The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall notice on up to 110,000 trucks equipped with Detroit Diesel DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines manufactured from January 20, 2006, through February 20, 2012.
According to NHTSA, the pump-to-rail high-pressure fuel line support system used on these engines is sensitive to assembly torque and may be damaged during service work. As a result of other repairs, the line supports may loosen, potentially leading to fuel line cracking and a fuel leak.
Possible fuel leaks could create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Also, a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire, NHTSA says in the recall notice.
On Feb. 27, 2012, Daimler Trucks North America filed a Defect Information Report with NHTSA and Transport Canada, alerting those agencies to the problem. DTNA is now implementing a proactive and voluntary safety campaign.
"Dealers, distributors and customers will be notified shortly," says DTNA spokesperson Amy Sills. "Inspection of the HPFL support system and replacement -- if required -- will be performed at authorized Detroit Diesel repair facilities."
Sills says the campaign involves approximately 110,411 Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star vehicles manufactured between January 20, 2006 and February 20, 2012 with Detroit DD13 and DD15 and DD16 engines. An additional 428 Detroit DD13 and DD15 and 16 engines sold to other vehicle manufacturers are included in the campaign. Company officials estimate that less than 1% of this vehicle and engine population is affected by the reported defect. There have been no related accidents or injuries, DTNA says.
Campaign ID number: 12V074000
Vehicles Involved
Freightliner 114SD -- 2012-2013
Freightliner Business Class M2 -- 2006-2013
Freightliner Cascadia -- 2006-2013
Freightliner Century -- 2006-2013
Freightliner Columbia -- 2006-2013
Freightliner Coronado -- 2006-2013
Sterling 9500 -- 2006-2013
Western Star 4700 -- 2012-2013
Western Star 4900 -- 2006-2013
Western Star 6900 -- 2006-2013
The safety recall is expected to begin in March 2012. Owners may contact DTNA at 1-800-547-0712, referencing DTNA recall campaign # 12C-2.
