Dana Recalls Spicer Ultimate Dana 60™ Bracketless Crate Axles® For Jeep® Wrangler

Dana Incorporated has issued a recall for approximately 11 units of its Spicer Ultimate Dana 60™ Bracketless Crate Axles®, which were sold for Jeep® Wrangler vehicles. The reason for the recall is that the suspension bracket of the axle may prevent adequate lubrication from reaching the pinion tail bearings.

The issue arises when the covered axles are installed in a position that inadvertently obstructs the flow of lubrication to the pinion tail bearings, potentially leading to their seizure. This, in turn, could cause the axle to stop rotating, impacting the vehicle operator’s ability to drive the vehicle.

Before the pinion tail-bearing seizure, drivers may experience significant noise and vibration from the affected axle.

In February 2023, Dana received two customer complaints regarding issues with their axles. Upon investigation, Dana found that both axles were manufactured in the same lot and that the same problem existed in two other axles from the same batch. The root cause was traced back to an operator who failed to use a checking fixture that could have identified the issue. As a precautionary measure, Dana has initiated this recall.

Dana will replace the affected axles free of charge, and the owner notification letters will be sent out on May 3rd, 2023. Owners can contact Dana’s customer service at 1-419-887-3000 for further assistance. Alternatively, they may reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov for more information.