RVRESOLVE

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
DODGE / SPRINTER 2500 2007
DODGE / SPRINTER 3500 2007
FREIGHTLINER / SPRINTER 2500 2007
FREIGHTLINER / SPRINTER 3500 2007
Manufacturer : SPRINTER ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE SUPPOR
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V594000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 19, 2007
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 6101
Summary:
ON CERTAIN UTILITY VANS, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IN CERTAIN DIESEL ENGINES COULD FAIL DUE TO SEPARATION OF BOND WIRES FROM THE LEAD FRAME IN THE SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE CHIP HOUSING OF THE SENSOR.
Consequence:
WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLES MAY LOSE POWER RATHER THAN ENTER A LIMP-HOME MODE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED AFTER FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE SENSOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPRINTER AT 1-843-695-5000.
Notes:
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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
FREIGHTLINER / ARGOSY 2008
FREIGHTLINER / BUSINESS CLASS M2 2008
FREIGHTLINER / CASCADIA 2008
FREIGHTLINER / CENTURY ST 2008
FREIGHTLINER / CLASSIC 2008
FREIGHTLINER / CLASSIC XL 2008
FREIGHTLINER / COLUMBIA 2008
FREIGHTLINER / CORONADO 2008
FREIGHTLINER / FLD 2008
FREIGHTLINER / FLD SD 2008
STERLING / A-LINE 2008
STERLING / L-LINE 2008
WESTERN STAR / 4900 2008
Manufacturer : FREIGHTLINER LLC
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V592000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 14, 2007
Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 220
Summary:
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW STEERING GEARS, MODELS TAS85 AND RCS85, THESE STEERING GEARS CONTAIN POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE SECTOR SHAFTS WITH AN INCORRECT GEAR TOOTH WHICH MAY INTERFERE WITH THE RACK-PISTON TEETH, RESULTING IN A STICK OR BIND CONDITION.
Consequence:
THIS CONDITION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE THE STEERING GEAR TO STALL AND RESTRICT THE STEERING TURNING ANGLE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy:
FREIGHTLINER IS WORKING WITH TRW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR (PLEASE SEE 07E101). THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Notes:
FREIGHTLINER FL-519. 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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
KENWORTH / C500 2008
KENWORTH / T2000 2008
KENWORTH / T660 2008
KENWORTH / T800 2008
PETERBILT / 320 2008
PETERBILT / 365 2008
PETERBILT / 367 2008
PETERBILT / 384 2008
PETERBILT / 386 2008
PETERBILT / 387 2008
PETERBILT / 388 2008
PETERBILT / 389 2008
PETERBILT / 389K 2008
Manufacturer : PACCAR INCORPORATED
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V591000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 13, 2007
Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 559
Summary:
ON CERTAIN KENWORTH AND PETERBILT HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TAS-85 TRW STEERING GEARS, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OUTER SECTOR SHAFT TEETH OF THE STEERING GEARS MAY HAVE AN INCORRECT INVOLUTE PROFILE, WHICH MAY LEAD TO CHIPPING AND DAMAGE OF THE GEARING SYSTEM.
Consequence:
THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE MAY CAUSE A "BIND/STICK" CONDITION IN THE VEHICLE STEERING DURING A TURN INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE ANY SUSPECT TAS-85 STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.
Notes:
KENWORTH RECALL NO. 07KWE, PETERBILT 1107K. 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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
BEAVER / MARQUIS 2008
BEAVER / PATRIOT 2008
HOLIDAY RAMBLER / IMPERIAL 2008
HOLIDAY RAMBLER / NAVIGATOR 2008
MONACO COACH / DYNASTY 2008
MONACO COACH / EXECUTIVE 2008
MONACO COACH / SIGNATURE 2008
Manufacturer : MONACO COACH CORPORATION
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V590000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 11, 2007
Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 96
Summary:
ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH TRW STEERING GEARS, MODELS TAS85 AND RCS85, THESE STEERING GEARS CONTAIN POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE SECTOR SHAFTS WITH AN INCORRECT GEAR TOOTH WHICH MAY INTERFERE WITH THE RACK-PISTON TEETH, RESULTING IN A STICK OR BIND CONDITION.
Consequence:
THIS CONDITION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE THE STEERING GEAR TO STALL AND RESTRICT THE STEERING TURNING ANGLE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy:
MONACO IS WORKING WITH TRW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR (PLEASE SEE 07E101). THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545 OR TRW AT 1-765-429-1768.
Notes:
MONACO RECALL NO. R07042. 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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
HI-LO / 24' TOW LITE 2007-2008
HI-LO / 25' CLASSIC 2007-2008
HI-LO / 27' TOW LITE 2007-2008
HI-LO / 28' CLASSIC 2007-2008
Manufacturer : HI-LO TRAILER CO.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V587000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 11, 2007
Component: EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WINCH
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 114
Summary:
ON CERTAIN FOLDING CAMPING TRAILERS (FCT) EQUIPPED WITH A POWER WINCH UNIT, MODEL P55000, BUILT BY CAREFREE OF COLORADO, AN INCORRECT MATERIAL WAS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CABLE SHAFTS ON SOME OF THESE POWER WINCH UNITS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHILE THE FOLDING CAMPING TRAILER TOP IS BEING LIFTED, IF THE WINCH IS PLACED INTO A STALL CONDITION, THE CABLE SHAFT MAY BREAK PRIOR TO THE FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPPING.
Consequence:
SHOULD THE CABLE SHAFT BREAK, THE FCT TOP COULD THEN FREE-FALL INTO THE LOWER POSITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
Remedy:
HI-LO IS WORKING WITH CAREFREE OF COLORADO TO HAVE NEW CABLE SHAFTS INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E077). . THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CAREFREE OF COLORADO AT 1-800-621-2617 OR HI-LO TRAILERS AT 1-419-886-0066.
Notes:
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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
BLUE BIRD / WANDERLODGE M450 LXI 2005-2007
Manufacturer : BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V586000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 11, 2007
Component: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 58
Summary:
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH ARVIN MERITOR AND TRW TIE ROD ENDS, THE FRONT AXLE CURB WEIGHT MAY EXCEED THE SPECIFIED 16,000 POUNDS WEIGHT RATING.
Consequence:
FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND FRONT TIE ROD ENDS ALONG WITH A CERTIFICATION LABEL STATING THE CORRECT WEIGHT LIMITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-825-2021.
Notes:
BLUE BIRD RECALL NO. R07MT. 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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
KEYSTONE / CHALLENGER 2007-2008
KEYSTONE / EVEREST 2007-2008
Manufacturer : KEYSTONE RV COMPANY
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V585000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 10, 2007
Component: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE:LPG LINES AND FITTINGS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 223
Summary:
ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS, A LIQUID PROPANE (LP) LINE FOR THE SLIDE ROOM MAY BE TOO CLOSE TO THE TIRE.
Consequence:
THIS COULD CAUSE AN INCREASED RISK OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE LP LINE AWAY FROM THE TIRE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KEYSTONE RV AT 1-866-425-4369.
Notes:
KEYSTONE RV RECALL NO. 07-096. 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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
FOUR WINDS / MANDALAY 2004-2008
Manufacturer : FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V584000 Mfr's Report Date : DEC 18, 2007
Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 1174
Summary:
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.
Consequence:
THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy:
FOUR WINDS IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Notes:
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.

