Pinion Tail Bearing Seizure on Front Steer Axles – Ultimate Dana 44 Front Axle

February 13, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19E012000

Pinion Tail Bearing Seizure on Front Steer Axles

A seized front axle can affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dana Incorporated, (Dana) is recalling certain Ultimate Dana 44 Front Axle. The pinion tail bearing may seize and prevent the axle from rotating.

 

Remedy

Dana will notify owners and dealers will repair the axles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet submitted a notification schedule. Owners can contact Dana customer service at 1-419-887-3000.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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Ultimate Dana 44™ Front Axle Pinion Lube Check Procedure

 

Axles Included:

10010455	10031144	10032865	10048823	2018543-5
10010519	10032861	10032866	10048824	2018543-6
10010520	10032862	10048820	10048825	2018543-7
10010521	10032863	10048821	2018543-10	2018543-8
10010522	10032864	10048822	2018543-3	2018543-9
10010742

 

Pinion Lube Check Procedure For Axles Installed in Vehicles:

 

1. Secure the vehicle so the front differential oil can be drained. It is preferable to conduct the procedure on a drive-on lift or pit to keep the vehicle’s suspension at ride height.  A frame lift is acceptable.

 

2. Remove the front axle drain plug, and drain the axle’s oil into a suitable container for disposal.

 

3. While the oil is draining, remove the bolts on the front axle differential cover. We recommend leaving one or two bolts in loosely at the top, to hold the cover and allow the axle to finish draining.  Once the axle has completed draining, remove the front axle differential cover completely. There is NO RTV on the cover, so when the last bolt is removed, it will fall.

 

4. Remove the cover and gasket, and set them aside. Both will be reused.

 

5. Reinstall the drain plug in the axle housing.

 

6. Use a light and identify the pinion oil feed channel behind the differential, above the pinion. A reference picture appears below:

 

7. Use 8-12 inches of rubber tubing on the end of a standard gear oil bottle with a tapered spout. Feed the tube into the pinion oil feed channel identified above, and add oil to this channel.  It should require .25 quarts of oil before the oil begins to drain back into the sump.  Once the oil starts draining out, stop filling with oil.

 

8. Reinstall the cover and gasket. Torque the bolts to 25 ft lbs.

 

9. Fill the gearbox with gear oil to the UPPER fill plug on the cover. (Dana recommends 75W-140 Synthetic, but any approved gear oil is acceptable).  It should require approximately 2 quarts of oil to fill the axle.

 

10. If the procedure is completed when the vehicle suspension is not at ride height and/or on a frame lift, recheck the axle’s oil level with the vehicle suspension at ride height. If needed, add oil to ensure it reaches the upper fill plug level.

 

11. Test drive the vehicle at speeds above 25 mph.

 

4-12-19

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

April 12, 2019

 

Re: NHTSA Recall # 19E012

 

Dear Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Dana, Inc. (“Dana”) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain Ultimate Dana 44™ Front Axles sold to aftermarket customers for use in some Jeep® Wrangler® vehicle applications.  The axles subject to this notice were manufactured between December 14, 2015 and February 20, 2019, with the following part numbers:

• 10010455
• 10010519
• 10010520
• 10010521
• 10010522
• 10010742
• 10031144
• 10032861
• 10032862
• 10032863
• 10032864
• 10032865
• 10032866
• 10048820
• 10048821
• 10048822
• 10048823
• 10048824
• 10048825
• 2018543-10
• 2018543-3
• 2018543-5
• 2018543-6
• 2018543-7
• 2018543-8
• 2018543-9

 

Axles subject to this notice can experience a pinion tail bearing seizure.  In that event, the axle may not be able to rotate, which could affect a vehicle operator’s control.  This increases the risk of a crash without prior warning.

 

Given this potential issue, Dana is voluntarily recalling the subject axle units.  To promote your safety and satisfaction with your equipment, we ask that you please do not drive a vehicle equipped with an axle subject to this notice, and have your vehicle towed at Dana’s expense to a service center for repair as soon as possible.

