1998 Gulf Stream FRIENDSHIP: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. WE OWN A 1998 GULFSTREAM FRIENDSHIP 102 MOTOR HOME WITH 58,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS A CASAPPA FLUID SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING AND ENGINE COOLING. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS AS IT DID ON ME THE POWER STEERING IS LOST AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE MOTOR HOME UNDER CONTROL. I WILL HAVE THE SYSTEM REPLACED WITH OTHER CONTROLS. OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 57,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212932 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-05-23 (May 23, 2006)

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

Consequence: 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 SPARTAN AT 517-543-6400.

Reported: 2007-03-20 (March 20, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL 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.

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

Remedy: GULF STREAM 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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR GULF STREAM AT 1-574-773-7761.

Reported: 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)

GULF STREAM IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS 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: GULF STREAM 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 INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR GULF STREAM AT 1-574-773-7761.