The defect
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.
The risk
THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
FOUR WINDS IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Four Winds Mandalay | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Winds Mandalay | 2004 | 2 | 5 |
| Four Winds Mandalay | 2005 | 2 | 5 |
| Four Winds Mandalay | 2006 | 1 | 3 |
| Four Winds Mandalay | 2007 | 0 | 6 |
| Four Winds Mandalay | 2008 | 1 | 6 |
Other steering recalls in 2007
38 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the steering; FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL filed 38 campaigns in all.
| 07V596000 21 Dec 2007 | FARBER SPECIALTY VEHICLES |
| 07V592000 21 Dec 2007 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 07V591000 20 Dec 2007 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 07V590000 20 Dec 2007 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 07V583000 14 Dec 2007 | FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. |
| 07V577000 12 Dec 2007 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 07V570000 10 Dec 2007 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 07V551000 4 Dec 2007 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007