Saturday, April 28, 2007

 

RECALL

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
CATERPILLAR / C7 9999
Manufacturer : CATERPILLAR INC.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07E024000 Mfr's Report Date : MAR 30, 2007
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 33
Summary:
CERTAIN CATERPILLAR C7 DIESEL ENGINES INSTALLED ON CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES USED ON 6 CYLINDER, 7L TURBOCHARGED AND AIR-TO-AIR AFTERCOOLED DIESEL ENGINES MAY MALFUNCTION RENDERING THE ENGINE INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING.
Consequence:
THE ECM MAY MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AND RENDER THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL WOULD NOT BE LOST. ONCE THE ENGINE BECOMES INOPERABLE, IT CANNOT BE RESTARTED WHICH MAY RESULT IN A SITUATION WHERE A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
Remedy:
CATERPILLAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 800-447-4986.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

Friday, April 27, 2007

 

RECALL

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
TETON / DENVER III PRESTIGE 2007
TETON / LARAMIE TRADITION 2007
Manufacturer : TETON HOMES
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V171000 Mfr's Report Date : MAR 16, 2007
Component: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 7
Summary:
ON CERTAIN TRAVEL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH HICKORY SPRINGS "BIG EASY TRIPLE STEPS," AN IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE BOTTOM STEP PIVOT ARM WITH THE FORMED STOP EDGE OF THE MIDDLE STEP SUPPORT BRACKET CAN RESULT IN THE BOTTOM STEP ROTATING TO AN UNSAFE DOWNWARD ANGLE.
Consequence:
A PERSON COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE STEP GIVE WAY WHILE BEING USED TO ENTER OR EXIT THE TRAILER.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILERS FOR THE MANUFACTURING DATE STICKER TO VERIFY THE DATE OF PRODUCTION OF THE STEP AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL WELD STOCK TO EACH SIDE OF THE LOWER (TRIPLE) STEP STOP EDGES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TETON HOMES AT 1-307-235-1525.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

 

RECALL

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
TL / MOTORHOME 1999-2003

Manufacturer : TL INDUSTRIES, INC.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V166000 Mfr's Report Date : MAR 20, 2007
Component: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 653
Summary:
CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN CERTAIN TUBING IN THE REFRIGERATOR WHICH COULD ALLOW PRESSURIZED FLAMMABLE COOLANT SOLUTION TO BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
Consequence:
THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
TL INDUSTRIES WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURNER HOUSING AND PROTECTIVE THERMAL FUSES FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC AT 1-888-446-5157, STERICYCLE AT 1-317-860-1163, OR TL INDUSTRIES AT 1-574-264-3127.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

 

RECALL

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
ITASCA / NAVION 2006

WINNEBAGO / VIEW 2006

Manufacturer : WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V163000 Mfr's Report Date : APR 05, 2007
Component: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 1582
Summary:
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE EXTERIOR SLIDEOUT STORAGE DRAWER CAN INADVERTENTLY SLIDE OUT DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY OPERATION.
Consequence:
THIS COULD IMPACT NEARBY PERSONS OR OBJECTS RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/;OR VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY CATCH ON THESE MOTOR HOMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-614-585-3535.
Notes:
WINNEBAGO RECALL NO. 105. 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.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

 

RECALL

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
KEYSTONE / MONTANA 2007
Manufacturer : KEYSTONE RV COMPANY
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V164000 Mfr's Report Date : MAR 29, 2007
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 150
Summary:
ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS, THE TAILLIGHT SOCKETS MAY NOT MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE BULB. THE TAILLIGHTS MAY NOT FUNCTION RELIABLY.
Consequence:
FAILURE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION MAY RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A REAR END COLLISION WHILE DRIVING DUE TO OTHER DRIVERS NOT BEING WARNED ON STOPPING OR TURNING.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAILLIGHT SOCKETS AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KEYSTONE AT 1-866-425-4369.
Notes:
KEYSTONE RECALL NO. 07-081. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION? VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Monday, April 23, 2007

 

FEMA JUST BEING FEMA!

RV Business
Monday, April 23, 2007

FEMA exposed taxpayers to significant waste - and possibly violated federal law - by awarding $3.6 billion worth of Hurricane Katrina contracts to companies with poor credit histories and bad paperwork, investigators say.

According to the Associated Press, the new report by the Homeland Security Department's office of inspector general, set to be released later this week, examines the propriety of 36 contracts for trailer refurbishment designated for small and local businesses in the stricken Gulf Coast region following the 2005 storm.

It found a haphazard competitive bidding process in which the winning contract prices were both unreasonably low and high. Moreover, FEMA did not take adequate legal steps to ensure that companies were small and locally operated, resulting in a questionable contract award to a large firm with ties to the Republican Party.

"Based on our analysis, we concluded that FEMA contracting officials exposed the agency to an unacceptable level of risk," according to the report by the office of inspector general Richard Skinner.

The audit, one of several expected this year on Katrina contracting, is the latest to detail mismanagement in a multibillion-dollar hurricane recovery effort that investigators say has already wasted more than $1 billion.

In response, FEMA in the report disagreed that the wide price variations put taxpayers at risk. The agency contended that it was comfortable with bidders' financial viability based in part on past performance. In cases where contract prices appeared unreasonably high, those would be offset with lower payments later on subsequent work orders, FEMA officials said.

In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, FEMA handed out lucrative no-bid contracts for cleanup work to large, politically connected firms such as Shaw Group Inc., Bechtel Group Inc., CH2M Hill Companies Ltd., and Fluor Corp.

Following heavy criticism, FEMA director David Paulison pledged to rebid those large contracts. He ultimately reopened only a portion, awarding 36 contracts, which the agency said would be prioritized for small and local businesses.

"It's not what you know, what your expertise is. I don't even believe it's got much to do with price. It's who you know," contended Ken Edmonds, owner of River Parish RV Inc. in Louisiana, a company of nine people whose application was rejected.

Moreover, FEMA did not have formal criteria to determine whether a contractor should be considered local, did not require corroborating paperwork, and watered down requirements under federal law so that a company with only minimal Gulf Coast ties would be given special consideration, according to the audit.

Prices also varied greatly. Some were so high that investigators deemed them unreasonably excessive and wasteful; others were so unreasonably low that taxpayers faced "an unacceptable risk of poor performance."

For example, FEMA:

• Accepted bids as low as $74 and as high as $4,720 to completely refurbish used travel trailers. FEMA estimated this service should cost $295 per trailer.

• Accepted bids from companies with weak financial statements, incomplete and missing financial documentation, and negative net worth.

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