Rear Brake Line Failure – 2019-2023 Braun Chief XL Type I, Express Plus Type I, & Liberty Type I ambulances

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-331 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : Braun Ambulances Submission Date : MAY 09, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-331 Manufacturer Recall No. : 2023-01 Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : Braun Ambulances Address : 1170 Production Drive Van Wert OH 45891 Company phone : 4192327020 Population : Number of potentially involved : 35 Estimated percentage with defect : 25 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2019-2023 Braun Ambulance Chief XL Type I Vehicle Type : BUSES, MEDIUM & HEAVY VEHICLES Body Style : PICKUP TRUCK Power Train : DIESEL Descriptive Information : Recall was specific to liquid spring kits mounted on Chevy medium/heavy duty chassis. This recall is specific to Chevy MD/HD chassis and does not apply to other OEM’s. All vehicles built with this specific combination of liquid springs on Chevy MD/HD chassis were pulled into this recall for the affected time period. A total of 35 vehicles are considered in this recall over the given time period. Production Dates : MAR 01, 2019 – MAR 31, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Vehicle 2 : 2019-2023 Braun Ambulance Express Plus Type I Vehicle Type : BUSES, MEDIUM & HEAVY VEHICLES Body Style : OTHER Power Train : DIESEL Descriptive Information : Recall was specific to liquid spring kits mounted on Chevy medium/heavy duty chassis. This recall is specific to Chevy MD/HD chassis and does not apply to other OEM’s. All vehicles built with this specific combination of liquid springs on Chevy MD/HD chassis were pulled into this recall for the affected time period. Production Dates : MAR 01, 2019 – MAR 31, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-331 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Vehicle 3 : 2019-2023 Braun Ambulance Liberty Type I Vehicle Type : BUSES, MEDIUM & HEAVY VEHICLES Body Style : PICKUP TRUCK Power Train : DIESEL Descriptive Information : Recall was specific to liquid spring kits mounted on Chevy medium/heavy duty chassis. This recall is specific to Chevy MD/HD chassis and does not apply to other OEM’s. All vehicles built with this specific combination of liquid springs on Chevy MD/HD chassis were pulled into this recall for the affected time period. Production Dates : MAR 01, 2019 – MAR 01, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Noncompliance : Description of the Noncompliance : Braun Industries has decided that a safety related defect may exist with certain vehicles mounted on Chevrolet Medium Duty Chassis with Liquid Spring rear suspension installations including Chief XL, Express Plus, and Liberty ambulances. Liquid Spring suspension systems installed from March 2019 to March 2023 may be in contact with the right rear brake line leading to fatigue and eventual failure resulting in the potential loss of rear brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 106 “Brake Hoses”. FMVSS 1 : 106 – Brake hoses FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : In the affected vehicles, the rear Liquid Spring components may come in direct contact with the right rear brake lines when lowering and raising the vehicle. This contact with the brake line may result in fatigue and eventual failure resulting in the potential loss of rear brake function. Failures can occur while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash. Description of the Cause : Interference between liquid spring components and Chevy MD/HD chassis results in rubbing of the chassis break lines, resulting in fatiqued lines, and failure. This failure will lead to the loss of rear brake fluid and loss of rear brake functionality. Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : Brake fluid leaking from rear brakes. Involved Components : Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-331 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Component Name 1 : Rear brake lines Component Description : Hydraulic brake lines Component Part Number : Rear brake lines Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Braun Ambulances Address : 1170 Production Drive Van Wert 45891 Country : United States Chronology : On certain Chevrolet Medium Duty Chassis, the Liquid spring suspension can contact the right rear brake line and cause fatigue and eventual failure. Liquid Spring identified the potential brake line interference issue with Chevy Medium Duty Chassis prior to MY22. They developed new brackets to position the brake lines and mitigate any interference or rubbing. This was implement on the liquid spring installation kits for MY22 Chevy chassis moving forward. It was confirmed that the correct brackets were being installed by Braun in March of 2023 after the first report from the field. March 2023 – Trucks 8488, 8716 Received initial call from customer about loss of rear brakes on 2 Braun vehicles in the field. The vehicles were evaluated and interference between the brake lines and liquid spring system (installed by Braun) was found to be root cause. There was a hole rubbed in the rear brake line resulting in the failure. The brake lines were replaced, and potential interference removed through the Braun dealer network. April 2023 – Truck 8307 The truck was delivered to Braun for unrelated service and the vehicle was inspected for interference between the brake lines and the Liquid Spring. No interference was observed between the brake lines and liquid spring components. The total population of affected vehicles was reviewed and arrived at a total of thirty-four vehicles. The decision was made to move forward with the recall due to the sever nature of the failure on the 2 initial trucks. No additional failures have been reported by customers at this time. The recall and service work will inspect all 34 vehicles in the field, replace the brake lines, and ensure proper clearance between the brake lines and liquid spring components. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-331 Page 4 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : Braun will remedy the affected units free of charge. Please contact your authorized Braun Dealer to arrange inspection and replacement of the rear brake lines. The time required to remedy this recall is two hours. Note: If your local Braun Dealer is unable to arrange service as described above without charge you may contact Braun Customer Care directly at 1-866-305-8402. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The remedied vehicle will have rear brake lines inspected for interferrence, the brake lines will be replaced, and routed to eliminate any contact points between the liquid springs and chassis during actuation. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The recall condition was remedied in production with the release of the MY22 liquid spring package for Chevy MD/HD chassis. This included new brackets for mounting the liquid spring components that eliminated the potential for interference with the brake lines. This was made effective in production with the model MY22 changed in the May 2022 timeframe. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : Braun dealers will be notified as soon as the recall is approved. The owner letters will be printed and mailed within 3 weeks of the dealer notification. Planned Dealer Notification Date : MAY 22, 2023 – MAY 26, 2023 Planned Owner Notification Date : MAY 29, 2023 – JUN 16, 2023 * NR – Not Reported

