LISLE, Ill. – Navistar, Inc. has agreed to issue two separate recalls concerning two different problems affecting certain model-year 2018-2024 trucks and buses, both of which could result in the loss of a vehicle’s parking-brake function.
The first of these recalls involves 4,199 International medium and heavy-duty trucks built between March 2017 and Jan. 2021 with a potential Body Control Module (BCM) software issue: 2,690 2018-2021 International HV; 1 2022 International HV; 2019-202117 International RH, and 2019-2022 1,491 International MV models.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-119, the defect issue is: “The suspect vehicle’s BCM software does not consider the absolute state of the park brake in the auto neutral feature. The engine ramp-up during PTO operation may overcome the park brake possibly resulting in unexpected vehicle movement.”
The second, larger issue, covers a recall population of 27,972 vehicles built between Jan. 2021 and Feb. 2023. This group is: 6,093 2022-2024 International HV; 21,170 2022-2024 International MV, and 2022-2023 169 IC Bus TC commercial buses with certain Cummins diesel engines and certain Allison transmissions.
This parking-brake issue revolves around the brake not being able to cope with dynamic forces.
According to NHTSA’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-120, “When the parking brake is applied with the automatic transmission still in drive or reverse and the stationary PTO [power take off] switch or stationary engine ramp switch is engaged by the operator, the engine RPM will ramp up. Because the neutral interlock is disabled, the vehicle is still in gear may overcome the parking brake possibly resulting in unexpected vehicle movement.”
The cause of this fault has been attached to the Cummins Electronic Control Module (ECM) 12VXT or 12VXU programming not having the PTO neutral interlock enabled.in the powertrain database.
In both cases the safety issue is the potential for personal injury or property damage should one of the vehicles parking brake’s fail to hold or have its holding ability overcome. There were no reports of any injuries or damage due to either condition.
The remedy for the BCM fault is updating the software to the current version “that looks at absolute state of the park brake status in the auto neutral feature.” Dealers and owners are scheduled to be notified by Navistar as to the recall by April 24th.
Again, the remedy for the second recall involves an updating of software, in this case to the ECM. The dealers and owners are scheduled to be notified by Navistar by April 24th.
