Your recreational vehicle may be involved in a safety recall and may create a safety risk for you or your passengers. Safety defects must be repaired by a certified dealer at no cost to you. However, if left unrepaired, a potential safety defect in your vehicle could lead to injury or even death.
What is a recall?
When a manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines that a recreational vehicle or item of RV equipment creates an unreasonable risk to safety or fails to meet minimum safety standards, the manufacturer is required to fix that vehicle or equipment at no cost to the consumer.
NHTSA releases its most recent list of recalls each Monday.
The number of RV recalls has increased significantly in recent years: 169 recalls were issued during 2016, 203 recalls during 2017, and 230 for 2018.
It should be noted that RV recalls are related to vehicle safety and not product quality. NHTSA has no interest in an air conditioner failing to cool or slide out failing to extend or retract—unless they can be directly attributed to product safety.
NHTSA announced 17 recall notices during June 2019. These recalls involved 10 recreational vehicle manufacturers—Forest River (4 recalls), Keystone RV Company (3 recall), Airstream (2 recall), Newmar (2 recalls), MCI (1 recall), Lance Camper (1 recall), Newell (1 recall), Jayco (1 recall), Thor Motor Coach (1 recall), and Entegra Coach (1 recall).
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Coachmen Beyond, Crossfit and Galleria motorhomes equipped with ProAir air conditioning systems powered by a LI3 lithium ion battery system. The wiring for ProAir system may be undersized for the potential load. Additionally, the circuit was not fuse or breaker protected.
Forest River has notified owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and install a circuit breaker, free of charge. The recall began May 20, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8590. Forest River’s number for this recall is 225-1003.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Shasta Revere SHT32FE recreational trailers. The liquid propane (LP) gas line may have been improperly installed through the wheel-well, allowing the gas line to be damaged by road debris kicked up by the tires.
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will re-reroute the LP gas line so that road debris cannot damage it, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 22, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-8717. Forest River’s number for this recall is 53-0995.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Starcraft All Star XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines with fuel module option number FS90301 or FS90453. The electric fuel heater within the fuel module may overheat and cause plastic in the fuel heater to melt and potentially catch fire. It may also lead to engine stalling.
The remedy for this recall is still under development. The recall is expected to begin June 17, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440 or Cummins customer service at 1-800-286-6467. Forest River’s number for this recall is 05-1021.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Glaval Universal transit buses, models US50225, US50225C, US50226, US50226C, and US80227C. The buses are missing one egress window on the curbside and roadside of the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, “Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release.”
Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will install one additional egress window on each the curbside and roadside of the vehicle, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440. Forest River’s number for this recall is 05-1029.
Keystone RV Company
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fuzion 429 recreational trailers. The wiring harness to the power center may have been pinched between the floor framing and chassis beam, potentially damaging the wiring harness.
Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the wiring as needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone’s number for this recall is 19-351.
Keystone RV Company
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Dutchmen Voltage trailers, model 4185. An 18,000 lb.-capacity fifth wheel pin box may have been installed instead of the specified 21,000 lb-capacity pin box hitch.
Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pin box inner with a pin box inner rated for 21,000 lbs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone’s number for this recall is 19-354.
Keystone RV Company
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2020 Crossroads Cruiser fifth wheel recreational trailers, models 27MK, 29SI, 28RD, 24RL and 29RK. The furnace exhaust vent may be missing.
Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will install a furnace exhaust vent if it is missing, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 10, 2019. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone’s number for this recall is 19-355.
Airstream
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2018-2020
International, Sport, Flying Cloud, Classic, Tommy Bahama,
Globetrotter, and Nest travel trailers. The forward end of the spare tire
carrier may contact the ground while the trailer is moving possibly resulting
in the carrier and spare tire separating from the vehicle.
Airstream will notify owners, and dealers will install corrected spare tire carrier brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111, extension 7401 or 7411.
Airstream
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Basecamp trailers. The Tire Placard is lacking the trailer’s spare tire information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, “Tire Selections and Rims.”
Airstream will notify owners, and will provide corrected labels, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 23, 2019. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 extension 7401 or 7411.
Newmar
Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019 Mountain Aire and Essex motorhomes built on Freightliner XC chassis equipped with air disc brakes. The brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will inspect and repair the vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 21, 2019. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar’s numbers for this recall are FL-816 and 19V-367.
Newmar
Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019 Essex, King Aire, London Aire, Mountain Aire, and 2020 Dutch Star motorhomes. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction due to a partially blocked orifice, which may lead to extended stopping distance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, “Air Brake Systems.”
Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect and replace the brake relay valve, if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Newmar’s number for this recall is 19012.
Motor Coach Industries (MCI)
Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2019 J3500 and D4505 buses, and 2018-2019 J4500 buses equipped with Transpec T287x Series glass roof hatches. Temperature and vibration stresses may cause the tempered glass roof hatch to shatter.
MCI will notify owners, instructing them to contact the hatch manufacturer for a replacement roof hatch, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 14, 2019. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI’s number for this recall is SB 471.
Lance Camper
Lance Camper Manufacturing. Corp. (Lance Camper) is recalling certain 2019-2020 855S and 1172 Truck Campers. There may be a large gap between the fold down bunk bed, while it is in the sleeping position, and the window near the sleeping area.
The remedy for this recall is still under development. The recall is expected to begin July 1, 2019. Owners may contact Lance Camper customer service at 1-661-949-3322.
Newell
Newell Coach Corp. (Newell) is recalling certain 2017-2020 P50 motorcoaches. The passenger side wiper arm linkage may be too short, possibly causing the wiper to malfunction and rotate in a downward position.
Newell will notify owners, and dealer will inspect and replace the wiper linkage with one that has been properly aligned, if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 21, 2019. Owners may contact Newell customer service at 1-888-363-9355.
Jayco
Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2020 Greyhawk motorhomes. The brake relay valve may have an air flow restriction due to a partially blocked orifice, which may cause to extended stopping distance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, “Air Brake Systems.”
Spartan will notify Jayco owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect and replace the brake relay valve, if necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-5008 or Jayco at 1-800-517-9137.
Thor Motor Coach
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Magnitude, Omni motorhomes, models BB35 and BH35. Wires located in the electrical junction box may move around and contact an extra screw that was errantly installed.
TMC will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the junction box and remove the extra screw, and repair any damaged wiring, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 5, 2019. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC’s number for this recall is RC000169.
Entegra Coach
Entegra Coach (Entegra) is recalling certain 2020 Anthem and Cornerstone motorhomes. The steering shaft bolt may have been insufficiently tightened.
Entegra will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorhome and tighten the steering shaft bolt, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Entegra customer service at 1-800-517-9137. Entegra’s number for this recall is 9803435.
Note: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Please Note: This is the fifth in a series of posts relating to RV Manufacturers Recalls
Worth Pondering…
It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.
—Martin Van Buren