Recall 10V647 affects 12 2010-2011 General Coach Abc - M1235 buses for mislocated steering-column welds. Repair is free at any franchised General Coach dealer.
General Coach is recalling 12 2010-2011 Abc - M1235 vehicles because a weld in the TRW IGEN3 intermediate steering column is mislocated. The weakened joint can separate the steering column, cause loss of steering control, and result in a crash without warning; the General Coach dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The intermediate steering column on a 2010-2011 General Coach Abc - M1235 bus links the steering wheel to the steering gear farther down the chassis. It has a shaft tube and spline tube that must stay locked together so the driver's steering input reaches the front wheels.
On the affected buses, the weld around the TRW IGEN3 steering shaft tube was placed in the wrong location. That weld is supposed to sit fully over the joint where the tubes are pressed together. When it does not, the connection is not secured the way it was designed, leaving a critical steering link weaker than intended.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver should not expect a noise, warning light, or change in steering feel before the defect becomes a steering problem.
Who's affected?
The same steering-column component is listed across the 2010 and 2011 model years.
| 2010 General Coach Abc - M1235 | steering column |
|---|---|
| 2011 General Coach Abc - M1235 | steering column |
| Units affected | 12 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
NHTSA campaign 10V647 links misplaced welds to steering column strength below acceptable levels. That defect can let the steering column separate, causing loss of steering control and a crash without warning. Schedule the recall repair soon and avoid driving if the steering feels abnormal. Repair will be free at any franchised General Coach dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2011 General Coach Abc - M1235 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised General Coach dealer to confirm whether the free steering-column repair is open for your bus.
- Reference recall number 10V647 when you call, and ask the dealer to address the steering-column weld defect that can lead to loss of steering control without warning.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, along with any service records tied to the steering column.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and stop using the bus if steering feels loose, binds, or changes suddenly.
What happens at the repair
Daimler Trucks and Freightliner handle the recall repair and reporting for this campaign. At the dealer, a General Coach technician follows Freightliner's repair instructions for the TRW IGEN3 intermediate steering column and steering shaft tube. The dealer checks the steering column weld area tied to the spline tube and intermediate tube, then completes the Freightliner directed repair. The final dealer repair will be free once available through the campaign.
Timeline
| December 21, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 23, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V647?
Recall 10V647 covers 12 2010-2011 General Coach Abc - M1235 buses built on Freightliner S2 chassis with TRW IGen3 intermediate steering columns. A misplaced weld on the steering shaft tube can allow steering column separation, loss of steering control, and a crash without warning. The repair is free.
What should I do if my 2010-2011 General Coach Abc - M1235 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V647. If it is, contact a franchised General Coach service location and reference recall 10V647 when you call. Freightliner handles the remedy work for this campaign, and the repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost to the owner. For recall 10V647, Freightliner notified owners and the affected buses are repaired free of charge under the campaign remedy.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of steering control without warning. The weld on the intermediate steering column shaft tube can leave the column with too little torsional and axial strength, which can lead to steering column separation and a crash. Check your VIN and arrange the free recall repair if included.
What warning signs should I watch for?
There is no warning sign before failure listed for recall 10V647. The official consequence says the steering column separation and loss of steering control can happen without warning, so the VIN check and free recall repair are the practical next steps.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V647000 |
|---|---|
| General Coach customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V647 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V647000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →