2011 Airstream Interstate

Defect. Airstream is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Interstate motorhomes manufactured August 2007, through December 2012 and equipped with the rear sofa floor plan. The electrical equipment underneath the sofa may come in contact with the seat belt buckle or metal cables from the seat.

Risk. If the metal sofa components come in contact with the electrical components, electrical arcing could occur. Arcing may lead to a vehicle fire.

Remedy. Airstream will notify owners, and dealers will install a cover over the electrical components, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by late January 2013. Owners may contact Airstream at 1-877-596-6111.

Defect. AIRSTREAM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 INTERSTATE TOURING COACHES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 18, 2008, THROUGH JUNE 24, 2011. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRE COULD BE DAMAGED OR SEVERED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS ADJUSTED FORWARD, BACKWARD, OR SWIVELED. THIS WIRE ALLOWS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AND THE VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) INDICATING IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS OCCUPIED AND THE SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED.

Risk. IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRE IS DAMAGED OR SEVERED, THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER WILL NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO NOT BE SECURED TO THE SEAT, PREVENTING PROPER OPERATION OF THE SRS WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy. AIRSTREAM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE COACHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRSTREAM AT 1-937-538-1268.

ON THE 2011 AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE MOTORHOME, A MECHANICAL STEP UNDER THE SLIDING DOOR RETRACTS AUTOMATICALLY WITH A POWERFUL ELECTRIC MOTOR. THE STEP WILL RETRACT IF THE VAN IS STARTED, EVEN IF THE DOOR IS OPEN. I WAS IN A HURRY TO LEAVE AND ENTERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. MY WIFE OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR AND I STARTED THE VAN AT THE EXACT MOMENT SHE PLACED HER FOOT ON THE STEP. IT RETRACTED, PULLING HER OPEN FOOTT INTO THE SMALL STEP OPENING UNTIL THE STEP JAMMED. THE STEP KEPT PULLING ON HER FOOT UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION WITH THE FRONT OF HER HER FOOT AND TOES JAMMED INTO THE OPENING. I HAD TO PUSH HARD DOWN ON THE STEP TO RELEASE HER FOOT SINCE THE OPENING OF THE STEP WAS PRESSED HARD AGAINST THE TOP AND FRONT OF HER FOOT. IF SHE HAD BEEN BAREFOOT OR HAD IT BEEN A CHILD'S FOOT, TOES COULD BE AMPUTATED OR THE FOOT CRUSHED AND PERCENT INJURY COULD OCCUR. SHE SUFFERED PAIN AND BRUISING BUT NO PERMANENT INJURY MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE THICK SOLE ON HER SANDLE HELPED STOP THE STEP FROM RETRACTING. AIRSTREAM LATER ADDED A MAGNETIC SWITCH IN LATER MODELS THAT PREVENTS THE STEP FROM RETRACTING IF THE DOOR IS OPEN BUT HAS NEITHER ISSUED A RECALL OR WARNED CUSTOMERS OF EARLIER MODELS THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS SWITCH OF THIS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE PAINFUL AND PERMANENT INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN A PUBLIC SPACE, WHEN THE EVENT OCCURRED.