Rear Suspension Lower Control Rod Failure – Tenneco – Clevite-Pullman Rear Suspension Lower Control Rods/Torque Rods

June 25, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20E044000

Rear Suspension Lower Control Rod Failure

If a rear suspension lower control rod fails, the bus may have reduced handling and stability, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20E044

Manufacturer Tenneco Automotive

Components SUSPENSION

Potential Number of Units Affected 826

 

Summary

Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Clevite-Pullman rear suspension lower control rods/torque rods, part number FS32B916400AFH, for installation into Gillig Low Floor buses. The rear suspension lower control rods may fail over time due to stiffened end bushings.

 

Remedy

Tenneco will notify customers who purchased this product as replacement equipment and will provide a new control rod, free of charge. This recall began July 31, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-260-667-2308.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

RECALL NO. 20E044 July 2020

 

Dear Valued Clevite/Pullman Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.  The Pullman Company has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain Clevite control rods, Part No. FS32B916400AFH, intended for aftermarket (replacement) installation on Gillig low floor buses, due to a design/compatibility issue for this application.  We are conducting a voluntary safety recall to address the issue and are notifying you because distribution records indicate that you have purchased one or more of these products.

We are taking this action based upon Gillig’s decision to conduct a recall of Gillig buses equipped with this part (Recall No. 20V342) and replacement parts sold through the Gillig service channel (Recall No. 20E035).

 

What Products are Involved?

This recall involves Clevite control rods, Part No. FS32B916400AFH, manufactured 02/19/2018 through 05/29/2020, as indicated by the five-digit date code 18050 through 20150 (where the first two digits represent the year and the last three digits represent the day) marked on the product.  Only products within this date code range are covered.

 

What is the Problem?

According to Gillig, “the lower rear suspension control rods of certain low floor buses may experience fatigue failure” and “if a rear suspension control rod fails, this may affect the alignment of the rear axle and lead to reduced handling and stability of the bus, increasing the risk of a crash.”  See Recall No. 20V342 and 20E035.

 

What should you do?

The recalled product should be returned to the original point of purchase for a refund or to receive a replacement control arm. A redesigned control rod, Part No. FS32B949190AFH, is currently available.

 

Questions or Concerns?

For the most efficient service, your distributor has been instructed how to manage the return of these parts. As such, they should be your first point of contact related to this recall. If you do not obtain the service required, you may contact Lisa Wetzel from the Clevite/Pullman Company at (260) 667-2308. If you are unable to obtain a remedy without charge within a reasonable time, you may submit a complaint to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590; or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are taking this action in the interest of our customers’ personal safety and satisfaction with our products.

 

Sincerely,

Bob Bost

Specialty / Off-Highway Account Manager
Clevite Elastomers / DRiV Automotive Inc.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

RECALL NO. 20E044 July 2020

 

Dear Valued Clevite/Pullman Customer:

We are writing to inform you that The Pullman Company is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain Clevite control rods, Part No. FS32B916400AFH, intended for aftermarket (replacement) installation on Gillig low floor buses, due to a design/compatibility issue with this application. Our records indicate that some of the recalled products were shipped to you.  We are taking this action based upon Gillig’s decision to conduct a recall of Gillig buses equipped with this part (Recall No. 20V342) and replacement parts sold through the Gillig service channel (Recall No. 20E035).

 

What Products are Involved?

This recall involves Clevite control rods, Part No. FS32B916400AFH, manufactured 02/19/2018 through 05/29/2020, as indicated by the five-digit date code 18050 through 20150 (where the first two digits represent the year and the last three digits represent the day) marked on the product.  Only products within this date code range are covered.

 

What is the Problem?

According to Gillig, “the lower rear suspension control rods of certain low floor buses may experience fatigue failure” and “if a rear suspension control rod fails, this may affect the alignment of the rear axle and lead to reduced handling and stability of the bus, increasing the risk of a crash.”  See Recall No. 20V342 and 20E035.

 

What should you do?

• Product Remaining in Your Inventory: If any of the subject parts remain in your inventory, you should return them to Clevite per the Clevite return/refund policy. A redesigned control rod, Part No. FS32B949190AFH, is currently available.  Note: It is a violation of federal law to sell the recalled products.

 

• Products You Sold to Other Resellers: If you sold the recalled control rods to reselling customers, you must forward a copy of this letter and enclosed “owner letter” to them within five (5) business days of receipt. The recalled product should be returned to you, the original point of purchase, for a refund or to receive a replacement control arm.

 

• Products You Installed or Sold to Consumers: You must immediately check your sale records to identify any end-user purchasers of the recalled product and send those purchasers a copy of the enclosed NHTSA-approved owner letter, which provides return instructions.

 

Please contact Lisa Wetzel at (260) 667-2308 if you have any questions. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are taking this action in the interest of our customers’ personal safety and satisfaction with our products.

 

Sincerely,

Bob Bost

Specialty / Off-Highway Account Manager
Clevite Elastomers / DRiV Automotive Inc.

 

Enclosure (Owner Letter)

 

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1 Affected Product

Equipment

BRAND	PART NO.	PRODUCTION DATES
CLEVITE-PULLMAN	TORQUE ROD

 

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12 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20E044-5945.pdf 302.496KB

 

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Defect Notice Recall 573 Report

RCLRPT-20E044-9315.PDF 214.733KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-1

RCLQRT-20E044-4518.PDF 211.3KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20E044-5316.pdf 119.09KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 1

RCLRPT-20E044-8379.PDF 214.74KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20E044-2530.pdf 105.779KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 2

RCLRPT-20E044-6457.PDF 215.278KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-3

RCLQRT-20E044-6039.PDF 211.116KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2021-2

RCLQRT-20E044-0653.PDF 211.403KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20E044-1682.PDF 211.218KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #5, 2021-3

RCLQRT-20E044-3712.PDF 211.516KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #6, 2021-4

RCLQRT-20E044-0714.PDF 211.606KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20E044&docType=RCL

 

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