Recall Corner — November 2004

Blue Bird Corporation has announced NHTSA recall 04V388000, which affects some 2003 and 2004 Wanderlodge M380 motorhomes manufactured between September 25, 2002, and July 9, 2004.

Certain motorhomes and buses equipped with Arvin-Meritor DX 225 air disc brakes have experienced excessive smoke in the wheel area as a result of overheating of the air disc brake pads, which may result in a fire and could lead to property damage or personal injury.

Arvin-Meritor will inspect the brake assemblies to ensure proper setup and operation and make any other repair that is deemed necessary. The inspection and repair are expected to take approximately three hours. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

For more information about this recall, contact Blue Bird at (478) 822-2242. Owner notification was expected to begin in August 2004.

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Country Coach Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 04V418000, which affects some 2005 Affinity and Magna motorhomes built between March 2004 and July 2004. The potential number of coaches involved is 40.

Certain motorhomes fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, “Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars.” The labels state inadequate cold tire inflation pressure for the front tires. In some cases this could lead to premature tire wear and potentially a tire failure, which could result in the loss of steering control and cause a crash.

The cold tire inflation pressure of 120 psi that is listed on the label will not support the motorhome's front axle weight rating (FAWR) of 18,000 pounds. The replacement tire labels will have a cold tire inflation pressure of 130 psi, which will support the FAWR.

Dealers or authorized service centers will replace the federal tire labels reflecting the correct cold tire inflation pressure for the front tires. The repair is expected to take approximately 15 minutes. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

For more information about this recall, contact Country Coach at (800) 547-8015. Owner notification was expected to begin in September 2004.

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Cummins Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 04E059000, which affects some ISC 8.3-liter and ISL 8.9-liter engines manufactured between December 12, 2003, and April 12, 2004. The potential number of engines affected is 3,063.

On certain engines, oil can leak into the engine compartment from a crack in the cup plug. Oil leaking near the exhaust manifold or turbocharger has the potential to ignite and cause an engine compartment fire, possibly resulting in property damage and personal injury.

Cummins will notify its customers and repair the engines free of charge. The repair is expected to take approximately eight hours. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

For more information about this recall, contact Cummins at (800) DIESELS (343-7357). Owner notification was expected to begin in August 2004.

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Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 04V419000, which affects some 2004 and 2005 Jamboree GT and Tioga SL motorhomes made between September 17, 2003, and August 16, 2004. The potential number of coaches involved is 197.

On certain type C motorhomes, the range and/or cook top LP-gas connection line is a flexible hose connector. This hose is routed in close proximity to a burner and could melt when exposed to high heat for a period of time. If melting does occur, there is potential for a fire.

A dealer or authorized service center will replace the rubber LP-gas hose connection in the range top with a copper LP-gas connection. The repair is expected to take approximately 30 minutes to complete. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

Owner notification was expected to begin in September 2004.

For more information about this recall, contact Fleetwood at (800) 322-8216.

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Gulf Stream Coach Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 04V380000, which affects some 2004 and 2005 Atrium SE, Crescendo, Friendship, Scenic Cruiser, Sun Voyager, Sun Voyager SE, and Yellowstone motorhomes built between April 15 and June 24, 2004. The potential number of units affected is 104.

On certain motorhomes equipped with Dewalt/Power Gear hydraulic hoses used in the slideout mechanisms and leveling systems, the crimping process for attaching the hose fitting to the end of the hydraulic hose was performed improperly. When one of the improperly crimped hose assemblies is placed under a heavy load, hydraulic fluid could be released in a high-pressure spray and create the risk of a fire, which could lead to property damage or personal injury.

Dewalt/Power Gear will notify Gulf Stream customers and will inspect and replace the defective hoses. The repair will take approximately four hours. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

For more information about this recall, contact Gulf Stream at (800) 289-8787. Owner notification was expected to begin in September 2004.

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Monaco Coach Corporation has announced NHTSA recall 04V391000, which affects some 2004 Beaver Patriot motorhomes manufactured between December 12, 2002, and November 20, 2003. The potential number of coaches involved is 95.

Certain motorhomes fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, “Tire Selection and Rims.” The federal identification labels placed in these motorhomes contain incorrect information regarding the rim size and tire inflation rating as well as the incorrect gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and front gross axle weight rating (GAWR). Information on the incorrect label states the rim size as 22.5X9H Range with a tire inflation of 125 psi; a GVWR of 46,300 pounds; and a front GAWR of 15,300 pounds. The correct information on the label should state the rim size as 22.5X8.25H Range with a tire inflation of 120 psi; a GVWR of 45,780 pounds; and a front GAWR of 14,780 pounds. Information on the original label could lead to an incorrect rim being placed on the unit that would not be rated for the GAWR, in addition to the possibility of overloading the unit and overinflating the tires. Driving with overinflated tires can cause or contribute to premature tire failure that could result in a loss of control of the vehicle and the increased risk of a crash.

Owners will be provided with a correct federal identification label and installation instructions. If an owner wishes, a dealer can place the label.

For more information about this recall, contact Monaco at (800) 685-6545. Owner notification was expected to begin in August 2004.

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Newmar Corporation has announced NHTSA recall 04V403000, which affects some 2003, 2004, and 2005 Dutch Star, Kountry Star, and Northern Star motorhomes. The potential number of coaches involved is 315.

On certain motorhomes, during manufacturing the seat belt shoulder harness support bracket for the passenger seat was not properly welded or attached. In the event of a crash, the shoulder harness may become loose or unattached, possibly resulting in injury to the seat's occupant.

An authorized dealer will remove the wallboard at the bracket site and place a new plate over the existing one by drilling four attachment holes on each side of the new plate and securing it with bolts, which will take approximately three hours. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

For more information about this recall, contact Newmar at (574) 773-7791. Owner notification was expected to begin in September 2004.

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Tiffin Motorhomes has announced NHTSA recall 04V383000, which affects some 2004 and 2005 Tiffin Allegro, Allegro Bay, Allegro Bus, Phaeton, and Zephyr models built between September 3, 2003, and May 25, 2004. The potential number of units affected is 1,662.

Certain motorhomes equipped with Amsafe seat belts fail to conform to the load requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, “Seat Belt Assemblies.” The seat belt buckle may unlatch unexpectedly during a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in injury to the seat's occupant.

An authorized dealer will replace the buckles, which will take approximately 15 minutes. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

Owners are advised to call Amsafe at (574) 266-8330; each owner will be asked to provide a number off the white label that appears on the seat belt to determine whether his or her coach is involved.

Owner notification began in August 2004.

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