Recall Corner — July 2006

Detroit Diesel Corporation has announced NHTSA recall 06E019000, which affects some 2000 through 2006 Series 60 engines manufactured between January 1, 2000, and March 3, 2006. The potential number of engines involved is 12,489.

On certain engines installed in highway coach chassis and motorhomes, the turbocharger compressor wheel may fail without warning, allowing lubricating oil to enter the exhaust system. This could result in a fire in the engine compartment.

An authorized Detroit Diesel service outlet will reprogram the electronic control module (ECM) to detect a turbocharger failure and reduce fuel flow to the engine and safely shut it down to prevent a fire, and will install a barometric pressure sensor and pigtail harness if necessary. The repair is expected to take approximately 90 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 Detroit Diesel at (313) 592-3708. Owner notification was expected to begin in March 2006.

Home & Park Motorhomes has announced NHTSA recall 06V160000, which affects some 2003 through 2006 Roadtrek 170, 190, and 210 type B motorhomes manufactured between July 2003 and April 28, 2006. The potential number of coaches involved is 736.

On certain motorhomes built on Chevrolet 2500 and 3500 van chassis and equipped with a decorative dash trim kit, a Chevrolet “bow tie” steering wheel decal was attached directly over the existing "bow tie" impression. This decal could affect the deployment of the air bag safety restraint built into the steering wheel. In the event of a vehicle crash in which the driver-side air bag is deployed, the resulting functionality of the air bag is uncertain, and it may increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Owners will be instructed to remove the steering wheel decal by simply freeing a corner of the decal and peeling it off, or the vehicle could be taken to a dealer for removal.

For more information about this recall, contact Home & Park Motorhomes at (888) 762-3873. Owner notification was expected to begin in May 2006.

Spartan Chassis Inc. has announced two separate recalls.

The first is NHTSA recall 06V094000, which affects some 2006 and 2007 Mountain Master, MG, K2, and K3 motorhome chassis manufactured between November 8, 2005, and March 2, 2006. The potential number of chassis involved is 54.

On certain chassis, a Bussmann box may contain a soldering defect and could fail. This failure could result in electrical power being lost to major chassis system components, which could cause the vehicle to shut down and/or not be capable of powering up. Loss of electrical power to one or a combination of the following could occur: the engine, transmission, starting, and engine cooling systems; operation of the right chassis stop/turn signal and right trailer stop/turn signal; the antilock brake system (service brakes are still functional); the auxiliary brake system; the heater element in the air dryer; or the water in-fuel separator. Operational failure of one or more of these could increase the risk of a crash.

Service centers will replace the defective component. The repair is expected to take approximately one hour. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

Owner notification began in April 2006.

The second is NHTSA recall 06V156000, which affects some 1998 Mountain Master and K2 motorhome chassis manufactured between February 5, 1998, and June 5, 1998. The potential number of chassis involved is 254.

On certain chassis, the steering gear support bracket has the potential to fail when subjected to the repetitive forces of static steering conditions. A loss of steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Service centers will replace the steering gear support bracket. The repair is expected to take approximately three hours. However, because of service scheduling times, the service center may need the vehicle for a longer time period.

Owner notification began in May 2006.

For more information about these recalls, contact Spartan at (800) 543-4277, option 1.

Winnebago Industries Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 06V163000, which affects some 2006 Itasca Sunova and Winnebago Sightseer motorhomes built between September 7, 2005, and April 25, 2006. The potential number of coaches involved is 68.

On certain motorhomes, the flame on the cooking range may be forced downward over the burner or flame outage may occur when the cooking range and furnace are operated at the same time. This condition is caused by a missing cabinet panel that isolates the furnace return air. If the furnace is operated at the same time as the stove and the cabinet panel is missing, the stove flame may go out and the propane gas will continue to flow, which has the potential to ignite, resulting in personal injury or vehicle and property damage.

Itasca and Winnebago dealers will inspect the cabinet assembly and install a cabinet panel if it is missing. The repair is expected to take approximately one hour. 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 Winnebago Industries at (641) 585-6939. Owner notification was expected to begin in June 2006.