2003 Gulf Stream INDEPENDENCE: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE WANDERS TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040318 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE RUBBER ON THE ROOF TORE APART AND WAS HANGING ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES FAULTY INSTALLATION WAS THE CAUSE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089131 at NHTSA ↗

NO WARNING, COMPLETE DRIVESHAFT FAILURE CAUSING $6000 DAMAGE. DRIVE SHAFT CHANGED FROM CHEVROLET 2 PIECE TO 3 PIECE. MANUFACTURE OF MOTORHOME AND COMPANY DOING THE DRIVE SHAFT CHANGES REFUSED TO HELP. ALSO FRAME CUT AND WELDED TO MAKE LONGER, BAD WELD JOB COMING APART. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176005 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-03-12 (March 12, 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 IS BEGAN MAY 1, 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 GULF STREAM AT 1-574-773-7761.

Reported: 2006-04-11 (April 11, 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 GULF STREAM AT 574-773-7761.

Reported: 2007-03-20 (March 20, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS 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: GULF STREAM 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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR GULF STREAM AT 1-574-773-7761.

Reported: 2008-08-15 (August 15, 2008)

GULF STREAM IS RECALLING 26,847 MY 2003-2006 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES 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: GULF STREAM 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 GULF STREAM AT 1-574-773-7761.

Reported: 2009-10-01 (October 1, 2009)

GULF STREAM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR, 1200LRIM, AND 1201LRIM REFRIGERATORS 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 CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: GULF STREAM IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE ALSO SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT NOTICE 09E-027. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STREAM AT 1-800-289-8787 OR NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.

Reported: 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)

GULF STREAM IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS 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: GULF STREAM 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 MARCH 23, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR GULF STREAM AT 1-574-773-7761.

Reported: 2012-03-20 (March 20, 2012)

GULF STREAM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 CLASS “A” AND “C” RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, BUILT ON FLOORPLANS 6316, 6317, 6330, 8325 AND 8328, DUE TO A SECTION OF UNSECURED WIRING. SEE THE ABOVE LIST FOR THE MODELS AFFECTED. THE WIRING WITHIN THE RACEWAY MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED LEADING TO WEAR AND POTENTIAL HEAT DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE EXPOSED WIRING AND HEATED REFRIGERATOR COILS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO FAILURE OF THE 110 VOLT ELECTRICAL WIRING ROUTED TO THE MICROWAVE CABINET, INCREASING THE RISK OF FIRE, PERSONAL INJURY, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: GULF STREAM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STREAM AT 1-800-482-6456.