2008 Fleetwood PROVIDENCE: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-07-18 (July 18, 2007)

FREIGHTLINER IS RECALLING CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, HEAVY TRUCKS, VAN CHASSIS, RV MOTORHOME CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 5 TO MAY 17, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH AXLE ALLIANCE COMPANY (AAC) FRONT AXLES. DURING THE FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY, THE FASTENERS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING ARM OR TIE ROD ARMS TO THE SPINDLE MAY BE OVER OR UNDER TIGHTENED.

Consequence: INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED STEERING ARM FASTENERS MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, INSPECT THE FASTENERS, AND REPLACE THE STEERING ARM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2007-08-15 (August 15, 2007)

ON CERTAIN 39R MOTOR HOMES, THE PROPANE HOSE, UNDER THE GALLEY SLIDE-OUT ROOM, CAN FLEX AND MAKE CONTACT WITH OTHER COMPONENTS DURING THE SLIDE-OUT ROOM OPERATION.

Consequence: THIS MAY LEAD TO ABRASION OR KINKING OF THE PROPANE HOSE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A PROPANE GAS LEAK AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN EXPLOSION AND/OR FIRE.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD WILL REPLACE THE PROPANE GAS HOSE IF IT IS KINKED OR DAMAGED. IF THE HOSE IS NOT KINKED OR DAMAGED, FLEETWOOD WILL INSTALL INSULATED LOOP CLAMPS TO SECURE THE PROPANE HOSE AWAY FROM COMPONENTS. FLEETWOOD BEGAN CALLING CUSTOMERS ON AUGUST 3, 2007. A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION MAILING BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

Reported: 2008-01-10 (January 10, 2008)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR (FET) BOARD BUILT BY MAGNUM ENERGY, INC., THE CIRCUITRY INSIDE CERTAIN INVERTERS CAN CAUSE AN INOPERATIVE CONDITION RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE INVERTER.

Consequence: OVERHEATING OF THE INVERTER MAY RESULT IN A POTENTIAL FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE INVERTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 19, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.

Reported: 2008-06-17 (June 17, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 2,506 MY 2008 XC MOTOR HOME CHASSIS AND THOMAS BUILT HDX SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND ADL SERIES REAR SUSPENSIONS. IN SOME INSTANCES THE TRANSVERSE BEAM WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE WELD.

Consequence: IF THE WELD FAILS, VEHICLE STABILITY WHILE CORNERING COULD BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH SAF-HOLLAND TO HAVE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ADL TRANSVERSE BEAM PERFORMED. IF A WELD DEFECT IS IDENTIFIED, SAF-HOLLAND WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE REPLACEMENT KIT THAT CONTAINS A NEW TRANSVERSE BEAM, ALL NECESSARY INSTALLATION HARDWARE, BEAM REPLACEMENT, AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 08E031). THE RECALL RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 (THOMAS BUILT BUSES) AND OCTOBER 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-231-773-3271 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2008-07-01 (July 1, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 226 MY 2008-2009 AMERICAN ALLEGIANCE, AMERICAN EAGLE, AMERICAN HERITAGE, AMERICAN TRADITION, BOUNDER, BOUNDER DIESEL, DISCOVERY, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, FIESTA LX, PACE ARROW, PROVIDENCE, REVOLUTION LE, SOUTHWIND, CLASS A MOTOR HOMES, AND ICON, JAMBOREE, JAMBOREE GT, JAMBOREE SPORT, PULSE, TIOGA, AND TIOGA RANGER CLASS C MOTOR HOMES. THESE MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 567, 'CERTIFICATION.' THE OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY WERE CALCULATED INCORRECTLY ALLOWING ADDITIONAL LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY.

Consequence: OVERLOADING MAY HAVE AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON MOTOR HOME HANDLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD WILL MAIL A CORRECTED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION LABEL ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AFFECTED MOTOR HOME OWNERS. OWNERS WHO DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE INSTALLING THIS LABEL CAN TAKE THEIR MOTOR HOME TO ANY FLEETWOOD DEALER AND THE DEALER WILL INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.

Reported: 2009-02-18 (February 18, 2009)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 3,782 MY 2006-2009 PROVIDENCE, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, DISCOVERY AND BOULDER DIESEL MOTOR HOMES. THE BATTERY CABLE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO A SHARP EDGE LOCATED ON TOP OF A SHELF INSTALLED OVER THE DRIVESHAFT.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE ABRASION TO THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION, LEADING TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND POSSIBLY A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE CABLE AWAY FROM THE SHARP EDGE LOCATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY, 26 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 800-509-3418.

Reported: 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 311 MY 2008-2009 PROVIDENCE, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, DISCOVERY AND BOUNDER DIESEL MOTOR HOME. THE BATTERY CABLE MAY BECOME DISLODGED AND COME IN CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER SHAFT CAUSING ENTANGLEMENT OR ABRASION TO THE BATTERY CABLE.

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE OR UN-COMMANDED VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE DAMAGE BATTERY CABLES AND SECURE THE BATTERY CABLE HARNESS ABOVE THE DRIVE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.