VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED BY AM-SAFE

Mar 30, 2001 — Recall Campaign #01V097003

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED BY AM-SAFE. ON SOME SEAT BELTS, THE BUCKLE AND CONNECTOR MAY UNLATCH DURING A COLLISION.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 3,150 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

01V097003

Manufacturer:	FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL
Recall date:	March 30, 2001
NHTSA Campaign #:	01V097003
Units affected:	3,150

Description:: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED 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 NOTIFIED FOUR WINDS' CUSTOMERS TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE SEAT BELTS REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 31, 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 OR FOUR WINDS AT 219-266-1111.
Notes:: 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:

2001 FOUR WINDS CHATEAU Complaints
MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL IN OUR 2001 MOTORHOME. NO BRAKES AT ALL. COST US $2800. TO FIX ALL PARTS CONNECTED TO THE BRAKES. AUTO REPAIR MAN SAID MASTER CYLINDER STUCK & WAS WHAT CAUSED ALL THE PROBLEMS. WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZ & HAD JUST CAME DOWN INTO TOWN WHEN WE REALIZED WE HAD NO BRAKES . *TR;
2001 FOUR WINDS FOUR WINDS 5000 Complaints
MY 2001 FOUR WINDS 5000 MOTOR HOME EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE MAIN DOOR LOCK MECHANISM MANUFACTURED BY TRIMARK CORPORATION ON FRIDAY 6/1/18. THE DOOR LOCK IS TRIMARK MODEL #060-0650. THE FAILURE MODE RESULTED IN THE DOOR TO BE LOCKED SHUT FROM BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE RV. THE INTERNAL COMPONENT THAT FAILED IS THE "PLUNGER" THAT IS MADE FROM DIE-CAST ZINC, NOT STEEL. THE PLUNGER FAILED IN A MANNER THAT MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT THE PLUNGER FROM THE DOOR STRIKER PLATE, WHICH IN TURN MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOOR TO OPEN WAS TO REMOVE THE FACE PLATE ON THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND LITERALLY CUT AWAY WITH A DREMEL TOOL AND DRILL MOTOR ENOUGH MATERIAL SURROUNDING THE BROKEN PLUNGER TO BE ABLE TO GRAB THE PLUNGER WITH A NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS AND EXTRACT IT FROM THE DOOR STRIKER PLATE (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS). IT TOOK OVER TWO HOURS TO COMPLETE THIS EFFORT TO OPEN THE DOOR. NOTE IN THE PHOTOS THE DESIGN OF THE BROKEN PLUNGER, WITH THE 1/2" THICK END MATED WITH THE .095" THIN END, ALL MADE OUT OF ZINC POT METAL. SUCH AN INFERIOR DESIGN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED INTO THE MARKETPLACE, KNOWING FULL WELL THE FAILURE MODE WAS FOR THE DOOR TO BE LOCKED FROM BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PURE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF TRIMARK CORPORATION FOR THE ZINC VERSION OF THE PLUNGER TO EVER BE DESIGNED AND RELEASED FOR PRODUCTION. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FACT THERE ARE LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RV ON THE ROAD TODAY WITH TRIMARK MODEL #060-0650 DOOR LOCKS THAT COULD FAIL IN A MODE THAT TRAPS THE RV OCCUPANTS (AND POSSIBLY THEIR PETS) INSIDE THEIR VEHICLES, OR PREVENTS THEM FROM ENTERING THEIR VEHICLES FROM THE OUTSIDE.;
2001 FOUR WINDS HURRICANE Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FOUR WINDS HURRICANE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR WAS FAULTY AND COULD CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500.;