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

Apr 30, 2001 — Recall Campaign #01V128004

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A 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 Office of Defects Investigation with about 4,370 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

01V128004

Manufacturer:	Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Recall date:	April 30, 2001
NHTSA Campaign #:	01V128004
Units affected:	4,370

Description:: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A 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:: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP BELTS AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT WITH A NEW BELT ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 25, 2001. 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 AT 1-219-266-8330 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-6939.
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:

1997 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY Complaints
VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SINCE PURCHASE WITH 4,300 MILES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREIGHTLINER DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES. 8 ALIGNMENTS WERE DONE, GEARBOX, DIFFERENTIAL AND TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, WINNEBAGO INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. MR;
2001 ITASCA HORIZON Complaints
WINNEBAGO (ITASCA) IS MANUFACTURING THEIR RV'S WITH AN IMPROPER DOOR LATCH MECHENISM! THIS LEAD TO LOUD SQUEAKING TO THE POINT IT IS A DANGER TO THE EARS OF THE PEOPLE THAT PAY $100,000 TO $250,000 FOR A VEHICLE. WHEN CONTACTED THEIR SERVICE MANAGER IN IOWA STATED THAT THEY COULD FIX THIS FOR FREE. HOWEVER SINCE I SAID I WOULD CONTACT THE FLORIDA LEMON LAW THEY WOULD NOT FIX MINE FOR FREE BUT WOULD CHARGE ME. I HAD TO GET THIS FIXED OR NOT USE MY RV. THEY DID CHARGE ME WELL OVER $125 FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES PRIOR TO ME FINALLY HAVING TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR.;
2001 ITASCA SPIRIT Complaints
ON 2001 ITASCE SPIRIT 31T MOTOR HOME ON A FORD 450 CHASSIS I EXPERIENCED A BELT/TREAD FAILURE OF A FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S LT225/75R16 TIRE ON THE INNER DRIVERS SIDE REAR DUAL WHEEL POSITION. THERE WAS A LOUD RUMBLE WHICH I AT FIRST THOUGHT WAS CAUSED BY PAVEMENT ROUGHNESS. I SLOWED DOWN FROM APPROX. 60 MPH AT WHICH TIME THE TREAD LET GO WITH A LOUD NOISE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS THE OUTER DUAL TIRE HELD. UPON INSPECTION THE INNER HALF OF THE TREAD HAD LET GO, CAUGHT THE 1/16" METAL PLATE HOLDING THE MUD FLAP WHICH IT BENT UP OVER THE TIRES PREVENTING SECONDARY DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL OF MY MOTOR HOME. I TRIED CONTACTING FIRESTONE AND WAS SENT ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE TO END UP ON A VOICE MAIL AT THE DAYTON ENGINEERING CENTER. I AM REPLACING ALL 7 OF THE TIRES ON MY MOTOR HOME WITH NON FIRESTONE TIRES. THE RISK OF INJURY TO MY MOTOR HOME OR THE POSSIBLE DEATH OF MY WIFE AND I OR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WHO FREQUENTLY USE IT FAR OUTWEIGHTS THE COST OF NEW TIRES. REASEARCHING THE NHTSA WEB SITE I FIND THERE HAVE BEEN 216 COMPLAINTS PRIOR TO MINE AND THAT THERE ARE TWO (2) OPEN ODI'S, DP04-004 AND 005. I AM AT PRESENT CONTACTING LISTONI AND LISTONI OF PASADENA CA WHO PETITIONED FOR THESE ACTIONS AND PLAN TO WRITE LETTERS TO ALL OF THE RV OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS ASKING THEM TO MAKE THEIR MEMBERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF THE STEELTEX R4S TIRES. I BELIEVE THAT WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEATHS RESULTING FROM FAILURES OF THESE TIRES THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WERE THE OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES FROM THE SAME ERA. *AK;