Thursday, March 29, 2012
RECALLS FROM NHTSA FOR FEBRUARY 2012
HiSpec Wheel and Tire, Inc. (HiSpec) is recalling certain 16" split spoke aluminum trailer wheels with 6 or 8 lugs. A crack can develop in the spoke of the wheel which can lead to additional cracks and potential failure if the wheel is not removed from service. Should the crack progress to complete failure of the wheel, the entire wheel and tire can separate from the trailer, possibly resulting in a crash. HiSpec is working with distributors and the vehicle manufacturers to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. All affected wheels will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during late February or early March 2012. Owners may contact HiSpec at 1-800-549-4012.
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2010 through July 1, 2011 and certain model year 2012 F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis vehicles
manufactured from May 10, 2011 through October 25, 2011. The 'PRNDL' cable may break at the attachment to the transmission control selector arm assembly mounted on the steering column. If the cable breaks, the transmission gear indicator in the 'PRNDL' display in the instrument panel will remain in the first gear position regardless of the gear selected. An incorrect gear indication in the instrument panel may prevent the driver from knowing if they are in park or reverse, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the transmission selector arm assembly and the 'PRNDL' cable assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 2, 2012. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 12S27.
Tiffin is recalling certain model year 2011 through 2012 Phaeton and model year 2013 Zephyr recreational vehicles, equipped with a Cummins engine. The V-band clamp assembly used to connect the inlet and outlet cone sections to the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)/Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) include a T-bolt which can fracture and fail when subjected to stress or load. A fracture or failure of the T-bolt may cause the clamp to loosen and the inlet or outlet sections attached to the DOC/DPF housing to disconnect. If the inlet or outlet sections disconnect, hot exhaust gases can vent prior to exiting the tailpipe, creating the risk of combustion and a fire. If both clamps fail, there is a risk in some applications that the DOC/DPF housing may detach completely, creating a road hazard. Tiffin is working with Cummins to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. Repairs will be performed by authorized Cummins dealers free of charge. Owners may contact Cummins at 1- 812-377-5000 or Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661. Cummins recall campaign number is C1154.
Winnebago is recalling certain model year 2012 Access, Access Premier and Itasca Impulse and Impulse Silver motor homes, manufactured from June 28, 2011, through January 25, 2012. The parking brake cable may rub
on a metal support under the vehicle. If the parking brake cable rubs, it may fail to release, or over time it may abrade until it to fails, resulting in the vehicle rolling away without prior warning possibly causing personal injury or death. Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will shorten the metal tube to provide clearance for the parking brake cable, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during March 2012. Owners may contact Winnebago Industries Owner Relations at 1-641-585-6939. Winnebago's safety recall number is 125.
Crossroads RV is recalling certain model year 2012 Redwood recreational vehicles manufactured from August 26, 2011, through January 18, 2012, equipped with a hydraulic trailer brake pump. The hydraulic pump could fail and result in a loss of braking in the trailer. A loss of braking can lead to loss of control of the trailer increasing the risk of a crash, serious injuries, or property damage. Crossroads RV will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hydraulic pumps free of charge. Owners may contact Crossroads RV at 1-888-226- 7496.
Newell is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 motor coaches manufactured from January 2004 through December 2009, equipped with SE-GI windows. The adhesive bond between the glass portion of the vent
panel and hinge may degrade, and the panel may detach and fall from the vehicle. If this occurred during travel it could create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury. Newell will notify owners but the notification schedule and the recall remedy is to be determined. This service will be performed free of charge. Owners may contact Newell at 1-888-963-9355.
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2010 Windsport and Hurricane motor homes manufactured from April 27, 2009, through September 3, 2010. On these vehicles, the exhaust system is close to a vehicle storage compartment. Heat can build up in this area. Heat build up could result in a fire, property damage, personal injury or death. TMC will notify owners, and dealers will install a heat shield to protect the storage compartment from the heat generated by the exhaust. This service will be performed free of charge. TMC has not provided NHTSA with a notification schedule. Owners may contact TMC at 1-877-855-2867. Thor Motor Coach's safety recall number is RC000042.
Tiffin is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Bus, as well as certain 2009-2011 and 2013 Zephyr recreational vehicle chassis equipped with an electronic control module, part number 2791-NN2E-001 or 2791- NN2E-002. When the brake is applied, the cruise control may not cancel. Additionally, these vehicles may exhibit an inadvertent, moderate increase in vehicle speed until the vehicle reaches its governed speed after the cruise control is set. A driver may experience reduced control of the vehicle if either the driver attempts to cancel the cruise control by applying the brake or the vehicle speed increases and the driver is unaware of the increased speed, increasing the risk of a crash. Tiffin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel switch and reprogram the module, free of charge. Tiffin has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661.
Entegra is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Anthem motor homes manufactured from July 17, 2010, through November 30, 2011. The front tires could become overloaded due to cargo distribution within the storage area. Overloading of front tires may cause tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Entegra will notify owners, and dealers will replace tires, and on some models replace the wheels to provide additional load capacity, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during March 2012. Owners may contact Entegra at 1-800-945-4787.
