Consumer Complaint Detail

PETERBILT / 320 / 1989

Recalls
0 Injured
Investigations
1 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 999072822 Incident Date: Jan, 21 1999
Consumer's City: SAN DIEGO Consumer's State: CA
Vehicle Transmission Type: Manufacturers Name: PACCAR Incorporated
Model Name: 320 Model Year: 1989
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: Yes Component's Description: Power train:automatic transmission
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 0
Vehicle's VIN#: Date added to File: May, 16 2021
Date Complaint Received: Jun, 08 2001 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: Yes Purchase Date: Dec, 31 1990
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: No
Number of Cylinders: 0 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: The peterbilt 320 - with an allison 754 ht transmission (automatic mechanical) has two (2) separate deadly defects: illusory neutral defect - shift indicator in cab reads neutral and vibration of vehicle causes the transmission to go into gear. this vehicle is usually used as refuse vehicles. this defects occurs usually when pto is on, which causes high rpms. the driver thinks the transmission is in neutral because the shift indicator in the cab shows neutral and the transmission is not engaged (that is, the vehicle will remain motionless on level ground). . instead, the transmission is really is in between the neutral and drive positions. the vibration from the pto causes the transmission to unexpectedly drop into drive. the allison automatic transmission drops into drive (with high rpms) and the parking brake does not hold vehicle. thus, the brakes are defective and the transmission is defective. in addition to a fatality, we have many drivers who have experienced this same defect. the illusory neutral defect occurs after shift cable stretches and/or becomes mal-adjusted. *ak