ON CERTAIN FIRE TRUCKS BUILT ON EAGLE, METROPOLITAN, AND FREIGHTLINER M2 HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 CHASSIS, THE COMPARTMENT DOOR OPENING HARDWARE MAY FAIL DUE TO FORCES GENERATED WHEN SLAMMING THE DOOR. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE COMPARTMENT DOOR WITHOUT DISMANTLING THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY OR IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION FORCEFULLY OPENING THE DOOR USING A PRY BAR OR FIREMAN'S AXE.
RiskTHE COMPARTMENT DOOR CARRIES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT. DELAYED ACCESS TO THE EQUIPMENT DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE COMPARTMENT DOOR HANDLE COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
FixDEALERS WILL REPAIR THE COMPARTMENT DOOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN LAFRANCE AT 1-843-746-7542.