Dutchmen is recalling certain model year 2012 Rubicon travel trailers manufactured from October 12, 2011, through February 23, 2012. These vehicles have been manufactured with a frame support located too close to the trailer tires which could result in the support contacting the tires when loaded. Contact between the support and tire could result in tire failure, leading to loss of the vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Dutchmen will notify owners, and dealers will remove the interfering frame support and install a new frame support, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during March 2012. Owners may contact Dutchmen at 1-574- 537-0700.

Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2010 through July 1, 2011 and certain model year 2012 F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis vehicles
manufactured from May 10, 2011 through October 25, 2011. The 'PRNDL' cable may break at the attachment to the transmission control selector arm assembly mounted on the steering column. If the cable breaks, the transmission gear indicator in the 'PRNDL' display in the instrument panel will remain in the first gear position regardless of the gear selected. An incorrect gear indication in the instrument panel may prevent the driver from knowing if they are in park or reverse, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the transmission selector arm assembly and the 'PRNDL' cable assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 2, 2012. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 12S27.
Tiffin is recalling certain model year 2011 through 2012 Phaeton and model year 2013 Zephyr recreational vehicles, equipped with a Cummins engine. The V-band clamp assembly used to connect the inlet and outlet cone sections to the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)/Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) include a T-bolt which can fracture and fail when subjected to stress or load. A fracture or failure of the T-bolt may cause the clamp to loosen and the inlet or outlet sections attached to the DOC/DPF housing to disconnect. If the inlet or outlet sections disconnect, hot exhaust gases can vent prior to exiting the tailpipe, creating the risk of combustion and a fire. If both clamps fail, there is a risk in some applications that the DOC/DPF housing may detach completely, creating a road hazard. Tiffin is working with Cummins to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. Repairs will be performed by authorized Cummins dealers free of charge. Owners may contact Cummins at 1- 812-377-5000 or Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661. Cummins recall campaign number is C1154.
Winnebago is recalling certain model year 2012 Access, Access Premier and Itasca Impulse and Impulse Silver motor homes, manufactured from June 28, 2011, through January 25, 2012. The parking brake cable may rub
on a metal support under the vehicle. If the parking brake cable rubs, it may fail to release, or over time it may abrade until it to fails, resulting in the vehicle rolling away without prior warning possibly causing personal injury or death. Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will shorten the metal tube to provide clearance for the parking brake cable, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during March 2012. Owners may contact Winnebago Industries Owner Relations at 1-641-585-6939. Winnebago's safety recall number is 125.
Crossroads RV is recalling certain model year 2012 Redwood recreational vehicles manufactured from August 26, 2011, through January 18, 2012, equipped with a hydraulic trailer brake pump. The hydraulic pump could fail and result in a loss of braking in the trailer. A loss of braking can lead to loss of control of the trailer increasing the risk of a crash, serious injuries, or property damage. Crossroads RV will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hydraulic pumps free of charge. Owners may contact Crossroads RV at 1-888-226- 7496.
Newell is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 motor coaches manufactured from January 2004 through December 2009, equipped with SE-GI windows. The adhesive bond between the glass portion of the vent
panel and hinge may degrade, and the panel may detach and fall from the vehicle. If this occurred during travel it could create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury. Newell will notify owners but the notification schedule and the recall remedy is to be determined. This service will be performed free of charge. Owners may contact Newell at 1-888-963-9355.
Thor Motor Coach (TMC) is recalling certain model year 2010 Windsport and Hurricane motor homes manufactured from April 27, 2009, through September 3, 2010. On these vehicles, the exhaust system is close to a vehicle storage compartment. Heat can build up in this area. Heat build up could result in a fire, property damage, personal injury or death. TMC will notify owners, and dealers will install a heat shield to protect the storage compartment from the heat generated by the exhaust. This service will be performed free of charge. TMC has not provided NHTSA with a notification schedule. Owners may contact TMC at 1-877-855-2867. Thor Motor Coach's safety recall number is RC000042.
Tiffin is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Bus, as well as certain 2009-2011 and 2013 Zephyr recreational vehicle chassis equipped with an electronic control module, part number 2791-NN2E-001 or 2791- NN2E-002. When the brake is applied, the cruise control may not cancel. Additionally, these vehicles may exhibit an inadvertent, moderate increase in vehicle speed until the vehicle reaches its governed speed after the cruise control is set. A driver may experience reduced control of the vehicle if either the driver attempts to cancel the cruise control by applying the brake or the vehicle speed increases and the driver is unaware of the increased speed, increasing the risk of a crash. Tiffin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel switch and reprogram the module, free of charge. Tiffin has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661.
Entegra is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Anthem motor homes manufactured from July 17, 2010, through November 30, 2011. The front tires could become overloaded due to cargo distribution within the storage area. Overloading of front tires may cause tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Entegra will notify owners, and dealers will replace tires, and on some models replace the wheels to provide additional load capacity, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during March 2012. Owners may contact Entegra at 1-800-945-4787.
