VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A AND C MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES BUILT BY AM-SAFE

Sep 13, 2000 — Recall Campaign #00V273001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A AND C MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES BUILT BY AM-SAFE. ON SOME SEAT BELTS, THE BUCKLE AND CONNECTOR MAY UNLATCH DURING A COLLISION.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 2,688 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

00V273001

Manufacturer:	Coachmen RV Company, LLC
Recall date:	September 13, 2000
NHTSA Campaign #:	00V273001
Units affected:	2,688

Description:: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A AND C MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES BUILT BY AM-SAFE. ON SOME SEAT BELTS, THE BUCKLE AND CONNECTOR MAY UNLATCH DURING A COLLISION.
Consequeces:: SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Corrective action:: AM-SAFE IN NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS THAT THEY WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE.
Notes:: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 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 AM-SAFE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AT 219-266-8330. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Affects the following:

2000 COACHMEN CATALINA Complaints
FORD SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). RECALL 05S28. CALLED FORD TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT REPLACE THE PART BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART. SAID WILL NOT HAVE IT, MAYBE TILL DEC. THEY SAID THEY WILL DISCONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL TILL THE PARTS COME IN. THIS VEHICLE IS A MOTOR HOME. WE USE OUR MOTOR HOME A LOT. NOW I AM SUPPOSE TO WAIT TILL THE PARTS, MAYBE WILL BE IN, IN DEC????? PLUS I GET 8 MILES TO THE GALLON OF GAS AND I AM SUPPOSE TO DRIVE 25 MILES EACH WAY TO GET THIS FIXED 2 TIMES? TOTAL OF 100 MILES. THIS WILL COAST ME ABOUT 12 GALLONS OF GAS AT $265 A GALLON. TOTAL $31.00 FOR GAS AND MY TIME AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PART IN. CAN YOU HELP US OUT? *JB;
2000 COACHMEN LEPRECHAUN Complaints
DRIVING DOWN I75 NORTH OF TAMPA IN COACHMAN MOTORHOME , IT STARTED SHAKING THEN SHAKING GOT WORSE AND WORSE, I SLOWED TO 15 MPG AND EASED TO SHOULDER STOPPED VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT BACK TIRES , AND FOUND THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE ON THE DRIVERS INSIDE DUAL TIRE. I CHECKED BACK AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD AND NO VISIBLE PUNCTURE DAMAGE TO TIRE. IT JUST BLEW APART. WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED IT CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE COACH. THE BOX FOR THE SEWER CONNECTIONS WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND THE FILLER TUBE FOR THE FUEL TANK WAS HIT AND PULLED IN DESTROYING THE GAS CAP AND ADJACENT AREA . OTHER PIECES HIT VARIOUS PARTS OF THE REAR BENDING AND DISTORTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE.*JB;
2000 COACHMEN MIRADA Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 COACHMEN MIRADA. WHILE DRIVING AND EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT IRREGULAR AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER, A FIREMAN ALERTED THE CONTACT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO FLAMES ERUPTING FROM THE TWO FRONT WHEELS. THE REAR WHEELS WERE NOT AFFECTED BY THE FAILURE. THE FIREMAN AND THE CONTACT USED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND COVERED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V193000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 09V110000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), ALTHOUGH IT EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,747.;
2000 COACHMEN PATHFINDER Complaints
AT 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT WENT INTO AN OPEN FIELD, BECAME AIR BORN, LANDED AND ROLLED OVER AT LEAST 9 TIMES. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER SIDE OR FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK;
2000 COACHMEN SANTARA Complaints
(REAR INSIDE DUAL) FIRESTONE STEELEX RADIAL R4SII , LT225/75/R16 TIRE EXPLODED ON COACHMEN 2000 MOTOR HOME AT 60 MPH AND 81 DEGREES F. TIRES HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED AND INFLATED TO 80 PSI 12 MILES PRIOR TO BLOW OUT. SOME DAMAGE DONE TO COACH AS TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED. 15,700 MILES ON ODOMETER.*AK;