The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·11E012000·Announced 2011-03-31

Meritor Recalls Driveline Assemblies Due to Seam Weld Fracture Risk

Meritor is recalling specific driveline assemblies for heavy trucks because a nonconforming seam weld may fracture, causing the driveline to fail and increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (driveline seam weld fracture) that can cause the driveline to become inoperable, explicitly increasing the risk of a crash, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural defects and significant injury risk.

Plain-English summary

Meritor, Inc. is recalling certain driveline assemblies, part numbers RPL25, 18N, and 18MXL, sold as aftermarket equipment or installed as original equipment on various heavy trucks. The tubing used to assemble these drivelines has a nonconforming seam weld with insufficient bonding of the material.

This defect can result in seam weld fracture when torque is applied. Once the tube seam weld is fractured, the driveline may become inoperable, increasing the risk of a crash.

Meritor is working with vehicle manufacturers to identify and notify vehicle owners, and the trucks will be repaired free of charge. Meritor will notify owners of record who purchased the assemblies as aftermarket equipment, while vehicle manufacturers will notify owners of vehicles where the assemblies were installed as original equipment. The safety recall began on May 12, 2011. Owners may contact their vehicle manufacturer or Meritor, Inc. at 1-800-535-5560.

The recalled product

Product
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE recall
Manufacturer
MERITOR, INC
Category
Vehicle — Heavy Truck Driveline
Hazard
Affected units
2,149

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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