Important safety message for owners of used imported Fuso buses and trucks

Questions and answers

Why do certain types of Mitsubishi Fuso used trucks and buses need to be checked urgently?

The LTSA has been advised that there is a design defect in the wheel hubs of some models of trucks and buses manufactured by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) in Japan which could lead to these vehicles being potentially unsafe to drive.

Some Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles may be suffering from excessive wear on the wheel mounting face of the front hubs. MFTBC has notified us that the wheel flexing on the hub face through insufficient wheel nut torque causes this wear. If left unchecked, this wear could result in cracking of the hub and subsequent failure that may lead to the wheel and hub assembly coming off the vehicle.

How many used Fuso vehicles in New Zealand are likely to be affected by the recall and what type are they?

There are 843 registered used commercial truck and bus imports manufactured between 1983-1998 that will be affected. There are nine models of Fuso truck (including mobile cranes) and six models of buses fitted with eight-stud wheels. These models have been brought into the country by used vehicle importers.

What do owners of these vehicles need to do?

Owners of affected vehicles have been notified by priority courier and provided with information outlining the required inspection procedure and a ‘Record of Vehicle Inspection’ form. They will need to take this (as soon as possible) into an independent workshop that can carry out the inspection on the vehicle and confirm that their wheel hubs are roadworthy before signing the form. The owner then needs to mail the signed form back to the LTSA within 21 days of receiving it.

How long will the inspection take and how much will it cost them to have this check done?

Typically this inspection will take between one and a half, and three hours, depending on the type of vehicle. The cost for the owner will typically be between $90 and $200 (depending on charge out rates).

How long does the owner have to do this inspection?

We are recommending that the owner of any vehicle which falls into this category immediately ceases operating the vehicle and takes it to an independent workshop to be checked as soon as possible against the inspection procedure. Within 21 days of notification, owners must provide the LTSA with signed confirmation from the workshop that the vehicle’s wheel hubs are roadworthy – otherwise the vehicle’s Certificate of Fitness will be revoked.

If a vehicle has recently passed its Certificate of Fitness inspection, does the owner still have to take it into an independent workshop to be checked?

Yes, any vehicle of this type will need to be inspected by an independent workshop, as a routine Certificate of Fitness inspection will not pick up this fault.

Who will pay for this to be done?

Payment for inspections or reimbursement of any costs are issues between the vehicle owner and the vendor (the person or organisation from whom the vehicle was purchased), not the LTSA.

Can they continue driving in the meantime?

We are recommending that the owner of any vehicle which falls into this category immediately ceases operating the vehicle and takes it to an independent workshop to be checked as soon as possible.

What happens if they don’t do this within the given period?

This is an important safety issue. If the LTSA does not receive signed confirmation from the owner of affected vehicles by 2 July 2004, we will have to revoke the Certificate of Fitness for that vehicle. This means the vehicle cannot legally be driven on the road and if it is found doing so, the driver or operator could be charged with a variety of offences including operating an unsafe motor vehicle or operating a vehicle without a current certificate of fitness. The maximum penalty for these offences is a fine of $2,000.

If a vehicle is used after the owner is aware of this issue, particularly if it is used after the vehicle is found to be unsafe, and it is involved in an accident where someone is injured or killed, the operator or driver could face very serious criminal charges such as operating a vehicle without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road (maximum penalty, 3 months imprisonment or $4,500 fine) or manslaughter (maximum penalty, life imprisonment)

How is LTSA ensuring that all owners of affected Fuso trucks and buses are notified of this?

The LTSA has sent notification by priority courier to the owners of all affected vehicles identified through the Ministry of Transport Motor Vehicle Register. We have also sent out a press release to regional and national news media and posted information on our website as well as through industry channels including the Bus and Coach Association of New Zealand, National Road Carriers, Federated Farmers, and Combined Owner Drivers Association.

What happens if a Fuso truck or bus is found to have a faulty hub and is unfit to drive?

In the interests of public safety, the LTSA will have no choice but to revoke the vehicle’s Certificate of Fitness until such time as the wheel hub can be replaced with a new one.

How long will it take for affected vehicles to have their parts replaced?

MFTBC has not yet been able to confirm a timeframe for this as parts will have to be supplied for all vehicles covered by the recall (i.e approximately 110,000 sets of hubs have to be manufactured). We understand that registered owners will be contacted separately by Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand Limited, which is MFTBC’s distributor of new vehicles in New Zealand and is managing this recall for them.

If an affected vehicle gets the ‘all clear’ from an independent workshop and the owner is able to provide confirmation of this to the LTSA within the allotted time period, does that mean that the vehicle is OK to be driven indefinitely?

No, because the fault is a design flaw which means the wheel hub is subject to greater than normal wear, the inspection is only valid for up to six months. Owners will need to repeat this procedure every six months (until the hub part is replaced) in addition to normal Certificate of Fitness requirements, in order to keep their vehicle on the road.

When the new part becomes available, will the vehicle owner have to pay anything?

Payment for inspections or reimbursement of any costs are issues between the vehicle owner and vendor, not the LTSA. However, we understand that MFTBC is arranging for the replacements parts to be supplied free of charge through its New Zealand distributor with owners responsible for labour costs.

If I’m concerned my vehicle may be one of those that are affected by the recall, where do I go for more information?

Fuso model chassis numbers which are affected by this issue. If you have any further questions, please call the Land Transport NZ Helpdesk on 0800 699 000.

Page updated: 16 February 2005