Dutchmen is recalling certain model year 2012 Rubicon travel trailers manufactured from October 12, 2011, through February 23, 2012. These vehicles have been manufactured with a frame support located too close to the trailer tires which could result in the support contacting the tires when loaded. Contact between the support and tire could result in tire failure, leading to loss of the vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Dutchmen will notify owners, and dealers will remove the interfering frame support and install a new frame support, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during March 2012. Owners may contact Dutchmen at 1-574- 537-0700.

MVP RV ASSETS TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION ON APRIL 19
From Julian Gothard of the RVing Examiner:
CMA, a non-profit bankruptcy and asset liquidation company, announced this week that the assets of the former Inland Empire-based recreational vehicle manufacturer MVP RV Inc., will be sold at public auction on Thursday, April 19, 2012. The auction – which will be overseen by the Los Angeles-based Piatelli Company - will be held at the former corporate offices of MVP RV at 5300 Via Ricardo, Riverside, California.
The assets to be sold include industrial buildings - with an estimated value of $20 million – situated on two parcels of land (on Via Ricardo and Fleetwood Drive) totaling 1,600,000 square feet. The auction will also include factory equipment, inventory, offices, and intellectual property. If bulk offers are not accepted, the Piatelli Company will hold a piecemeal auction on April 26, 2012.
MVP RV first saw life back in 2008 as the MVP RV Acquisition Corporation when an affiliation of top executives from Thor California, Inc., partnered to acquire Thor California, Inc’s., Moreno Valley-based subsidiary for $18.6 million. MVP RV manufactured recreational vehicles including Wave, Summit and Jazz travel trailers and fifth wheels along with Tahoe and Vortex toy hauler lines, previously produced by Thor California.
The MVP management team – which initially included Brad Williams (CEO), Roger J. Humeston (CFO) and Pablo Carmona (COO) – was later supplemented by Chinese entrepreneur Winston Chung who became chairman of MVP RV after pledging a $310 million cash infusion. Chung’s stated goal was to export over 10,000 Class A motor homes and 20,000 Class C motor homes to China (worth an estimated $5 billion) over a 3-4 year period.
The partnership between Winston Chung and MVP RV was celebrated by The White House during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the USA in January, 2011. Unfortunately the 1,200 jobs that Chung claimed would be created never materialized and nor did the bulk of his promised $310 million investment.
MVP RV closed its doors and laid-off its workforce in January, 2012 some seven months after an RVing Examiner report predicted such an outcome. The company was subsequently placed in the hands of the Burbank, California-based Credit Management Association (CMA). The closure of MVP RV brought to an end almost four decades of RV operations at the Riverside location. The facility was previously a unit of Fleetwood Enterprises Inc.
A preview of the MVP RV auction items will be held on April 17 & 18, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm or by appointment.
CMA, a non-profit bankruptcy and asset liquidation company, announced this week that the assets of the former Inland Empire-based recreational vehicle manufacturer MVP RV Inc., will be sold at public auction on Thursday, April 19, 2012. The auction – which will be overseen by the Los Angeles-based Piatelli Company - will be held at the former corporate offices of MVP RV at 5300 Via Ricardo, Riverside, California.
The assets to be sold include industrial buildings - with an estimated value of $20 million – situated on two parcels of land (on Via Ricardo and Fleetwood Drive) totaling 1,600,000 square feet. The auction will also include factory equipment, inventory, offices, and intellectual property. If bulk offers are not accepted, the Piatelli Company will hold a piecemeal auction on April 26, 2012.
MVP RV first saw life back in 2008 as the MVP RV Acquisition Corporation when an affiliation of top executives from Thor California, Inc., partnered to acquire Thor California, Inc’s., Moreno Valley-based subsidiary for $18.6 million. MVP RV manufactured recreational vehicles including Wave, Summit and Jazz travel trailers and fifth wheels along with Tahoe and Vortex toy hauler lines, previously produced by Thor California.
The MVP management team – which initially included Brad Williams (CEO), Roger J. Humeston (CFO) and Pablo Carmona (COO) – was later supplemented by Chinese entrepreneur Winston Chung who became chairman of MVP RV after pledging a $310 million cash infusion. Chung’s stated goal was to export over 10,000 Class A motor homes and 20,000 Class C motor homes to China (worth an estimated $5 billion) over a 3-4 year period.
The partnership between Winston Chung and MVP RV was celebrated by The White House during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the USA in January, 2011. Unfortunately the 1,200 jobs that Chung claimed would be created never materialized and nor did the bulk of his promised $310 million investment.
MVP RV closed its doors and laid-off its workforce in January, 2012 some seven months after an RVing Examiner report predicted such an outcome. The company was subsequently placed in the hands of the Burbank, California-based Credit Management Association (CMA). The closure of MVP RV brought to an end almost four decades of RV operations at the Riverside location. The facility was previously a unit of Fleetwood Enterprises Inc.
A preview of the MVP RV auction items will be held on April 17 & 18, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm or by appointment.
