PACCAR IS RECALLING 172 MY 2007 KENWORTH T800 SHORT HOOD, W900 LONG HOOD AND T600 TRACTOR/TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND SIMPLEX FIFTH WHEELS. IF THE PIVOT BOLT JOINT FOR THE LEVER BAR IS OVER TORQUED, THE SPACER DEFORMS, AND MAKES CONTACT WITH THE LEVER BAR. THIS CONDITION COUPLED WITH CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEASONAL DRY OUT, CAN AFFECT THE LOCK SYSTEM OF THE FIFTH WHEEL, PREVENTING THE FIFTH WHEEL JAW FROM LATCHING SECURELY AROUND THE TRAILER KING PIN.
THE FIFTH WHEEL MAY FAIL TO LATCH WITHOUT THE OPERATOR'S KNOWLEDGE, CAUSING THE TRACTOR AND TRAILER TO DISENGAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
KENWORTH IS WORKING WITH SAF-HOLLAND SIMPLEX AND WILL INSPECT THE PIVOT BOLT JOINT FOR A DEFORMED SPACER AND REPLACE THE BOLT, WASHER AND SPACER WITH A HEX-HEAD SHOULDER BOLT AND WASHER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-231-773-3271.
PACCAR/KENWORTH RECALL NO. 08KW5.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.