2006 Damon TUSCANY: complaints, problems and recalls

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR DAMON TUSCANY MOTORHOME IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOUT 8 MILES EAST OF THE WEST VIRGINIA-KENTUCKY BORDER WHEN OUR POWER STEERING FAILED ABRUPTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE MOTORHOME WAS DIFFICULT BORDERING ON THE IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO A REST PARK. IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A FAILED FILTER BLOCKING THE HYDRAULIC RETURN LINE. FREIGHTLINER THE COACH CHASSIS MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE, AND THINK IT I…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169633 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-01-30 (January 30, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE MOTOR HOMES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE RED REAR REFLEX REFLECTORS AND SOME MOTOR HOMES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE SIDE REAR RED REFLEX REFLECTORS.

Consequence: DURING NIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS OR WHILE THE MOTOR HOME IS PARKED, THE REAR AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REFLEX REFLECTION TO MARK THE VEHICLE'S LOCATION IN THE DARK INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DAMON WILL PROVIDE THE OWNERS WITH A KIT CONTAINING THE MISSING REFLECTORS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING THEM TO THEIR VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR DEALERS DO THE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAMON AT 1-800-860-3812.

Reported: 2008-05-22 (May 22, 2008)

DAMON IS RECALLING 738 MY 2005-2007 ASTORIA, TUSCANY, MY 2005 ASTORIA WALDORF, AND MY 2006-2007 ASTORIA PACIFIC MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS CONTAINS STEERING FILTERS THAT CAN PLUG DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SCREEN ADHESION TO THE FILTER HOUSING CAUSING A RISE IN RETURN LINE PRESSURE POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FILTER OR STEERING GEAR FITTING RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING FLUID AND POWER ASSIST.

Consequence: SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING INVOLVING A MOTOR HOME COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR CERTAIN DRIVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FILTERS WITH A LARGER FILTER (PLEASE SEE 07V570). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR DAMON AT 1-800-860-3812.

Reported: 2010-11-16 (November 16, 2010)

TMC IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011 DAMON AND FOUR WINDS RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Consequence: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK, MAY NOT SHUT-OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.

Remedy: TMC IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL NFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR THOR MOTOR COACH AT 1-877-855-2867.