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Braun Industries, Inc. 1170 Production Drive Van Wert OH 45891 Website: www.braunambulances.com | Phone: 419-232-7020 | Fax: 419-232-7070 Reimbursement Plan Recall # XXX-XXX Braun Recall Notice: 2023-01 May 2, 2023 Braun will remedy the affected units free of charge. Please contact your authorized Braun Dealer to arrange inspection and replacement of the rear brake lines. The time required to remedy this recall is two hours. Note: If your local Braun Dealer is unable to arrange service as described above without charge you may contact Braun Customer Care directly at 1-866-305-8402.

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Braun Industries, Inc. 1170 Production Drive Van Wert OH 45891 Website: www.braunambulances.com | Phone: 419-232-7020 | Fax: 419-232-7070 Recall Chronology Recall # XXX-XXX Braun Recall Notice: 2023-01 May 2, 2023 On certain Chevrolet Medium Duty Chassis, the Liquid spring suspension can contact the right rear brake line and cause fatigue and eventual failure. Liquid Spring identified the potential brake line interference issue with Chevy Medium Duty Chassis prior to MY22. They developed new brackets to position the brake lines and mitigate any interference or rubbing. This was implement on the liquid spring installation kits for MY22 Chevy chassis moving forward. It was confirmed that the correct brackets were being installed by Braun in March of 2023 after the first report from the field. March 2023 – Trucks 8488, 8716 Received initial call from customer about loss of rear brakes on 2 Braun vehicles in the field. The vehicles were evaluated and interference between the brake lines and liquid spring system (installed by Braun) was found to be root cause. There was a hole rubbed in the rear brake line resulting in the failure. The brake lines were replaced, and potential interference removed through the Braun dealer network. April 2023 – Truck 8307 The truck was delivered to Braun for unrelated service and the vehicle was inspected for interference between the brake lines and the Liquid Spring. No interference was observed between the brake lines and liquid spring components. The total population of affected vehicles was reviewed and arrived at a total of thirty-four vehicles. The decision was made to move forward with the recall due to the sever nature of the failure on the 2 initial trucks. No additional failures have been reported by customers at this time. The recall and service work will inspect all 34 vehicles in the field, replace the brake lines, and ensure proper clearance between the brake lines and liquid spring components.

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