1999 Safari CONTINENTAL: complaints, problems and recalls

ON MAY 7, 2005, I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SAFARI MOTORHOME WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH A 1999 FORD E-450 CHASSIS. I WAS ON I-64 AT BECKLEY, WV AND DRIVING APP. 55 MILES PER HOUR. FIVE OF THE 6 TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S BRAND AND ONE OF THEM HAD AN APPERENT TREAD SEPARATION, AND SUBSEQUENT BLOWOUT. I MANAGED TO GET KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, MAINLY BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE BACK AND IT IS A DUAL WHEEL CHASSIS. THE TIRES HAVE 38,000 MILES AND ARE 6 YEARS OLD, BUT THE TREASD IS STILL GOOD. WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED, IT TORN…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120480 at NHTSA ↗

1999 SAFARI CONTINTENTAL BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE BRAKES OVERHEATED AND RUPTURED THE FRONT HUB OIL SEALS, DRAINING THE OIL FROM THE HUBS. RECALL#02V278000. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134552 at NHTSA ↗

ONE SMALL BATTERY WIRE COLD CRIMP CAME LOSE WHEN I WENT OVER A RAILROAD TRACK AT 45 MPH AND TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM AND ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED. NO ADEQUATE EMERGENCY BRAKING FAIL-SAFE TYPE SYSTEM EXISTS ON THIS VEHICLE UNDER THIS CONDITION AND THE VEHICLE WEIGHS WELL OVER 26000 POUNDS. I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP AND LUCKILY THE HIGHWAY WAS CLEAR. *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213663 at NHTSA ↗

PARKING BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS LOOSEN AND FALL OUT ALLOWING THE CALIPER TO BE PARTIALLY DISLODGED FROM THE ROTOR, WHEN THE SERVICE BRAKE IS RELEASED THE CALIPER SLIPS OFF THE ROTOR AND THE VEHICLE IS FREE TO ROLL. THERE ARE MANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THIS WILL RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. IN DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CHASSIS BUILDER (MAGNUM), THE BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS THE BRAKE CALIPER IS UNDERDESIGNED AND RESULTS IN THE BOLTS LOOSENING FROM SERVICE LOADING. WHEN THE COMPANY SHIPPED THE FIRST REPLACEMENT CA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730263 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-06-27 (June 27, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1999 AND 2000 MOTOR HOMES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 2 AND NOVEMBER 20, 1999, AND EQUIPPED WITH ABS SYSTEMS WITH BRAKE WIRING HARNESS PART #2505168. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WHICH CONNECTS TO THE MODULATOR WAS MIS-WIRED CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULATOR TO REACT IMPROPERLY WHILE REGULATING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO THE APPROPRIATE WHEEL.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN CERTAIN BRAKING SITUATIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS UPDATE, WHICH PROPERLY ROUTES THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM THE ECU TO THE MODULATOR. 7OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JULY 13, 2000. 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 SAFARI/BEAVER/HARNEY AT 1-800-344-6332.

Reported: 2001-04-17 (April 17, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PHASE 1, D-VERSION ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), FAIL TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." AN INTERNAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM IN THE ABS MAY NOT DETECT AN EXTREME WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AIR GAP. SUCH A CONDITION COULD POSSIBLY OCCUR DURING (1) ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY OR (2) SUBSEQUENT WHEEL END SERVICE.

Consequence: THIS COULD DISABLE THE ANTI-LOCK FUNCTION ON THE AFFECTED WHEEL WITHOUT PROVIDING THE REQUIRED OPERATOR WARNING THAT THE ABS FUNCTION REQUIRES SERVICING.

Remedy: THE ABS ECU WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED ON THESE MOTOR HOMES. MERITOR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY SCHEDULING FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL/MAY 2001. 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 MERITOR WABCO AT 1-800-535-5560.

Reported: 2002-10-22 (October 22, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES THAT CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC DETERIORATION OF THE WHEEL END COMPONENTS SUCH AS BEARINGS, RACES, SPINDLES, KNUCKLES, SEALS, HUBS, ROTORS, PATCH BOLTS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, AND ABS SENSORS.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL, AND/OR THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FOR CORROSION AND REPLACE OR REBUILD THE CALIPERS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.

Reported: 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, FIFTH WHEELS AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR COOLING UNITS MODEL NUMBERS 1200LR AND 1200RIM, THESE REFRIGERATORS CAN EXPERIENCE LOW CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE LIQUID SOLUTION SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE SEALED, PRESSURIZED COOLING UNIT THROUGH A SMALL CRACK.

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

Remedy: NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COOLING UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. 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 NORCOLD SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-667-3005 OR MONACO AT 574-862-7211.