NHTSA Complaint #770204 — 2002 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA

PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED REPORT ON A TOTAL OF 5 FAILURES, ODI NUMBER 762991 ON 6/12/2002. SINCE THAT POINT WE HAVE HAD AN ADDITIONAL 14 FAILURES, AND 1 MORE ACCIDENT. TRW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS NOT MADE ANY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, [XXX]. BILL OF TRIDENT ENGINEERING IN ANNAPOLIS, MD HAS ADVISED US WE SHOULD REPORT EACH FAILURE. HE FEELS THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS "LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS, USUALLY (BUT NOT ALWAYS) AT LOW SPEEDS". THE PROBLEMS SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE SUBJECT OF THE RECENT GM RECALL. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE OUR UNIT 3612 - 2001 FREIGHT -[XXX] FAILED 07/24/02;OUR UNIT 3624-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 06/22/02; OUR UNIT 3728-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 07/25/02;OUR UNIT 3729-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 07/12/02;OUR UNIT 3956-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 08/18/02; OUR UNIT 3650-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 09/14/02; OUR UNIT 3568-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX] FAILED 09/21/02;OUR UNIT 3626-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX] FAILED10/05/02;OUR UNIT 3681-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED10/06/02;OUR UNIT 3749-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX]-10/23/02;OUR UNIT 3776-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX]-10/25/02;OUR UNIT 3827-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX]-10/26/02. WE ARE ALSO AWARE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 ADDITIONAL FAILURES AT MISSISSIPPI FAST FREIGHT, ANOTHER MOTOR CARRIER. IN ALL 19 OF OUR FAILURES THE DRIVERS CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT TURN LEFT. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FAILURES AT THE OTHER CARRIER WERE THE SAME. DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR