NHTSA Complaint #736498 — 1999 FREIGHTLINER XC

THIS IS A RIGID FUEL LINE CONSISTING OF A BAJO FITTING AT ONE END AND A FLARE FITTING AT THE OTHER. THE BAJO FITTING IS MOUNTED TO THE INJECTION PUMP, WHICH HAS IT'S OWN VIBRATION PATTERN. THE FUEL LINE IS HARD MOUNTED AT APPROXIMATELY HALF IT'S LENGTH TO THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH HAS IT'S OWN VIBRATION PATTERN. THE OTHER END OF THE LINE CONNECTS TO OTHER LINES VIA A "T" FITTING. THIS CONNECTION IS INHERENTLY MORE FLEXABLE BY DESIGN AND PROBABLY COMPOUNDS DIFFERENTIAL VIBRATIONS. LINE FATIQUE IS ALMOST CERTAIN. TYPICALLY THE LINE WILL BREAK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION AND CONSIQUENTLY, THE DRIVER AND PASSANGERS WILL NOT BE AWARE OF THE FUEL LEAK. THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE EXSISTS. INVESTIGATION WOULD PROBABLY REVEAL A TREND IN THE NUMBER OF SAME TYPE FAILURES AND MEANTIME BETWEEN FAILURE (APPROX 13K MILES). CUMMINS EVIDENTLY HAS REDESIGNED THE LINE ASSEMBLY WITH A "FLEXIBLE" PRODUCT UPGRADE. HOWEVER, CUMMINS NEEDS TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENT UNDER A RECALL SINCE THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE INVOLVES FUEL LEAKAGE.*AK