Ford Motor Company has announced NHTSA recall 12V035000 (Ford recall 12S27), which affects 2011 model-year F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2010, through July 1, 2011, and 2012 model-year F-53 and F-59 chassis manufactured from May 10, 2011, through October 25, 2011. The potential number of chassis involved is 13,239.
On the affected chassis, the cable for the “PRNDL” gear indicator on the steering column may break where it attaches to the transmission control selector arm assembly. If this cable breaks, the transmission gear indicator will remain in the “1” position (first gear) regardless of which gear is selected. An incorrect gear indication in the instrument panel may prevent the driver from knowing whether the vehicle is in park or reverse, increasing the risk of a crash.
A Ford dealer will replace the transmission selector arm assembly and the “PRNDL” cable assembly. The repair is expected to take approximately one hour. However, because of service scheduling times, the service department may need the vehicle for a longer time period.
For more information, contact Ford Motor Company at (866) 436-7332. Owner notification was expected to begin in March 2012.
Navistar Inc., on behalf of Monaco RV LLC, has announced NHTSA recall 12V060000, which affects 2008 through 2010 model-year Beaver Contessa; 2009 Beaver Monterey; 2009 through 2011 model-year Holiday Rambler Ambassador, and Monaco Cayman and Knight; 2010 and 2011 model-year Holiday Rambler Endeavor, Neptune, and Scepter, and Monaco Camelot and Diplomat; and 2011 model-year Monaco Vesta motorhomes built from October 25, 2007, through August 26, 2010. The potential number of motorhomes involved is 249. The affected units must have been sold by Monaco RV LLC to qualify for the recall.
The affected vehicles are equipped with IOTA ITS-50R 50-amp automatic transfer switches. The IOTA ITS-50R automatic transfer switch bus bar and/or electrical connections may be inadequate to handle the electrical load. This could cause the transfer switch to overheat and possibly melt, which could lead to a possible fire, potentially resulting in property damage, personal injury, or death.
A Monaco RV dealer will replace the IOTA ITS-50R transfer switch with another brand of transfer switch. The repair is expected to take approximately 90 minutes. However, because of service scheduling times, the service department may need the vehicle for a longer time period.
For more information, contact Monaco RV LLC at (877) 466-6226. Owner notification is expected to begin in April 2012.
Spartan Motors Chassis Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 11V587000, which affects 2011 and 2012 model-year K2 chassis manufactured from September 30, 2010, through November 22, 2011. These chassis have a 52,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating and are equipped with 3030 brake chambers. The potential number of chassis involved is 35.
The affected chassis do not meet the park brake and draw bar requirements of sections S5.6 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 121, “Air Brake Systems.” Under certain conditions, the park brake may not hold the vehicle in place. This could allow the vehicle to move without warning, potentially leading to a crash, personal injury, and property damage.
A Spartan service center will replace the 3030 brake chambers with 3036 brake chambers on the affected chassis. As of press time, Spartan Motors Chassis had not established an estimated time of repair or owner notification schedule for this recall.
For more information, contact Spartan Motors Chassis Inc. at (517) 543-6400.
Thor Industries Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 12V066000, which involves 2010 model-year Thor Motor Coach Windsport 32A and Hurricane 32A motorhomes built from April 27, 2009, through September 3, 2011. The potential number of motorhomes involved is 165. This recall expands upon NHTSA recall 11V459000, which was announced in August 2011 and appeared in the November 2011 issue of Family Motor Coaching (page 20).
On the affected motorhomes, the exhaust is located too close to a storage compartment, causing heat to build in that area. This heat buildup could result in a fire, property damage, and personal injury or death.
A Thor Motor Coach dealer will install a heat shield to protect the storage compartment from the heat generated by the exhaust. The repair is expected to take approximately 30 minutes, unless it is found that the compartment has been damaged, which may require additional work. However, because of service scheduling times, the service department may need the vehicle for a longer time period.
For more information, contact Thor Motor Coach at (877) 855-2867. Owner notification began on February 27, 2012.
Winnebago Industries Inc. has announced NHTSA recall 12V049000, which affects 2012 model-year Itasca Impulse, Itasca Impulse Silver, Winnebago Access, and Winnebago Access Premier motorhomes manufactured from June 28, 2011, through January 25, 2012. The potential number of vehicles involved is 31.
On the affected motorhomes, the parking brake cable may rub against a metal tube located under the vehicle. This rubbing could cause the brake cable to fail to release, or, over time, the cable may abrade until it fails. This could result in the vehicle rolling away without prior warning, which could result in property damage, personal injury, or death.
A Winnebago Industries dealer will shorten the metal tube to provide clearance for the parking brake cable. The repair is expected to take less than one hour. However, because of service scheduling times, the service department may need the vehicle for a longer time period.
For more information, contact Winnebago Industries Inc. at (641) 585-6939. Owner notification was expected to begin in March 2012.
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