The U.S. arm of Japan’s Hino Motors Ltd. is recalling 8,025 trucks because a deformed fuel sender float connecting rod sends false readings about how much fuel is in the tank.
Hino reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that 100% of 11 models — 2020-2024 Hino NE7A, NE7B, NE8A, NH9A, NJ7A, NJ7B, NJ8A, NJ8J, NV7A, NV7B and NV8A — manufactured between March 10, 2020, and July 28, 2023, are potentially affected.
Inaccurate fuel indication may lead to an engine stall due to fuel starvation, increasing the risk of a crash. Hino reported nine cases of stalling or an engine failing to start among 233 warranty claims. The company reported no accidents or injuries.
Hino started an investigation in June 2022 when it received a field report of a vehicle where the fuel gauge consistently showed “empty.” Hino found the connecting rod detached from the fuel gauge.
Inspection found no issue
The company inspected its inventory of fuel sender gauges and its assembly processes at its West Virginia assembly plant. It found no abnormalities in either its inventory of fuel sender parts or its assembly processes.
Hino continued monitoring as warranty reports mounted. The company determined through testing that 70- and 90-gallon tanks proved susceptible to deformed fuel connector rods. The damage resulted from an excessive load being applied, such as fuel sloshing during hard braking. Hino excluded trucks with 50-gallon tanks from the recall.
Hino verified that a smaller and lighter fuel sender connecting rod would resolve the issue.
Dealers will replace the fuel sender gauge with an improved model for free. Hino applied the improved fuel sender gauge as a running production change this month. Dealers learned of the recall Wednesday. Hino plans to tell customers of the recall by first-class mail on Oct. 6.
The NHTSA recall number is 23V-560.
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