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Navistar’s A26 Engine May Be Recalled Due to Engine Failure Fears

By Wagner & Wagner Attorneys At Law | June 29, 2020

We just take for granted that production lines in factories are infallible. Companies spend months or longer designing and building prototypes until they get it right, and only then do they start manufacturing products that will safely land in the hands of customers. It’s a system that should work. However, with the many steps of the manufacturing process, there can be a lot of room for error at the end of the day.

When truck engines are manufactured with defects, the product liability involved can be vast. Eighteen wheelers can carry 80,000 pounds of goods. If an engine seizes while towing that kind of weight, just imagine the carnage that can follow on a busy highway. Navistar is taking precautions and recalling yet another of their engine models to prevent just that dangerous scenario.

Why is the Navistar engine being recalled?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received word from Navistar in early May that its A26 engine was experiencing a defective or noncompliant component that could cause complete engine failure in approximately 4,500 trucks operating in the United States. The bushing material in the small end bore of the connecting rod can become cracked with wear or lose chunks of bushing material that can result in connecting rod engine failure.

What if I have a recalled Navistar engine?

As a remedy, the engine manufacturer is prepared to replace the engines in trucks showing symptoms of the defect. That comes to only about 600 engines. That leaves 3,900 trucks on our roadways with this potentially fatal flaw that can appear at any given time.

The A26 engine models affected include:

  • 2019-2020 RH Series
  • 2018-2020 LT Series

The recall is anticipated to begin July 8, 2020. If you have a truck with one of these engines and experience knocking or rough idling, contact Navistar at 1-800-448-7825 with recall number 20504.

The A26 engine was created to replace the also-problematic 13 Liter engine, which the company retired from production three years ago.

Are other Navistar engines dangerous?

While there haven’t yet been any personal injuries stemming from the A26 engine defects, this isn’t the first time Navistar has had issues with its engines. The company was forced to defend itself against a class action suit over the 2011-2014 MaxxForce 11- and 13-liter engines, which they were able to settle.

The $135 million settlement, which was approved in January 2020, will be paid out to owners of international trucks that were manufactured with the defective engines. The breakdown of the settlement offered three types of relief that truck owners had to choose from, including:

  • Payment of up to $2,500 in cash
  • Up to a $10,000 rebate on a new Navistar truck
  • Up to $15,000 in repayment for repair costs

Navistar placed $85 million into a claims fund and the remaining $50 million was set aside for rebates.

When you buy a vehicle you expect it to be safe to drive. The truth is it may be perfectly fine for a while, lulling you into a false sense of security because it may take time before a vehicle defect surfaces. Once it does, it may be too late and you may be severely injured as a result.

If you or a loved one suffers injury due to a defective vehicle, seek out the trusted legal guidance of the product liability firm of Wagner & Wagner, Attorneys at Law. Our innovative legal team makes sure injury victims are treated fairly in Chattanooga and Cleveland, TN, North Georgia, and the surrounding areas. To schedule your free case evaluation in our Chattanooga office, call 423-756-7923, or reach out to us through our contact page.

Posted in Product Liability