The FMCSA issued a statement today to announce that every single one of the 16,000 Volvo trucks that were recalled for steering issues in March 2016 have been identified and repaired.
Total Recall Likely Saved Lives
Though 100% recall completion rates are historically rare and very difficult to accomplish, the FMSCSA says that the effort likely saved lives. According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, “This extraordinary effort, covering such a large number of vehicles, now with a confirmed 100 percent achievement of the safety recall, averted the risk of injury or death to not only the truck drivers, but also to everyone sharing the road.”
The recall impacted Class 8 Volvo VNL, VNX, and VNM model trucks operating in the U.S. that were manufactured between May 11, 2015 though March 8, 2016. These trucks had a faulty steering shaft which could result in the sudden and complete loss of steering ability.
Multi-Organization Effort Credited With 100% Success In Removing Faulty Volvos From Road
The 100 percent recall completion rate took coordinated effort from Volvo, FMCSA, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Much of the credit for the perfect recall completion rate likely goes to FMCSA for issuing an immediate out-of-service order for the defective Volvos, but the announcement also credits social media campaign and radio spots for reaching the trucking community.
Volvo reportedly took “unprecedented steps and used new and innovative methods to alert owners and drivers to the potential risk” to get the defective trucks off the road.
Learn more at the FMCSA website.