NHTSA investigation

Vehicle Roll Away

An NHTSA investigation is a review of a possible safety defect. Opening one is not a finding that a defect exists; it can close with a recall or without one.

Investigation: Preliminary Evaluation PE20003
Opened: April 1, 2020
Status: Closed Jan. 10, 2024
Component: PARKING BRAKE; PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR; SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS; SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Manufacturer: Autocar Industries, LLC; Autocar, LLC; Mack Trucks, Inc.

Recall campaigns named by NHTSA: 21V953, 23V023

Summary (NHTSA)

On April 1, 2020, following information received from the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) network of fleet contacts, ODI opened PE20-003 to investigate reports of vehicle roll away in certain model year (MY) 2008-2020 Autocar and Mack refuse trucks equipped with certain Bendix PP-1 push-pull pneumatic park brake control valves with a pipe-away exhaust configuration. Prior to ODI’s investigation,[KK(1] Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix), the subject component manufacturer, published two related technical service bulletins (TSBs): Bendix Push-Pull Type Control Valves Service Data SD-03-3611 Rev. 007 (2019-03) and Bendix PP-1 & PP-8 Park Control Valve Wear and Replacement Notice Technical Bulletin TCH-003-056 (2019-11-20). ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to motor vehicle manufacturers Autocar LLC (Autocar) and Volvo Trucks North America/Mack Trucks, Inc. (Volvo/Mack) and motor vehicle equipment manufacturer Bendix. IR response data from all three manufacturers was analyzed and cross-referenced to gain further understanding. To date, ODI is aware of 5 vehicle roll-away incidents related to the alleged defect condition in the subject vehicles equipped with the subject components, resulting in 4 crashes and 1 injury. On December 9, 2021, Volvo/Mack notified the agency of a safety recall (21V953) to address a safety defect in certain MY 2008-2019 TerraPro (MRU) and MY 2019-2022 TerraPro (TE) trucks originally equipped with the subject components. [KK(2] On January 1, 2023, Autocar notified the agency of a safety recall (23V023) to address a safety defect in certain MY 2008-2020 ACX (Xpeditor), MY 2012-2020 ACMD (Xpert), MY 2010-2020 ACTT (Xspotter), MY 2008-2010 WX and MY 2008-2010 WXLL trucks. Volvo/Mack and Autocar's recall remedies involve removing the vent line fitting threaded into the exhaust port of the subject PP-1 valve. [VD(3] Both Autocar and Mack have stopped equipping new refuse trucks with park control valves using the exhaust pipe-away configuration. After discussions between ODI and Bendix concerning ways to prevent new PP-1 valves from being sold and installed with a potential for the exhaust to become restricted, Bendix will take the following actions: 1) issue a letter to all original equipment (OE) customers with important safety information warning them about the safety risk of attaching plumbing to the exhaust port when the subject component is used as a park control valve; and 2) affix a warning label on all aftermarket parts warning not to install pipe-away exhaust port plumbing. In view of the recalls being conducted by Volvo/Mack and Autocar, and the actions taken by Bendix, ODI has closed this Preliminary Evaluation. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist in equipment or other model or MY vehicles that have not been recalled. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted.

Vehicles covered

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Check NHTSA for the investigation documents.