 

At no charge to you, the service center will repair your axle by (1) removing the axle cover and draining out the oil; (2) providing oil directly into the cavity of the tail bearing; (3) replacing the cover; and (4) completing the oil fill procedure identified in the installation manual.  Instructions directing service centers on remedying the axles are immediately available.  It will take approximately 30-45 minutes to repair the axle.

 

Dana recommends that vehicle owners present their axles for repair at the following service centers:

 

• 4WP
  • Website:  https://www.4wheelparts.com/stores/find–a–store
  • Phone:  1-877-474-4821

 

• A&A Auto Stores
  • Website: https://www.aaautostores.com/StoreLocator.aspx
  • Phone:  1-888-675-0115

 

• Northridge 4×4
  • Website: https://www.northridge4x4.com/contact–us
  • Phone:  1-866-601-5340

 

Please contact Dana at 1-877-777-5360 for information on other available service centers if these centers are not conveniently located to you, or to seek assistance in arranging to have your vehicle towed to a service center or for reimbursement of the towing costs.

 

If you have purchased an axle subject to this notice, but have not yet installed it in a vehicle, please also contact Dana at 1-877-777-5360.  Dana will arrange for the return of your recalled axle, and will provide you with a replacement axle.

 

Should you have any questions, please call 1-877-777-5360.  In the event you believe we have failed or are unable to perform the axle repair without charge to you within sixty (60) days after you present your axle for remedy, you may so notify the Secretary of Transportation at the following address:  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590, or phone NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153; or go to https://www.safercar.gov).

 

If you replaced or repaired an axle subject to this notice before you received this letter due to the issue described above, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the reasonable cost of obtaining a pre-notification remedy of the problem associated with this recall.  For more information, contact Dana at 1-877-777-5360.

 

We regret this inconvenience.  We at Dana are committed to the highest standards of safety and product quality, and our interest is in your safety and satisfaction with your equipment.  Please bring this letter to your service center immediately for a free repair of your axle.  Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

Michael Smith
Dana, Inc.

Vice President, Global Quality & Warranty

 

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April 12, 2019

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE
ACTION REQUIRED

 

Re:  Dana, Inc., NHTSA Recall # 19E012

 

Dear Dealer:

Dana, Inc. (“Dana”), in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain Ultimate Dana 44™ Front Axles sold to aftermarket customers for use in some Jeep® Wrangler® JK vehicle applications.  The axles subject to this notice were manufactured between December 14, 2015 and February 20, 2019, with the following part numbers:

• 10010455
• 10010519
• 10010520
• 10010521
• 10010522
• 10010742
• 10031144
• 10032861
• 10032862
• 10032863
• 10032864
• 10032865
• 10032866
• 10048820
• 10048821
• 10048822
• 10048823
• 10048824
• 10048825
• 2018543-10
• 2018543-3
• 2018543-5
• 2018543-6
• 2018543-7
• 2018543-8
• 2018543-9.

 

Dana is conducting this recall to address the potential for certain axles to experience a pinion tail bearing seizure.  In that event, the axle may not be able to rotate, which could affect a vehicle operator’s control of the vehicle.

 

If you have within your inventory any axles subject to this notice, please promptly contact your customer service representative.  At no charge to you, Dana will arrange for return of any recalled axles, and will provide replacement axles.  Replacement axles will be available within one (1) to two (2) weeks of this notice.

 

Owners of vehicles that contain the subject axles will be asked to bring their vehicles to their chosen service centers as soon as possible.  The recall remedy is available immediately.  If a vehicle is presented to you for repair under this recall, at no charge to the vehicle owner, you must remedy the axle by (1) removing the axle cover and draining out the oil; (2) providing oil directly into the cavity of the tail bearing; (3) replacing the cover; and (4) completing the oil fill procedure identified in the installation manual.  Complete directions for performing this repair are attached hereto as Attachment A.

 

To promote participation in this recall, and to most effectively reach vehicle owners with the recalled axles, we ask that you immediately send the customer notification letter, attached hereto as Attachment B, to each end-user customer to whom you have sold a recalled axle.

 

If you have sold any recalled axles to other dealers, you must send them a copy of this notification letter, along with its attachments, within five (5) working days of your receipt of this notice.

