The defect
ON CERTAIN DIESEL MOTOR HOMES, WHEN THE UNIT IS FULLY LOADED WITH FUEL, FLUIDS, AND PASSENGERS, THE FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) COULD BE EXCEEDED. FURTHERMORE, THE UNIT MAY HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE FRONT AXLE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION THAT COULD RESULT IN AN OVERLOAD CONDITION ON THE FRONT TIRE OF THE MOTOR HOME.
The risk
THIS OVERLOAD CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE FRONT TIRE CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTOR HOME, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A POPPET KIT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADDED WIDTH OF THE NEW FRONT TIRES. THIS REMEDY WILL INCREASE THE FRONT GAWR. A NEW SET OF VEHICLE WEIGHT LABELS WILL BE ISSUED TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 25, 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 AIRSTREAM AT 1-937-596-6111, EXT. 7418 OR 7400.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Airstream 390XL | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Airstream 395XL | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Airstream 396XL | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: STRUCTURE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airstream 390XL | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 390XL | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 390XL | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 395XL | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 395XL | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 395XL | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 396XL | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 396XL | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Airstream 396XL | 2002 | 1 | 1 |
Other structure recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the structure; AIRSTREAM, INC. filed 30 campaigns in all.
| 02V295000 14 Nov 2002 | WABASH NATIONAL CORP. |
| 02V292000 8 Nov 2002 | DIAMOND COACH CORPORATION |
| 02V273000 4 Oct 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V237000 9 Sept 2002 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 02V200000 7 Aug 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V173000 12 Jul 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V167000 25 Jun 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V116000 17 Apr 2002 | SUPREME CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002