Action by the Office of Defects Investigations led Navistar to recall model year 2012-2013 Prostar trucks with manual transmissions. The affected trucks may have defected throttle pedals that fail to return to the idle position after being depressed.
ODI opened a preliminary evaluation last April after receiving complaints of non-returning throttle pedals that prevented engine brakes from activating and elevated engine speeds. The complaints ranged from reports of annoyance to incidences of total failure of the engine brakes.
Navistar responded to ODI’s request for information with reports of 24 consumer complaints and 1,233 warranty claims related to the throttle pedals. Of those, more than 70 percent related to vehicles with manual transmissions.
ODI examined the throttles in question, and an investigator drove several of the affected vehicles on two occasions. The agency determined that manual transmission vehicles could exceed engine speeds of 2,300 RPM with the vehicle at rest when the throttle pedal was stuck in the depressed position. Automatic transmission vehicles, however, were not subject to the same high engine speeds. Investigators determined the manual trucks could be difficult to stop if they were caught on a down grade and were unable to downshift due to the stuck throttle.
Navistar acknowledged the problem and is preforming Safety Recall 15V-776. The recall relates only to manual transmission vehicles.
