Business Defects

Turn signals found to be 'on the blink'
300,000 signals are potential failures
By Ronald Sitton
TRUCKER STAFF

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials do not have a timetable for their investigation into apparently defective turn signals used in the production of more than 300,000 tractors built by the five major trucking manufacturers.

Potentially defective signals mean more than 300,000 trucks may find themselves unable to signal a lane change.

   NHTSA spokesman Phil Frame said June 4 that the investigation was generated by warranty claims and replacements of a switch-pivot shoulder bolt that loosens from turn-signal use and engine vibration.

   "We think about 319,000 trucks are affected," he said. "There have been approximately 20,000 warranty claims, which is a pretty high number."

   A link between the turn-signal failure and accidents has not been established, Frame said. However, it would be hard to do so because of so many different factors in an accident, he said.

   The potentially defective turn signals, made by Grote Industries of Madison, Ind., were used on trucks built since 1989 by Mack Trucks, PACCAR, Volvo-GM Heavy Truck, Freightliner and Navistar International. Together, they comprise about 90 percent of the large truck market.

   USA Today reported May 29 that NHTSA is likely to order a recall if manufacturers do not do so voluntarily. Truck-makers have refused to recall the rigs on grounds the signals do not represent a hazard because drivers are alerted to failures by warning lights. Frame said discussions are now underway with the turn signal and trucking manufacturers.

   A statement issued May 30 by Bill Grote, president of Grote Industries, said the NHTSA investigation was initiated in 1995 and has yet to find "data that substantiates the existence of a safety defect."

   In-dash warning lights alert drivers to potential problems in the turn signal system, including the switch, flasher, wiring and lamps, he said.

   The company has worked closely with vehicle manufacturers to fix any quality issues, and the turn signals exceed federal safety standard reliability requirements, the statement said.

   "In light of these facts — and the fact that there has not been a single report of an accident, injury or death related to this turn signal switch, and no other evidence — we strongly believe that a safety-defect does not exist," the statement said.

   The statement concludes NTHSA has not determined the turn signal has a safety defect (defined as a product deficiency presenting an unreasonable risk of accidents, injury or death).

This business article appeared in the June 9-22, 1997, issue of The Trucker. Associated Press sources and PRNewswire contributed to this story.