HEARTLAND IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER AXLES

Oct 08, 2010 — Recall Campaign #10V461000

HEARTLAND IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER AXLES. ON SOME AXLES, CRACKS COULD APPEAR IN THE SPINDLE WELD.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 48 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

10V461000

Manufacturer:	Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC
Recall date:	October 08, 2010
NHTSA Campaign #:	10V461000
Units affected:	48

Description:: HEARTLAND IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER AXLES. ON SOME AXLES, CRACKS COULD APPEAR IN THE SPINDLE WELD.
Consequeces:: THESE CRACKS CAN PROPAGATE AND CAUSE THE SPINDLE TO DETACH FROM THE AXLE TUBE, RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL END FROM THE VEHICLE, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD THAT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH TO OTHER VEHICLES, AND COMPROMISES THE DRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Corrective action:: HEARTLAND IS WORKING WITH DEXTER AXLE AND WILL INSPECT THE AXLE SERIAL NUMBER AND REPLACE IT IF IT FALLS WITHIN THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE. REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HEARTLAND WARRANTY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-877-262-8032 OR DEXTER AXLE AT 1-800-400-2164.
Notes:: HEARTLAND SAFETY RECALL NO. 99-01-03.OWNERS 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:

2011 HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY Complaints
WITHIN ONE HOUR OF LEAVING HOME HAD THREE SEPARATE TIRE BLOWOUTS ON RV. TIRES DID NOT APPEAR WORN, INFLATED PROPERLY, LOAD APPROPRIATE, AND STORED UNDER COVER. LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON THESE 2 YEAR OLD ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY RV. OCCURRED ON I-35 DALLAS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO RV, AND RESULTING IN PURCHASE ON THE SPOT OF 4 NEW TIRES. TIRES APPEARED TOTALLY SEPERATED. *TR;
2011 HEARTLAND BIG HORN Complaints
The contact owns a 2011 Heartland Big Horn. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when they noticed smoking coming from the left rear-axel. The contact got flagged by another vehicle to pull over. Once they did so the vehicle was then set on fire. The contact stated they put out the fire with their own extinguisher. A police report was not filed. They were unable to have the vehicle towed therefore it remains where they had to pull over. There were no injuries and no medical attention was needed. A certified mechanic informed the contact that the rear-axel had failed and needed to be replaced. The rear axle had been replaced however the cease hub and bearing had been replaced twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.;
2011 HEARTLAND CYCLONE Complaints
Before a recent trip, I noticed that one of the wheels on my trailer had cracked. I checked the other wheels, and they appeared fine, so I replaced the damaged one at my local Les Schwab. After a four-hour drive, I discovered that three more wheels had cracked. I contacted Les Schwab, and they came out to replace all the wheels and tires. While at camp, I inspected further and found that two of the frame trusses above the axle area were broken. The welds on these trusses were poor, with rust behind them. We had to repair the trusses at camp. After some research, I found this seems to be a common issue with Lippert frames. My wife was so concerned, she refused to ride in the truck while towing the trailer. Now that I was able to get it home without anyone getting injured I'll have to inspect the entire frame.;
2011 HEARTLAND LANDMARK Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HEARTLAND LANDMARK OAKMOND TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 20 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRAILER WAS TOO LARGE FOR THE BRAKES. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 01/12/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RV WOULD NOT STOP AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 20 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TOWING A PICK UP TRUCK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS THE EXHAUST BRAKE AS WELL AS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH A TOW RANGE. HE ALSO STATED HE WAS USING THE PRODIGY ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL WHICH HE HAS USED FOR MANY YEARS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKES WERE NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR A 38FT TRAILER AND BELIEVED THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE HAD 8 TON AXLES. UPDATED 02/27/12;
2011 HEARTLAND ROAD WARRIOR Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HEARTLAND ROAD WARRIOR RV EQUIPPED WITH POWER KING TOWMAX TIRES, SIZE: 235/80R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND TOWING THE RV, THERE WAS A THUD HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE STEEL CHORDS HAD BECOME VISIBLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED ALL OF THE TIRES AND FOUND THAT THE REMAINING TIRES EXHIBITED TREAD SEPARATION AND BULGES. THE FAILED TIRE WAS REMOVED AND THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THERE WERE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SKIRT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO SEND IN THE FAILED TIRES FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE FOR BOTH THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS 800. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF UPDATED 2/4/2013 *JS;