2002 Airstream 396Xl

Defect. ON CERTAIN DIESEL MOTOR HOMES, WHEN THE UNIT IS FULLY LOADED WITH FUEL, FLUIDS, AND PASSENGERS, THE FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) COULD BE EXCEEDED. FURTHERMORE, THE UNIT MAY HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE FRONT AXLE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION THAT COULD RESULT IN AN OVERLOAD CONDITION ON THE FRONT TIRE OF THE MOTOR HOME.

Risk. THIS OVERLOAD CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE FRONT TIRE CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTOR HOME, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A POPPET KIT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADDED WIDTH OF THE NEW FRONT TIRES. THIS REMEDY WILL INCREASE THE FRONT GAWR. A NEW SET OF VEHICLE WEIGHT LABELS WILL BE ISSUED TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 25, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AIRSTREAM AT 1-937-596-6111, EXT. 7418 OR 7400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AIRSTREAM 396XL RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NDR1062. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY. HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF AMMONIA AND NOTICED A YELLOW RESIDUE LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000(EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE DOMETIC CUSTOMER CENTER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL KIT; HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COOLING MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WOULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE ADDRESSED IN THE SAFETY DEFECT. A NEW REFRIGERATOR WAS PURCHASED. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. UPDATED 02/09/09. *JB