ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL OR LIQUID NATURAL GAS (LNG) FUEL SYSTEMS ONLY, IN THE AREA OF THE REAR AXLE LOWER RADIUS ROD ATTACHMENT TO THE SUSPENSION SUPPORT (OR "C" FRAME), A WELDING PROBLEM EXISTS.
IF A CRACK WERE TO DEVELOP AND PROPAGATE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BUSHING, THE RADIUS ROD ATTACHMENT COULD BECOME LOOSE AND ALLOW MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE LOWER RADIUS ROD AND THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE REAR AXLE POSITION COULD SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR IN TURNS, AND COULD AFFECT THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE.
OWNERS ARE BEING REQUESTED TO INSPECT THEIR BUSES FOR CRACKS AND TO REMOVE THE BUSES FROM SERVICE THAT HAVE CRACKS EXCEEDING SPECIFIC CRITERIA. NABI WILL ARRANGE TO REPAIR ALL THE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON DECEMBER 31, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NABI AT 1-888-424-5844, EXTENSION 7900.
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).