Service brakes, air: slack adjustersRecall 11V-555 · 2010–2011 Mertz Halliburton
MERTZ MANUFACTURING, LLC recall 11V-555 covers 257 2010–2011 Mertz Halliburton for a service brakes, air: slack adjusters problem, reported to NHTSA on November 10, 2011.
Source: NHTSA recall 11V555000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by an NHTSA defect investigation.
The problem
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.
The 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.
The fix
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.
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>.
Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Vehicles in this recall
Built from November 1, 2010 to March 30, 2011. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.
The investigation behind this recall
- Gunite Slack Adjusters BreakingNHTSA