2009 KENWORTH T800 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I-65 SOUTH IMMEDIATELY PAST THE I-265 OFFRAMP. 55MPH ZONE DRIVING A SATURN 4 DOOR COMPACT @ 2250 HOURS IN THE RIGHT LANE. HAD ONE SEMI TAILGAITING BEHIND ME AND ANOTHER TO MY LEFT IN THE MIDDLER LANE. TRUCK FROM JWH TRANSPORT INC., ROME GA (706)234-4434 PULLING TRAIKER # 2325 WAS SPEEDING UP THE EXIT RAMP LANE TO MY RIGHT FORCEING ME AND THE SEMI TO MY LEFT AND BEHIND ME TO SUDDENLY CHANGE LANES TO THE LEFT AS THE EXIT LANE FINALLY RAN OUT . WITH OTHER TRAFFIC THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A 5 OR 6 VEHICLE COLLISSION. THE EXIT RAMP LANE THE SPEEDING TRUCK WAS IN WAS MARKED FOR THE PREVIOUS MILE THAT IT WAS ENDING AND TO MERGE TO THE LEFT. HAVE TO WONDER IF THIS DRIVER WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OR TO IMPAIRED FROM A LACK OF SLEEP TO EXECUTE THE PROPER JUDGEMENT THAT WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ENTIRE SITUATION. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I CAN BE CONTATCED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

A TRACTOR UPDATE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED BY KENWORTH EARLY IN 2009 THAT INVOLVED THE 2008 T-800 TRACTORS. THE UPDATE REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF A 150 A "MEGAFUSE" INTO THE MAIN POSITIVE CONDUCTOR SUPPLYING ALL TRACTOR ELECTRICAL POWER (NOT TO THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID). SINCE THE "MEGAFUSE" WAS INSTALLED INLINE, OPENING OF THE FUSE EFFECTIVELY DE-ENERGIZED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE TRACTOR INCLUDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. FURTHER, ALL SIGNAL, WARNING, VISIBILITY AND HEAD LIGHTS CEASED OPERATION. MORE IMPORTANTLY (AND THE REASON FOR THIS REPORT), WITH IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF THE DIESEL ENGINE, ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING CAPABILITIES ARE ELIMINATED. WITHOUT POWER ASSIST, A TRACTOR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. WE INVESTIGATED JUST SUCH AN OCCURRENCE FOR ONE OF OUR CLIENTS. HISTORICALLY, OUR TRUCKING COMPANY CLIENT HAS NOW RECORDED TWO SUCH ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH ONE RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHILE BACKING INTO A LOADING DOCK AT LOW SPEED. THE SECOND OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ALONG A NORTHERN ONTARIO HIGHWAY CURVE AT NIGHT. THE SECOND FUSE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH AS THE DRIVER COULD NOT NEGOTIATE THE CURVE IN THE DARK, WITHOUT THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING (FAR NORTHERN ONTARIO). THE MEGAFUSE IS HOUSED WITHIN THE KENWORTH BATTERY BOX, LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE LEFT SIDE FUEL SADDLE TANK. AT PRESENT, WE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE MEGAFUSE OPENING (FAILURE). PRELIMINARY HYPOTHESIS INCLUDED INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL FAULT(S) WITHIN THE MAIN SUPPLY CONDUCTOR OR MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE MEGAFUSE DUE TO VIBRATION DAMAGE. ASIDE FROM THE FAILURE MECHANISM OF THE FUSE, IT IS OUR ENGINEERING OPINION THAT A FUSE THAT NULLIFIES THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE TRACTOR OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS THAT MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A MISDIRECTED TRACTOR-TRAILER COMBINATION. *TR