2002 Foretravel U320: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2002-01-24 (January 24, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY BOLT IS TOO SHORT TO COMPLETELY TIGHTEN THE CRANK ARM AROUND THE MOTOR SHAFT. THE ARM COULD LOOSEN FROM THE MOTOR SHAFT, CAUSING THE WIPER NOT TO WORK.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY DURING CRITICAL PERIODS WHEN WIPERS ARE NECESSARY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY AND CORRECT IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 6, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORETRAVEL AT 1-800-955-6226, EXTENSION 254.

Reported: 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH DUAL LINKAGE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS. THE WIPER MOTOR SECURING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED AND SERCURED WITH THREAD LOCKING COMPOUND.

Consequence: THE SECURING BOLTS MAY WORK LOOSE AND ALLOW THE WIPER ARMS TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL PATH DURING OPERATION. THE DRIVER'S VISABILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED AND THE EXISTING MOUNTING BOLTS WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH NEW BOLTS, LOCK WASHER, AND THREAD LOCKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORETRAVEL AT 936-564-8367.

Reported: 2007-03-05 (March 5, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: FORETRAVEL WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FORETRAVEL AT 1-936-564-8367. (PLEASE NOTE: REFRIGERATOR MODEL RM3363 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.)

Reported: 2008-07-14 (July 14, 2008)

FORETRAVEL IS RECALLING MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FORETRAVEL IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FORETRAVEL AT 936-564-8367.

Reported: 2009-07-29 (July 29, 2009)

FORETRAVEL IS RECALLING 1 MODEL YEAR 2002 U320 RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A NORCOLD MODEL 1200LRIM REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 1, 2001 TO DECEMBER 31, 2002, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.

Consequence: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: FORETRAVEL IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 09E-027). OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.

Reported: 2010-11-18 (November 18, 2010)

FORETRAVEL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998, 1999, 2001, AND 2002 MODEL U320 COACHES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Consequence: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.

Remedy: FORETRAVEL IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 10, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR FORETRAVEL AT 1-936-564-8367.