 

To discuss implementation of this recall, please contact 1-877-777-5360 as soon as possible.

 

Please note that it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment covered by this notification until the issue described in this notice has been remedied.

 

We regret this inconvenience.  We at Dana are committed to the highest standards of safety and product quality, and our interest is in our customers’ safety and satisfaction with their equipment.  We look forward to working with you to enable this recall to be completed in a timely manner with minimal disruption to your customers.  Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael Smith
Dana, Inc.
Vice President, Global Quality & Warranty

 

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April 12, 2019

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE
ACTION REQUIRED

 

VIA E-MAIL

P & E DISTRIBUTORS INC
Chris Eatherly
709 RIVERGATE PARKWAY
GOODLETTSVILLE, TN 37072
UNITED STATES

 

Re:  Dana, Inc., NHTSA Recall # 19E012

 

Dear Chris Eatherly:

Dana, Inc. (“Dana”), in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain Ultimate Dana 44™ Front Axles sold to aftermarket customers for use in some Jeep® Wrangler® JK vehicle applications.  The axles subject to this notice were manufactured between December 14, 2015 and February 20, 2019, with the following part numbers:

• 10010455
• 10010519
• 10010520
• 10010521
• 10010522
• 10010742
• 10031144
• 10032861
• 10032862
• 10032863
• 10032864
• 10032865
• 10032866
• 10048820
• 10048821
• 10048822
• 10048823
• 10048824
• 10048825
• 2018543-10
• 2018543-3
• 2018543-5
• 2018543-6
• 2018543-7
• 2018543-8
• 2018543-9.

 

Dana is conducting this recall to address the potential for certain axles to experience a pinion tail bearing seizure.  In that event, the axle may not be able to rotate, which could affect a vehicle operator’s control of the vehicle.

 

If you have within your inventory any axles subject to this notice, please promptly contact your customer service representative.  At no charge to you, Dana will arrange for return of any recalled axles, and will provide replacement axles.  Replacement axles will be available within one (1) to two (2) weeks of this notice.

 

Owners of vehicles that contain the subject axles will be asked to bring their vehicles to their chosen service centers as soon as possible.  The recall remedy is available immediately.  When a vehicle is presented to a service center for repair under this recall, at no charge to the vehicle owner, the service center must remedy the axle by (1) removing the axle cover and draining out the oil; (2) providing oil directly into the cavity of the tail bearing; (3) replacing the cover; and (4) completing the oil fill procedure identified in the installation manual.  Complete directions for performing this repair are attached hereto as Attachment A.

 

To promote participation in this recall, and to most effectively reach vehicle owners with the recalled axles, we ask that you immediately send the customer notification letter, attached hereto as Attachment B, to each end-user customer to whom you have sold a recalled axle.

 

If you have sold any recalled axles to dealers or service centers, you must send them a copy of the dealer notification letter, attached hereto as Attachment C, within five (5) working days of your receipt of this notice.

 

To discuss implementation of this recall, please contact 1-877-777-5360 as soon as possible.

 

Please note that it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment covered by this notification until the issue described in this notice has been remedied.

 

We regret this inconvenience.  We at Dana are committed to the highest standards of safety and product quality, and our interest is in our customers’ safety and satisfaction with their equipment.  We look forward to working with you to enable this recall to be completed in a timely manner with minimal disruption to your customers.  Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael Smith
Dana, Inc.
Vice President, Global Quality & Warranty

 

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1 Affected Product

11 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19E012-9272.pdf 246.197KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19E012-4369.PDF 213.171KB

 

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Recall 573 Report- Amendment 2

RCLRPT-19E012-8875.PDF 214.543KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19E012-8292.pdf 167.739KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19E012-2901.PDF 211.315KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-2

RCLQRT-19E012-5615.PDF 211.13KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2020-1

RCLQRT-19E012-1263.PDF 211.422KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-19E012-2915.pdf 392.678KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2019-3

RCLQRT-19E012-6417.PDF 211.226KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #5, 2020-2

RCLQRT-19E012-8039.PDF 211.532KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #6, 2020-3

RCLQRT-19E012-3005.PDF 211.622KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19E012&docType=RCL

 

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