Tenneco Automotive recall 20E044

Affected vehicles (1)

Component / system

Defect

Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Clevite-Pullman rear suspension lower control rods/torque rods, part number FS32B916400AFH, for installation into Gillig Low Floor buses. The design of the rear suspension lower control rods makes them susceptible to failure over time.

Risk / consequence

If a rear suspension lower control rod fails, the bus may have reduced handling and stability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tenneco will notify customers who purchased this product as replacement equipment and will provide a new control rod, free of charge. This recall began July 31, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-260-667-2308.

Chronology of events

1. May, 2020

   April – May, 2020: Tenneco, SAF Holland, and Gillig jointly investigated fatigue failures in the subject control arm, which is contained in an SAF Holland suspension assembly installed in certain Gillig low floor buses.

2. Jun 18, 2020

   June 18, 2020: Tenneco received a copy of Gillig’s June 10, 2020 Defect Information Report in Recall No. 20V342, in which Gillig states “the lower rear suspension control rods of certain low floor buses may experience fatigue failure” and “[i]f a rear suspension control rod fails, this may affect the alignment of the rear axle and lead to reduced handling and stability of the bus, increasing the risk of a crash.”

3. Jun 23, 2020

   June 23, 2020: Tenneco believes any fatigue failure susceptibility is the result of (i) performance limitations in the Gillig-approved design specifications for this part and/or (ii) vehicle-related characteristics (e.g., bus configurations, one-off events, vehicle mileage, and other external factors) rather than a component-level manufacturing defect. However, based upon Gillig’s decision that these parts may be susceptible to fatigue failure in the vehicle applications identified in Recall 20V342, Tenneco's Global Warranty Committee decided to initiate a voluntary recall of the parts that Tenneco sells through independent aftermarket channels (outside the Gillig OE and service channel).

4. Jul 31, 2020

   July 31, 2020: Tenneco subsequently determined that the redesigned part did not begin shipping to aftermarket customers until approximately May 29, 2020. This report has therefore been revised to reflect the correct date, which increases the recall population to 996 parts. Tenneco is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries involving the subject parts.

Notification schedule

Dealer notification

JUL 31, 2020 - JUL 31, 2020

Owner notification

JUL 31, 2020 - AUG 21, 2020