2003–2005 Unimog U500 recall: powertrain & transmission
⚠️ What's wrong
On certain trucks equipped with automatic shift, air may leak into the clutch hydraulic system at the central release bearing seal preventing the clutch from opening completely and potentially preventing the transmission from shifting into neutral.
💥 The risk
Failure of the clutch to open completely or the transmission to shift into neutral could make the vehicle difficulty to bring to a complete stop or cause the vehicle to roll forward while stopped increasing the risk of a crash.
🔧 The fix
Dealers will replace the central release bearing and update the clutch actuation electronic control unit (ECU) software free of charge. The recall began on august 24, 2006. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Is the fix free? Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer under federal law, including parts and labor. (Vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall was announced can be excluded, but most manufacturers still fix them.)
- NHTSA campaign
- 06V237000
- Manufacturer recall #
- FL-478
- Manufacturer
- FREIGHTLINER LLC
- Vehicles affected
- 54
- Component
- POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
- Owner phone
- 1-800-547-0712
- NHTSA hotline
- 1-888-327-4236
- Owner letters mailed
- Aug 24, 2006
- Built
- Nov 1, 2003 – Sep 30, 2005
- Recall started by
- MFR
- Notes
- Freightliner recall no. FL-478.customers CAN also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.