Hearth Record

Steering: linkages (Freightliner)

Vehicle recall 81V-020. NHTSA received FREIGHTLINER CORP.’s report on Feb 10, 1981.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FREIGHTLINER CORP.’s report on Feb 10, 1981. 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?

The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, SOME COTTER PINS MAY BE MISSING AT THE BALL JOINT CONNECTIONS OF THE DRAG LINK ENDS AND TIE ROD ENDS IN THE LOWER FRONT AXLE STEERING SYSTEM.

STEERING JOINT COULD SEPARATE IF THE BALL STUD RETAINING NUT LOOSENS AND FALLS OFF DUE TO ABSENCE OF COTTER PIN.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Steering: linkages.

What should you do?

STEERING LINKAGE FROM THE FRAME DOWN TO AND INCLUDING THE FRONT AXLE WILL BE INSPECTED. COTTER PINS WILL BE INSTALLED, IF NECESSARY.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY TRUCKS.SYSTEM: STEERING; DRAG LINK AND TIE ROD BALL JOINT ENDS; COTTER PINS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLWITHOUT WARNING AND AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT.NOTE: IF ANY NUTS ON THE FRONT AXLE LINKAGE ARE MISSING, THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOTBE MOVED.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 1,333 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Freightliner Freightlinerand 1980, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by FREIGHTLINER CORP..
Source:

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.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

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.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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