NHTSA Complaint #10641506 — 2001 NEWMAR MOUNTAIN AIRE

VEHICLE RUNNING NORMALLY, ACCELERATED TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS THEN BACKFIRED. MISS CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 55 MPH. PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK FOR ANY VISUAL PROBLEMS, NONE NOTED. ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY AND I FINISHED THE 30 MILE DRIVE HOME. CHANGED FUEL FILTER, AIR FILTER AND MAF SENSOR. ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY AND I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. AFTER 20 MILES WITH NO ISSUES I ATTEMPTED AN ACCELERATION AND AGAIN IT LOST POWER, SKIPPING/MISSING AND BACKFIRED. PULLED INTO A REST AREA AND SHUT DOWN FOR 20 MINUTES. ON RESTART A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. OBDII INDICATED THAT IT WAS A P0342 CRANKSHAFT POSITION INDICATOR SENSOR ISSUE. A MECHANIC INDICATED THAT GM DID A RECALL ON THE 2001 8.1L VORTEC FOR THIS ISSUE AND THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED TO THE WORKHORSE W22 CHASSIS WITH THE SAME ENGINE BUT DIDN'T. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED TO ALL 2001 8.1L ENGINES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AS IT LEADS TO AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE OR STALLS WHEN MERGING OR PASSING. ADDITIONALLY, THE SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE REMOVES THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING CREATING AN INCREASED HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANTS AND THOSE AROUND THE VEHICLE. *TR