NHTSA Recall 11V555000
Filed by Mertz Manufacturing, Inc.. Component: Service Brakes, Air. Reported 2011-11-10. An estimated 257 vehicles are affected. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
Defect
MERTZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 HALLIBURTON TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 2010, THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND EQUIPPED WITH GUNITE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS. DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE "KNITTING" OF THE IRON AT THE TIME OF CASTING, INADEQUATE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING CAN OCCUR, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HOUSING TO BREAK AT THE HANDLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING LOADS.
Risk
IF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING WERE TO BREAK, THE WHEEL BRAKE TO WHICH THE SLACK ADJUSTER IS ATTACHED WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY AND, IF MOUNTED ON THE STEER AXLE, THE VEHICLE COULD PULL TO ONE SIDE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
What the manufacturer will do
MERTZ WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE SLACK ADJUSTERS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERTZ AT 580-767-8465 OR ACCURIDE AT 1-812-962-5000.
Notes
OWNERS 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .