2007 Four Winds VALENCIA: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2008-04-30 (April 30, 2008)

FOUR WINDS IS RECALLING 120 MY 2006-2007 VALENCIA MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS CONTAIN 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). THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111.

Reported: 2008-07-21 (July 21, 2008)

FOUR WINDS IS RECALLING 1,633 MY 2004-2007 MANDALAY, MY 2005-2007 PRESIDIO, AND MY 2006-2007 VALENCIA MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR 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.

Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FOUR WINDS IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 THE OWNER 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 FOUR WINDS AT 1-800-860-5658.

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.