2003 Four Winds WINDSPORT: complaints, problems and recalls

FORD E450 FOUR WINDS 5000 CLASS C RV. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 EAST IN NEBRASKA NEAR MILE MARKER 144 MY FIRESTONE LT 225/75R16 STEELTEX RADIAL R4S II TIRE SHREDDED. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD, PARTLY CLOUDLY, ABOUT 75 DEGREES, LIGHT WIND. THE TIRE HAD ABOUT 19,000 MILES ON IT. RV HAD 2 ADULTS, 2 TEENAGERS, AND 2 PUPPIES IN IT. HALF TANK OF GAS, HOLDING TANKS AND WATER TANKS NEARLY EMPTY, WEIGHT APPOX 14,000 LBS. TIRE WAS ON PASSENGER SIDE, REAR OUTSIDE DUAL. WHEN THE TIRE SHREDDED IT FORCED THE TAILPIPE UP AND AGAINST THE HOL…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020601 at NHTSA ↗

THE WINDSHIELD IS POPPING OUT OF IT'S GROVE ON THE LOWER LEFT BOTTOM AND THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD CAN COME COMPLETELY OUT OF IT'S HOUSING IF THE MOTOR HOME DRIVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD. THE MOTOR HOME IS MANUFACTURED IN A WAY THAT IT'S NOT BALANCED;WHEN WEIGHED THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS 1000 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS PUTS PRESSURE ON THE HOUSING RESULTING IN THE WINDSHIELD POPPING OUT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE MOTOR HOME HAS TO BE TAKEN APART, BALANCED AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092059 at NHTSA ↗

IN JULY 2007 WE WERE IN JAMESTOWN, NY ON LOCAL ROADS DOING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE DRAGGING AND COULD SMELL BURNING AND NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS LOOSING AIR PRESSURE ON THE MONITOR AND PULLED OVER. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WAS LOCKED UP CAUSING THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR TO MELT AND TIRE TO LOOSE PRESSURE. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS ALSO HOT AND SMOKING. WE WERE TOWED TO A CHEVY TRUCK DEALER IN TOWN. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT CALIPERS, PADS, ABS SENSORS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID SOME BUT WE HAD TO PA…

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240179 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOUR WINDS WINDSPORT. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE SIMILAR TO METAL GRINDING ON METAL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V204000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 03V069000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 01/05/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED DEALER SOLD HIM A RV WITH SEVERELY WORN BRAKES. BRAKES WERE METAL TO METAL. UPDATED 7/12/18*JB *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928829 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY STANDARD.

Consequence: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 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 FOUR WINDS AT 1-219-266-1111.

Reported: 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

ON CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, THESE OVENS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.

Remedy: SAMSUNG WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS SHOULD UNPLUG THEIR MICROWAVE, IF POSSIBLE. IF THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNPLUG THE MICROWAVE, THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR UNTIL THE PANEL IS REPLACED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NEVER USE THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR STORAGE OR LEAVE ANY TOWELS, PAPER, CLOTH OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MICROWAVE AFTER USE. 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 SAMSUNG AT 800-932-3837 OR FOUR WINDS AT 1-219-266-1111.

Reported: 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)

CERTAIN MOTORHOMES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A 20/15 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A 15/15 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE BREAKER TO TRIP WHEN THE CIRCUIT IS OVERLOADED RESULTING IN A FIRE, WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECT BREAKER WITH THE CORRECT BREAKER. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 29, 2004. 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 FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111.

Reported: 2006-03-30 (March 30, 2006)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ACTIA CORPORATE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 101 "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS" AND 105 "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." IF THE BRAKE FAIL INPUT FALLS BELOW A VOLTAGE OF 1.5V, THE BRAKE FAILURE LAMP AND ALARM WILL BE ACTIVATED. ALSO ACTIVATION OF THE ABS TELLTALE WHEN THE ABS IS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR.

Consequence: AT NIGHT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS MAY FAIL AND THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR WHICH COULD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WORKHORSE IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN AND REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731 OR FOUR WINDS AT 574-266-1111.

Reported: 2009-06-10 (June 10, 2009)

FOUR WINDS IS RECALLING 684 MY 2002-2006 INFINITY, MY 2002-2007 WINDESPORT, MY 2004-2008 HURRICANE, MY 2006-2007 MEGALLAN AND MY 2008 FUN MOVER MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.

Consequence: THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL, AND POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. WORKHORSE WILL CONDUCT THE OWNER AND DEALER NOTIFICATION. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.