2007 Four Winds MANDALAY: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-02-12 (February 12, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES MAY HAVE IMPROPER ROUTING OR SUPPORT OF THE PROPANE (LP) GAS LINE TO THE KITCHEN SLIDE-OUT ROOM.

Consequence: CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE LP SYSTEM MAY RESULT IN A RUPTURE OF THE GAS LINE CAUSING A GAS LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE THE LP SYSTEM UNTIL THEY CAN TAKE THEIR MOTOR HOMES IN TO THE DEALERS FOR REPAIR. DEALERS WILL RECONFIGURE THE LP GAS SYSTEM PIPING TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR BINDING OR KINKING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111.

Reported: 2007-07-02 (July 2, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH ATWOOD SEALED BURNER RANGES, THE RANGE AND SLIDE-IN BURNER TUBES LEADING FROM THE GAS MANIFOLD TO THE BURNER HEADS HAD A DEPRESSION OR 'KINK' IN THE EXTERIOR BEND RESTRICTING PROPER AIRFLOW AND GAS MIXTURE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

Remedy: FOUR WINDS IS WORKING WITH ATWOOD TO HAVE THE TUBES REPLACED ON THESE RANGES, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ATWOOD AT 1-800-348-7418 OR FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111.

Reported: 2007-12-19 (December 19, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.

Consequence: THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: FOUR WINDS IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2008-07-21 (July 21, 2008)

FOUR WINDS IS RECALLING 1,633 MY 2004-2007 MANDALAY, MY 2005-2007 PRESIDIO, AND MY 2006-2007 VALENCIA 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: FOUR WINDS IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC 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 FOUR WINDS AT 1-800-860-5658.

Reported: 2010-01-28 (January 28, 2010)

FOUR WINDS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 PRESIDIO, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 MANDALAY, AND MODEL YEAR 2010 MONTECITO MOTORHOMES BUILT BETWEEN OCTOBER 5, 2004 AND NOVEMBER 25, 2009 ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 2007 AND NOVEMBER 2009 WITH KONGSBERG POWER PRODUCTS SYSTEMS ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS. THE DRIVE PIN WHICH SECURES THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM TO THE BALANCE OF THE ASSEMBLY MAY BECOME DISENGAGED, THIS MAY CAUSE A REDUCTION IN VEHICLE BRAKING AND/OR CAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND INTERFERE WITH THROTTLE PEDAL FUNCTION.

Consequence: A REDUCTION IN BRAKING OR INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS, THE PARENT COMPANY OF FREIGHTLINER, HAS INDICATED THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING THE OWNERS' NOTIFICATION AND WILL BE ADMINISTERING THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE DAIMLER'S DEFECT REPORT 09V-461. DEALERS WILL RECEIVE KITS AND WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL A C-CLAMP ON THE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS WARRANTY CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2010-11-16 (November 16, 2010)

TMC IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011 DAMON AND FOUR WINDS RECREATIONAL VEHICLES 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: TMC 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 NFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR THOR MOTOR COACH AT 1-877-855-2867.