1998 Fleetwood American Eagle

Defect. CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Risk. RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. FLEETWOOD WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE 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/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

Defect. ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SPARTAN CHASSIS STEERING GEAR, THE STEERING GEAR SUPPORT BRACKET HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FAIL WHEN SUBJECT TO THE REPETITIVE FORCES OF STATIC STEERING CONDITIONS.

Risk. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. SPARTAN CHASSIS IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06V156000) AND WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SUPPORT BRACKET FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216 OR SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH GRANNING AIR SUSPENSIONS. A FRACTURE CAN DEVELOP AT THE ATTACHMENT POINT OF THE CROSS MEMBER/BELL CRANK AND IDLER ARM HOUSING.

Risk. THIS DEFECT MAY CAUSE ERRATIC OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IF THE CROSS MEMBER SEPARATES FROM THE ASSEMBLY.

Remedy. TUTHILL IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. REPAIR FACILITIES WILL INSPECT AND ADD GUSSETS TO REINFORCE THE CROSS MEMBER CONNECTION FOR THE BELL CRANK AND IDLER ARM. 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 TUTHILL CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AT 1-800-255-7824 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-909-351-7638.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. THE SUBJECT MOTOR HOMES, WHEN BUILT WITH A DISPROPORTIONATE FRONT AXLE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, FULLY EQUIPPED, LOADED WITH CARGO, AND OPERATED WITH IMPROPER TIRE PRESSURES, CAN EXPERIENCE AN OVERLOAD CONDITION ON A FRONT TIRE.

Risk. OVERLOADING OF A TIRE CAN LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL EQUIP THE SUBJECT MOTOR HOMES WITH NEW LARGER CAPACITY FRONT TIRES, WILL ADJUST THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION ON THE FRONT AXLE (IF NECESSARY), APPLY NEW CERTIFICATION LABELS, AND REINFORCE CONSUMER EDUCATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TIRE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING ROTATION, ALIGNMENT, AND TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE.

I WAS LEAVING THE TA TRUCKSTOP IN NEW BRAUNFELS TEXAS ON SUNDAY FED 1 AT APP. @1:30 PM , I WAS TURNING RIGHT ON THE I 35 SERVICE ROAD AND MY UNIT WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE DITCH. I UNHOOKED MY TOW CAR AND BACKED INTO THE TRUCKSTOP . I GOT A MOBILE MECHANIC TO LOOK AT MY UNIT AND HE TOLD ME THE STEERING BRACKET WAS BROKEN IN TWO PIECES. *TR

I WAS INFORMED OF 2 SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE, TUTHILL, AND SPARTAN CHASSIS WON'T MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, CITING THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, I WASN'T AWARE OF THE RECALLS UNTIL THIS YEAR, AND NOW AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. *TR

I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN FLEETWOOD'S REPAIR OF DEFECT THAT LED TO TIRE FAILURS AND NINE DEATHS FROM CRASHES. CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH COMPLETE REPORTS OF INVESTIGATIONS AT THE SCENES AND YOUR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND CONTACT NUMBERS FOR FOLLOWUP OF THIS REPORT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 99V277000 TIRESIZE: G25975R225)

RIGHT FRONT TIRE (GOODYEAR) BLEW UP ON I-44 IN NEW MEXICO. MOTORHOME (AMERICAN EAGLE) LOST CONTROL AND WNET OFF THE ROAD. BRAKES FAILED. TOWED VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE ($3000.00 WORTH). GOODYEAR REFUNDED MY $ 1000.00 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME OF ADMISSOION OF LIABILITY. THERE WERE REPORTEDLY OVER 30 SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF TIRE FAILURE OCCURRING IN THE SAME BRAND OF MOTORHOME WHICH RUN ON GOODYEAR TIRES, WITH MOTORHOME CHASIS SUPPLIED BY SPARTAN MOTORS. THERE WAS SOME DIFFICULTY FIGURING OUT THE CAUSE OF THESE TIRE FAILURES IN 1998 AND 1999. OWNERS WERE ADVICED TO INCREASE TIRE PRESSURES AND THE EXACT AIR PRESSURE REOMMENDED WERE DEBATED REGULARLY ON VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS RAISING QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

RECALL 99V277000, THE OVERLOADING OF THE FRONT TIRE CAUSED WEAR AND TEAR TO THE REAR AXLE, AND TIRE AND CANNOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE MOTORHOME WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WITH A TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE REAR FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL, ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE HAS SHORTS IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NLM

WINDSHIELD NOT PROPERLY SEALED, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO POP OUT AND SHIFT TO PASSENGER'S SIDE CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. CONSUMER ALSO HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE TANK FILL HOLE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE OF VENT, RECALL WORK PERFORMED HOWEVER PROBLEMS WITH GAS EXPULSION CONTINUED.