Freightliner, International issue recalls over seatbelt, airbag issues

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Updated Jun 5, 2018
Navistar has recalled approximately 18,665 trucks and buses due to a potential defect in the seat belts.Navistar has recalled approximately 18,665 trucks and buses due to a potential defect in the seat belts.

Two recalls announced last month affect more than 1,200 Freightliner Cascadia tractors and potentially more than 18,500 International trucks, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.

Navistar announced a recall recently that includes approximately 18,665 vehicles, however, the company estimates that only 1 percent of the recalled trucks are affected by the recall. Navistar says in the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger seat belt anchor D-ring bolts could break in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

International models affected by the recall include:

  • 2018-2019 IC Bus HC
  • 2018-2019 International DuraStar
  • 2019 International HV
  • 2018-2019 International Lonestar
  • 2018-2019 International LT
  • 2019 International MV
  • 2018-2019 International ProStar
  • 2018-2019 International RH
  • 2018 International TranStar
  • 2018-2019 International WorkStar

NHTSA documents state Navistar began notifying owners on May 23. Dealers will replace the D-ring bolt depending on the information found on the seat belt label, free of charge. Affected truck owners can contact Navistar customer service at 1-800-448-7825 with recall number 18505. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-293.

Additionally, Daimler Trucks North America has recalled approximately 1,219 model year 2018-2019 Freightliner Cascadia tractors. In the affected trucks, DTNA says the fasteners that secure the driver’s air bag module within the steering wheel may not have been installed properly, possible affected the air bag’s deployment in a crash.

According to NHTSA documents, DTNA will begin notifying affected truck owners on July 6, and dealers will inspect the air bag fasteners and tighten them to the proper specification for free. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL-771. NHTSA’s recall number is 18V-300.