PETERBILT 378 2005: STEERING

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 05V543000

Production Dates: 2004-11-11 - 2005-10-19

Manufacturers Involved: PACCAR Incorporated

Manufacturer Campaign Number: 05KW6 & 1105D

Component: STEERING

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 241

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE BENDIX ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL "ESP" SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM USES MULTIPLE SENSORS AND AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT "ECU" TO CONTROL VEHICLE UNDER STEER, OVER-STEER, AND ROLLOVER SITUATIONS. THE SYSTEM RELIES ON VEHICLE SENSORS TO BE FUNCTIONING AND ALIGNED PROPERLY. THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE MISALIGNED WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT, THEREBY PROVIDING INCORRECT INFORMATION TO THE BENDIX ECU.

THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT VEHICLE THROTTLE CONTROL AND BRAKING, THEREBY LEADING TO LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

BECAUSE OF THE IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL RISK, KENWORTH AND PETERBILT DEALERS WILL FIRST DEACTIVATE THE YAW CONTROL FEATURE OF THE BENDIX ESP SYSTEM PREVENTING INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, THE STEERING COLUMN WILL BE REPLACED TO INSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING SHAFT SENSOR AND THE FULL ESP SYSTEM WILL BE REACTIVATED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2005. PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REMEDY ARE ESTIMATED TO BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.

KENWORTH RECALL NO. 05KW6 AND PETERBILT RECALL NO. 1105D. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 'TTY 1-800-424-9153', OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.