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
FLEETWOOD / AMERICAN EAGLE 2004-2005
FLEETWOOD / AMERICAN TRADITION 2004-2005
Manufacturer : FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V583000 Mfr's Report Date : NOV 27, 2007
Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 238
Summary:
ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.
Consequence:
THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy:
FLEETWOOD IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Notes:
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.

Where can people find quality in today’s RV dealerships?

By Chuck Marzahn and Tom King

Our industry faces a quality crisis. Customers blame dealers. Dealers blame manufacturers. There is plenty of blame to go around.
The customers judge us based on how well our quality initiatives perform. Dealers ought to focus on areas under their control and, just as our customers do, drive change in the industry with their purchasing decisions. Hire the right people and build a culture that will not accept less than the highest quality.
Quality issues ignored
Throughout the industry supply chain, many opportunities to improve quality suffer from indifference. On the national manufacturer level, some ideas got kicked to the curb because they were deemed “too political.”
Recent meetings of the joint industry task forces on quality produced little meaningful change. That disconnection stems from the manufacturer’s view of the dealer as the customer. Sure – exceptions to that premise exist. Overall, we have many opportunities to improve. Let us focus on what we can change.
Quality is judged by customers
We know that the ultimate test of quality is the customer’s decision to buy one product over another. Perceived quality is one of the three components of value. The others are price and convenience.
“Better, faster, cheaper” is the simple way to say it. You can have it quick and good, but it won’t be cheap.
Alternatively, you can have it cheap and quick, but it won’t be top quality if you want it that way. See how it works? Recent studies show that our customer base cares more about quality than it has in the past. What are we prepared to do about it?
The briefest history of QC
The briefest possible history of quality goes something like this: Long, long ago, in a country not too far away, craftsmen did all the work. They literally put their names on that work and, thus, staked their reputation on the quality of their products.
Those were the days when Paul Revere was a silversmith and used a “hallmark” to show the pride taken in each product sold. With the industrial age, we accepted work that may not have been so good, but it was cheaper and readily available.
Remember when “Made in Japan” meant that it was cheap junk? Think about the agony over China’s quality now in the world markets. There was a push just after World War II to rebuild Japan. W. Edwards Deming came to help at the request of General Douglas MacArthur. Deming’s method was to use “statistical process control.”
Other great thinkers, such as Joseph Juran and Phil Crosby, worked in that field around a discipline called Total Quality Management (TQM). In the early 1980s, dealerships started embracing “quality circles” with a push toward continuous improvement. The most recent iteration of TQM is “Six Sigma.”
The concept in that discipline forces the error or defect rate to a smaller and smaller percentage. It does get expensive after a point. Think about a wall and how reaching it would represent achieving complete perfection. Now try walking halfway to the wall from wherever you are currently standing.
The first time is pretty easy. But try it again and again, inching closer to perfection. After three of four times, you’ll quickly discover diminishing returns.
Why don’t manufacturers buy in?
Some manufacturers take it seriously.
Others don’t. They say it is hard to see a payoff for the time and money spent trying to improve quality. They say that dealers don’t seem to care about quality because when the next cheap product comes along, the dealers scramble to get it on the lot before anyone else in their market. If manufacturers view dealers as their customers, then they’ll argue their customers say “we don’t care about quality!”
Where does quality live in your store?
To find out where quality can be found in your operation, simply return to the time when craftsmen took extreme pride in their work. They knew, if only intuitively, that the existence of their jobs depended on the quality of work they did. Years ago someone said to me that the answer to quality could be found if everyone did their jobs as if they were doing the work for their mothers. (That presumes that you, in fact, love your mother very deeply.)
Think about how that plays out. Do every job as if it were to be shown to your mother in the same manner as the drawing you showed her in the second grade. Remember that pride? Now apply that pride and workmanship to each task before you today.
Quality lives between the ears of the technicians in the store. It rests in the conversations your service writers have with customers (both external and internal). That quality doesn’t come from someone looking over someone else’s shoulder. It comes from a drive inside each person to accept only the best work that you can possibly do.
How do you get quality?
Quality is a long-term project. It’s about hiring people who really care. It’s about building a culture where “good enough” isn’t good enough. It comes from requiring and expecting excellence at every level. Look around. Do you have folks who feel that way? Do you feel that way? Without processes, accountability and a drive to be the best, you will never rise above mediocrity.
Chuck Marzahn and Tom King are well-known and respected consultants and trainers in the RV industry. They have worked with many dealers at all levels of dealership operation throughout the United States and Canada. They welcome your comments at mail@marzahnandking.com

RV Business
Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A New York investment firm called Grandview LLC and managed by Millennium Management LLC has purchased 888,639 shares of National RV Holdings Inc., taking a bargain-basement-priced, 8.6% position in the holding company and its closed Perris, Calif., RV manufacturing firm, National RV Inc.

Grandview paid $85,400 for the stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission statement filed by Millennium on Dec. 4.

The SEC filing mentions no operational plan for National RV, a motorhome manufacturer that shuttered its headquarters and production facilities on Nov. 30, laying off 600 workers and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the process. National RV had lost money every year since 2002, posting more than $80 million in losses during that period.

Meanwhile, one of those furloughed National RV workers, Henry Caouette, who worked at the company for two years as a production supervisor, is seeking class action status for his complaint filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Riverside asking for two months’ severance pay and benefits, according to the Press-Enterprise of Riverside.

National RV laid off its work force without warning or severance pay, citing a "faltering company" exception to a labor law, the Press-Enterprise reported. National said it was actively seeking funding during the two months prior to shutting its doors.

The complaint for which Caouette is seeking class-action status alleges that, under the Worker Adjustment and Training Notification Act, companies are required to give either 60 days' warning or 60 days of severance. "We were all led down a rough path, all the while they told us everything was going to be rosy and fine," he said.