CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH IMPROPERLY HARDENED

Feb 28, 2006 — Recall Campaign #06V060000

CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH IMPROPERLY HARDENED AXLE WHEEL STUDS.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 21 units affected.

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

06V060000

Manufacturer:	FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Recall date:	February 28, 2006
NHTSA Campaign #:	06V060000
Units affected:	21

Description:: CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH IMPROPERLY HARDENED AXLE WHEEL STUDS.
Consequeces:: IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED WHEEL STUDS MAY BREAK AT ANY TIME, CAUSING THE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE TRAILER, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRAILER HUB AND DRUM ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 800-455-3307.
Notes:: FLEETWOOD RECALL NO. 60227.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Affects the following:

2006 FLEETWOOD PROWLER Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FLEETWOOD PROWLER TRAVEL TRAILER. WHILE OPERATING THE TRAILER, THE CONTACT'S BRAND NEW TIRES BEGAN RUBBING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS NOT STABLE AND LIMITED THE SPEED TO 50 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TRIED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE COMPANY WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE COMPANY THAT TOOK ITS PLACE WAS CONTACT AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE TRAVEL TRAILER WAS PURCHASED AT CAMPING WORLD OF LUBBOCK (1701 S LOOP 289, LUBBOCK, TX 79423, (888) 414-7713). THE CONTACT HAD PURCHASED A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INCLUDING A SWAY BAR FROM THE DEALER AND BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS WORKED FINE. THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THE AXLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NO MILEAGE.;
2006 FLEETWOOD TERRY Complaints
2006 FLEETWOOD TERRY 39FT RV. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING REFRIGERATOR RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF HIS CO ALARM AND THE STRONG SMELL OF AMMONIA. AFTER REALIZING IT WAS COMING FROM THE REFRIGERATOR, HE SHUT THE UNIT DOWN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR HIS MODEL # RM 2852 RB. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. AFTER CONTACTING A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND DOMETIC CUSTOMER SERVICE , THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED DOMETIC WAS ONLY WILLING TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE SAFETY SHIELD AND HEAT SENSOR AND NOT THE REPAIR OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FATIGUE CRACKS WHICH LEAKED FLUID INTO THE BOILER TUBE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE KIT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A BAND-AID AND AN ATTEMPT TO MASK THE REAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *JB;
2006 FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS Complaints
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. AT THE SALE THE OWNER EXPLAINED THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND ONE OF THE AXLES HAD BEEN REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY I WAS HAVING STABILITY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAYS AROUND OTHER LARGE VEHICLES, BUT WIND, CORNERING AND UNEVEN PAVEMENT WERE PROBLEMS AS WELL. NUMEROUS TIMES I EXAMINED MY TRUCK, HITCH / WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND ANTI-SWAY SETUP HAD COME TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE TRAILER. I REPLACED TWO OF THE TIRES AFTER A FLAT AND STILL NEED TO DO THE OTHER TWO. AFTER THE TRIP I CRAWLED UNDER THE TRAILER TO EXAMINE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND CHECK THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE. BOTH THE ORIGINAL AXLE AND THE NEW DEXTER AXLE ARE RATED FOR 3500 LBS; HEREIN LIES THE RUB. MY TRAVEL TRAILER HAS A DRY WEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 6000 LBS (5933 TO BE EXACT) AND A GVWR OF 8000 LBS AND SITS (FROM THE FACTORY MIND YOU) ON 3500 LB AXLES. THE UNIT FROM THE FACTORY EMPTY IS 1000 LBS SHY OF THE MAXIMUM DUTY RATING OF THE SUSPENSION PARTS HOWEVER IF YOU LOAD THE THING UP TO IT'S MAXIMUM VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING, IT IS 1000 LBS OVER THE DUTY RATING OF THE SUSPENSION PARTS. UPON INSPECTION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE YEARS OF TRAVELING AT AND ABOVE THE DUTY RATING OF THE SUSPENSION HAS TAKEN IT'S TOLL AND IT SHOULD ALL BE REPLACED. I'M GUESSING THE PREVIOUS OWNER JUST REPLACED THE ONE AXLE AND GAVE UP. I CANNOT FIND ANY RECALLS OR ANYWHERE WHERE FLEETWOOD ADDRESSED OR TRIED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, SO I COME TO THE NHTSA TO FIND OUT IF I HAVE MISSED A RECALL OR SOMETHING OR AT THE VERY LEAST... WHY THE MATH DOES NOT WORK. HOW CAN THE GVWR EXCEED THE DUTY RATING FOR THE SUSPENSION PARTS RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY. MY TRAILER IS NOW REMOVED FROM SERVICE UNTIL I CAN REPLACE THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM!;