ON HIS HAND, SQUISHING IT. PLEASE HELP US! WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF PACCAR AND/OR PETERBILT FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, BUT THEY ONLY REPONDED WITH ONE LETTER STATING, "IT IS OUR CONCLUSION THAT WORK COMPLETED AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT OUR CONTROL MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED OR CAUSED THE FIRE." (THERE WAS FEW MORE THINGS STATED IN THE LETTER, BUT NOTHING MUCH OF SENSE.) I WOULD AGREE WITH THEM IF MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING TO THE TRUCK. THE ONLY THINGS DONE TO IT WERE THREE (3) RUETINE SERVICES. WHICH WE HAVE PROOF OF. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US ANYTIME. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. KATIE SALE. *AK