ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, DURING THE MODEL YEAR CHANGE

Sep 17, 2004 — Recall Campaign #04V459000

ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, DURING THE MODEL YEAR CHANGE, TWO POSITIONS IN THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) WERE NOT CORRECTLY CHANGED TO INDICATE A NEW MODEL YEAR. THEREFORE, THE VIN TAG ILLUSTRATES AN INCORRECT VIN NUMBER.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 108 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

04V459000

Manufacturer:	Newmar Corporation
Recall date:	September 17, 2004
NHTSA Campaign #:	04V459000
Units affected:	108

Description:: ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, DURING THE MODEL YEAR CHANGE, TWO POSITIONS IN THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) WERE NOT CORRECTLY CHANGED TO INDICATE A NEW MODEL YEAR. THEREFORE, THE VIN TAG ILLUSTRATES AN INCORRECT VIN NUMBER.
Consequeces:
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REPRINT AND INSTALL NEW FEDERAL VIN TAGS. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NEWMAR CORPORATION AT 1-574-773-7791.
Notes:: CUSTOMERS CAN 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:

2005 NEWMAR KOUNTRY STAR Complaints
Manufacturer-installed Hitch Receiver broke from the frame flanges while pulling away from a stoplight while towing vehicle, resulting in the detachment of the hitch crossbar, tow bars and causing the tow vehicle to cross one lane of traffic and into the grass median towards oncoming traffic. Tow vehicle stopped in median when attached tow equipment dug into soil just before striking a guardrail and on the verge of rolling into oncoming traffic. Had this failure of the hitch assembly occurred at highway speed, a catastrophic collision and death would have been the likely result. The resulting damage from the crossbar detachment resulted in approximately $7500 in damage to the RV, towing system and tow vehicle. Newmar purchased the W22 chassis from Workhorse and built the Kountry Star Motor Home onto that chassis. As part of the manufacturing process, Newmar installed Hidden Hitch part number 64-6100, a hitch receiver with a towing rating of 5000 lbs and a tongue weight rating of 500 lbs. The W22 chassis was used by Newmar over many years, with many of those vehicles still in operation. Inspection by an independent hitch shop indicates that the installed hitch was not designed strongly enough to withstand the stresses from its intended use, which is the flat towing of a passenger vehicle behind the motor home. Due to the height difference between the frame of the Motor Home where the hitch was installed and the attachment points of the towing equipment to the tow car, the Hidden Hitch 64-6100 should have been reinforced to compensate for angular torque from the towning equipment, or a hitch system designed to withstand these added stresses should have been specified and installed by Newmar. Since this was a manufacturer installed receiver hitch, it is likely that all other Workhorse Chassis gas powered RVs manufactured by Newmar in this era have the potential for similar catastrophic failure of the hitch system while flat towing with the Motor Homes.;
2005 NEWMAR MOUNTAIN AIRE Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NEWMAR MOUNTAIN AIRE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NUMBER: 15V829000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.;