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.
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 15 recall notices during November 2021. These recalls involved 7 recreational vehicle manufacturers—Forest River (6 recalls), Jayco (4 recalls), Triple E (1 recall), Thor Motor Coach (1 recall), Newmar (1 recall), Heartland (1 recall), Keystone (1 recall),
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 XLR Toy Hauler recreational vehicles. The protective panel that separates the furnace and furnace components from the mid-deck cargo area is missing.
Dealers will install a felt-covered wall panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-642-0432. Forest River’s number for this recall is 79-1432.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2022 XLR Toy Hauler Recreational Vehicles. The vehicles were incorrectly wired, and they are missing 250AMP over-current protection, which could result in melted wires and an electrical short.
Related: October 2021 RV Manufacturer Recalls: 27 Recalls Involving 15 RV Manufactures
Dealers will replace the gauge wire, and install a sub panel with the correct breaker, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-642-0432. Forest River’s number for this recall is 79-1429.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2022 Coachmen Catalina travel trailers. The panel that separates the furnace from the cooktop was not sealed, which could result in an inverted cooktop flame.
Dealers will seal the furnace from the cooktop, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-574-825-8657. Forest River’s number for this recall is 203-1434.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Continental and Cargo Mate Cargo Trailers. The coupler was improperly welded, which may cause the trailer to separate from the tow vehicle.
Dealers will inspect and replace the coupler, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 22, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-254-420-0171. Forest River’s number for this recall is 700-1438.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cherokee ACKT29TEBL travel trailers. The tire size and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the Federal Placard are incorrect, which could result in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, “Tire Selection and Rims” and 49 CFR Part 567, “Certification.”
Forest River will mail owners a new Federal Placard, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 22, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service at 1-260-499-2100. Forest River’s number for this recall is 17A-1439.
Forest River
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Impression Fifth Wheel Recreational Vehicles. The center identification light on the rear of the vehicle was incorrectly installed at a higher position than the other lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”
The remedy for this recall is still under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 29, 2021. Owners may contact Forest River Customer Service Phone Number 1-574-296-2084. Forest River’s number for this recall is 83-1441.
Jayco
Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2021 Class A Cornerstone motorhomes. A machining defect may cause pressure to build in the power steering pump and break the shaft seal, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
Related: September 2021 RV Manufacturer Recalls
A Spartan or Shyft Group repair center will inspect the pump serial number, and replace the power steering pump if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-283-8267.
Jayco
Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Anthem, Embark, Reatta, and Reatta XL motorhomes. The rear suspension mounting fasteners that attach the rear-drive axle to the rear suspension may not have been tightened properly, which could allow the fasteners to loosen or break.
Jayco will work with Shyft to notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear suspension fasteners for damage, and replace and tighten them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-283-8267.
Jayco
Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2021 Jay Flight Octane travel trailers. The water heater was installed in the incorrect location, which could result in exhaust fumes entering the slide-out area of the trailer.
Dealers will relocate the water heater, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 13, 2022. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-283-8267.
Jayco
Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Jayco Swift and Entegra Ethos motorhomes. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”
Related: August 2021 RV Manufacturer Recalls
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as needed, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 12, 2022. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-283-8267.
Triple E
Triple E Recreational Vehicles (Triple E) is recalling certain 2015 Free Spirit, 2015-2018 Unity, 2015-2016 Libero, 2015-2018 Serenity, and Wonder recreational vehicles. Please see attached 573 for a complete list of model numbers. The refrigerator exhaust vents directly onto the wood frame and surfaces, which can overheat the wood.
Dealers will install metal heat deflectors and screws, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on October 27, 2021. Owners may contact Triple E customer service at 1-877-992-9906. Triple E’s number for this recall is CA#8721-1.
Thor Motor Coach
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain 2017 Challenger, Miramar, and Outlaw motorhomes. The external compartment outer door skin may separate from the motorhome during transit.
Dealers will inspect the compartment door skin and replace the door as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 29, 2021. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC’s number for this recall is RC000247.
Newmar
Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Essex, 2020-2022 King Aire, and London Aire motorhomes. A machining defect may cause pressure to build in the power steering pump and break the shaft seal, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
On behalf of Newmar Corporation, Shyft Group will inspect the pump serial number, and replace the power steering pump if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 18, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar’s customer service at 1-800-731-8300.
Heartland
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Heartland Cyclone and 2019-2021 Road Warrior Toy Hauler recreational trailers. The transfer switch wire securement lugs may have been improperly tightened during production, causing the wires to come loose.
Related: July 2021 RV Manufacturer Recalls
Dealers will inspect and tighten the securement lugs, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 29, 2021. Owners may contact Heartland customer service at 1-877-262-8032.
Keystone
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain Arcadia 3660RL fifth-wheel travel trailers. The Federal Identification Label has the incorrect tire size and tire pressure information.
Dealers will replace the Federal Identification Label, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 29, 2021. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone’s number for this recall is 21-417.
Please Note: This is the 34th 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