Steering: column (Autotech)
Vehicle equipment recall 09E-038. NHTSA received DOUGLAS AUTOTECH CORP.’s report on Jun 19, 2009.
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The short answer
NHTSA received DOUGLAS AUTOTECH CORP.’s report on Jun 19, 2009. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
A BROKEN SAS DRIVING TAB MAY RESULT IN UNNECESSARY BRAKE ACTIVATION OF A SELECTED WHEEL DURING THE IGNITION CYCLE IN WHICH THE FAILURE OCCURS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOUGLAS AUTOTECH (DAC) IS RECALLING 961 SERIES 900 STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLIES, DAC P/NOS. 9204584, 9204515, 9204543, 9204538, 9204547, 9204532, 9204556, 1900055, 9204534, 9204536, 9204546, 9204596, 9204597, 9204586, 9204521, 9204559, 9204570, 9204585, 8001015, 9204535, 9204592, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 29, 2007 AND MAY 20, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO STEERING ANGLE SENSORS (SAS), P/NOS. 444 120 004 0, 400 850 647 0, AND 400 850 666 0, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BELOW 3404.
THE AFFECTED STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLIES WERE SHIPPED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN MOTOR COACHES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
INTERNAL FRICTION CAN DEVELOP BETWEEN THE SENSOR GEARS AND THE SENSOR HOUSING AS A RESULT OF EXTERNAL FORCES EXPERIENCED ON THE VEHICLE INCLUDING VIBRATION.
IF DEVELOPED FRICTION IS GREAT ENOUGH, THE DRIVING TAB OF THE SAS CAN SHEER AS THE DRIVER TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Steering: column.
What should you do?
EACH VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WILL PROVIDE A REMEDY PLAN AND NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THEIR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER OR MERITOR WABCO AT 1-859-525-3676 OR DAC AT 1-270-885-9200.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: OWNERS MAY 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 .
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 961 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Autotech 900 SeriesBuilt from Jun 29, 2007 to May 20, 2009
Who is recalling it?
- Made by DOUGLAS AUTOTECH CORP..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Which ones, by part or lot: the recall’s report on NHTSA’s site gives them where the maker did; this file gives part numbers only where its maker listed them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.