1998 Blue Bird Wanderlodge Recalls

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V277003
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufactured Begin Date: November 24th, 1997
Manufactured End Date: January 3rd, 2000
Date of Owner Notification: November 18th, 2002

Defect Summary:
CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR COOLING UNITS MODEL NUMBERS 1200LR AND 1200RIM WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 700000 AND 1008700 AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1996 AND FEBRUARY 1999. THESE REFRIGERATORS CAN EXPERIENCE LOW CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE LIQUID SOLUTION SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE SEALED, PRESSURIZED COOLING UNIT THROUGH A SMALL CRACK.

Consequence Summary:
IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUALLY OPERATED, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Corrective Summary:
NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COOLING UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 11, 2002. 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 NORCOLD SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-667-3005.

Recall Notes:
ALSO, CUSTOMERS CANCONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V154000
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufacturer Campaign Number: R02GA
Manufactured Begin Date: April 30th, 1998
Manufactured End Date: April 18th, 2002
Date of Owner Notification: July 31st, 2002

Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TOUR COACHES, A 'CHECK TRANS' WARNING LIGHT WHICH IS REQUIRED BY ALLISON TRANSMISSION INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WAS OMITTED. IN THE EVENT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR MALFUNCTIONS (LOOSES POWER OR SENDS ERRONEOUS SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT), THE COMPUTER WILL STOP ACCEPTING INPUT FROM THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT SELECTOR UNIT. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE HELD IN THE LAST VALID RANGE SELECTED. ALTHOUGH THE SINGLE DIGIT RANGE SELECTED DISPLAY ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR WILL BE BLANK OR A DASH, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT A MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURRED.

Consequence Summary:
THE DRIVER MAY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR TO CHANGE DIRECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE IT AND REMAIN IN THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A "CHECK TRANS" WARNING LIGHT ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 31, 2002. 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 BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

Recall Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V126000
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufacturer Campaign Number: 400DW
Manufactured Begin Date: November 24th, 1997
Manufactured End Date: April 25th, 2000
Date of Owner Notification: May 4th, 2000

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOME COACHES. THE TRAILER HITCH MAY BE INADEQUATELY WELDED TO THE CHASSIS FRAME.

Consequence Summary:
PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT THE TRAILER HITCH SEPARATES FROM THE CHASSIS FRAME WHILE TOWING A TRAILER OR OTHER VEHICLE.

Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS AND, IF NECESSARY, REWELD THE TRAILER HITCH PROPERLY.

Recall Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 4, 2000.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 BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-825-2021. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V162000
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufacturer Campaign Number: R99DA
Manufactured Begin Date: May 1st, 1996
Manufactured End Date: May 31st, 1999
Date of Owner Notification: July 28th, 1999

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH RIDEWELL TAG AXLES. SOME OF THE RIDEWELL TAG AXLE AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES HAVE THE BRAKE S-CAMS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED.

Consequence Summary:
THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Corrective Summary:
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSPECTING THE BRAKE S-CAM AND IF FOUND INCORRECT, INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECTION OF THE S-CAM INSTALLATION.

Recall Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 27, 1999.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE INSPECTION AND CORRECTION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-822-2242. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 98V167002
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufactured Begin Date: March 1st, 1993
Manufactured End Date: July 1st, 1998
Date of Owner Notification: August 12th, 1998

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH AQUA-HOT HEATING SYSTEMS, MODEL 431-3 ZONE WITH ENGINE LOOP. FIBERGLASS INSULATING MATERIAL LOCATED UNDER THE BURNER HEAD ON THE FLOOR OF THE HEATER ENCLOSURE, CAN BECOME SOAKED WITH FLUIDS (ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND/OR DIESEL FUEL).

Consequence Summary:
IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSULATION FROM BENEATH THE DIESEL HEATING UNIT AS WELL AS FROM BEHIND THE CONTROL THERMOSTAT AND AIR-CONDITIONING HEATING ELEMENT ACCESS COVERS.

Recall Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 12, 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR MOTOR HOMES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BIRD BIRD AT 1-912-8925-2021 OR VEHICLE SYSTEMS INC. AT 1-800-685-4289.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).