Recall 01V044002 scope

Affected units

Vehicles identified

Makes involved

Model years

Recall 01V044002

MISSION TRUCK EQUIPMENT LLC • STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY • reported Feb 21, 2001 • • 16,000 units affected

Remedy pending

View official record on NHTSA.gov · federal source of truth

Campaign: 01V044002
Manufacturer: MISSION TRUCK EQUIPMENT LLC
Component: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Makes: FREIGHTLINER, ORION, STERLING +3
Model Years: 1999
Affected Units: 16,000
Country: US
Data As Of: Apr 5, 2026

What this recall is about, in plain English

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY TRW. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS.

Synthesized from the NHTSA defect summary, consequence, and remedy fields shown below.

Should you be worried?

This recall describes a safety risk and the remedy is still pending. Affected vehicles should be parked or driven only as needed until the manufacturer issues guidance. Always verify directly with the manufacturer or your dealer using the campaign number.

Risk Summary (Consequence)

IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Defect Summary

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY TRW. THE SUSPECT TIE RODS CONTAIN 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE SOCKET.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR TRW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-280-3287.

Key Dates

Report Date

Feb 21, 2001

Owner Notification

Unknown

Remedy Available

Unknown

Affected Vehicles

19 vehicles under this recall

Make	Model	Year	VIN Lookup
FREIGHTLINER	ARGOSY	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	CARGO	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	CENTURY	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	FLB	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	FLD	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	FLN	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	FS-65	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	S112	1999	Check VINs
FREIGHTLINER	XC	1999	Check VINs
ORION	II	1999	Check VINs
ORION	V	1999	Check VINs
STERLING	A LINE	1999	Check VINs
STERLING	CARGO	1999	Check VINs
STERLING	L LINE	1999	Check VINs
THOMAS	MVP EF	1999	Check VINs
THOMAS	MVP ER	1999	Check VINs
THOMAS BUILT BUSES	TRANSIT LINER ER	1999	Check VINs
WESTERN STAR	CONSTELLATION	1999	Check VINs
WESTERN STAR	HERITAGE	1999	Check VINs

Official Sources & Documents

Links to NHTSA.gov and Part 573 recall reports when available — hosted by NHTSA, not TruckCodex

NHT View recall on NHTSA.gov

Documents hosted on nhtsa.gov. Links open in a new tab.

How to Act on This Recall

Owners: Contact your authorized dealer to schedule the remedy at no cost. Remedy is covered under 49 U.S.C. 30120.
Fleets: See the Fleet Recall Workflow Guide for the operator workflow to sweep your VIN list against this and other open campaigns.
Looking up a specific VIN? Check VIN against NHTSA for open recalls on that vehicle.
NHTSA contact: Vehicle Safety Hotline 1-888-327-4236.

How to verify your vehicle is affected

Find your VIN. Locate your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number on the lower-left corner of your windshield, on the driver's-door jamb sticker, or on your vehicle registration. The VIN is the only reliable way to confirm whether a specific vehicle falls under a recall — make/model/year alone is not enough.
Check your VIN on this site. Enter the VIN at /vin/ to see every open recall tied to your specific vehicle, including 01V044002. Our lookup pulls directly from the NHTSA recall database and refreshes daily.
Cross-reference with the official NHTSA recall search. For a second source of truth, run the same VIN through https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls. If both this site and NHTSA show the same campaign as open for your VIN, it applies — schedule the repair.
Contact your dealer if affected. Bring the campaign number, your VIN, and your registration to an authorized dealer for the make. The dealer performs the remedy at no cost. If you've already paid for a related repair, bring the receipt — the manufacturer is required to reimburse pre-recall repairs that addressed the same defect.

Frequently asked questions about recall 01V044002

What does this recall mean for me as a vehicle owner? ▾

Recall 01V044002 means the manufacturer has identified a defect or noncompliance that may affect your vehicle. Repair work is performed at no cost to you under 49 U.S.C. § 30120. You don't have to do anything until you receive an owner notification letter, but you can act sooner if you want — bring this campaign number to your dealer.

Is this recall under remedy yet? ▾

Not yet — as of the last NHTSA refresh on this page, no remedy date is on file. Affected owners should monitor their mail for the manufacturer's notification letter and contact a dealer in the meantime.

How do I find out if my specific VIN is affected? ▾

Run your VIN through our VIN check tool to see all open recalls tied to your specific vehicle, including this one. NHTSA also offers an official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Both pull from the same federal source.

Who pays for the recall remedy? ▾

The manufacturer pays. Federal law requires the manufacturer to repair, replace, or refund the affected vehicle or component at no cost to the owner — including parts, labor, and reasonable diagnostic time. If a dealer tries to charge you for a recall remedy, contact the manufacturer's customer line first, then NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

What if I've already had repair work done that addresses this issue? ▾

Save the receipt. Federal law requires the manufacturer to reimburse you for pre-recall repairs that addressed the same defect, subject to the reimbursement window the manufacturer publishes in its notification letter (typically the first refund period covers repairs going back to the earliest awareness date). Submit the receipt directly to the manufacturer with your VIN and the campaign number.

How do I check the recall status by VIN? ▾

Use our VIN lookup tool — it returns every open recall, including completion status when the manufacturer reports it. The result also links back to each campaign's detail page.

What if this recall isn't fixed and I sell the vehicle? ▾

You're not legally required to complete a recall before selling a used vehicle, but most state titling agencies and many dealers will run a VIN check during the sale. Disclose the open recall to the buyer in writing — undisclosed safety recalls are a common basis for post-sale fraud claims.

Where can I see all recalls for FREIGHTLINER A LINE 1999? ▾

Browse all FREIGHTLINER recalls on this site, or visit the manufacturer's page to filter by year and component.

MISSION TRUCK EQUIPMENT LLC

View all recalls by MISSION TRUCK EQUIPMENT LLC

FREIGHTLINER

View all FREIGHTLINER models, recalls, and complaints

ORION

View all ORION models, recalls, and complaints

STERLING

View all STERLING models, recalls, and complaints

THOMAS

View all THOMAS models, recalls, and complaints