2004 FREIGHTLINER XC MOTORHOME CHASSIS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FREIGHTLINER XC MOTORHOME CHASSIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V408000 (STEERING:LINKAGES ). HE CALLED HIS LOCAL DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE DATE CODE FROM THE STEERING BOX. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 15,000 MILES, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MILEAGE SHOULD NOT IMPACT THE DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL REPAIR SHOULD BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,500.

LOUD BANGING NOISE BETWEEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. SOUNDS LIKE WHEEL MAY BE COMING OFF AXLE. STEERING WONDERS AND HAS TOO MUCH FREE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. BELIEVED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. TOOK TO NEWMAR TO HAVE IT ROAD TESTED. NEWMAR SENT TO FREIGHTLINER SERVICE DEALER IN SOUTH BEND. 5/06/05 SOUTH BEND FREIGHTLINER SERVICE DEALER STATED SWAY BAR HITTING RF SPRING AND FRONT LOWER SHOCK BOLTS LOOSE. ADJUSTED RIDE HEIGHT 1/4 INCH AND INFLATED BACK TIRES FOR 80 TO 110 PSI. ADJUSTED FRONT BRAKES. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DEPT WOULD NOT STATE IF RV WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. 5/12/05 TOOK RV TO MY SERVICE COMPANY TO BE CHECKED FOR SAME COMPLAINT. BECAUSE FREIGHTLINER SERVICE PERSON WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT GIVE WARRANTY AUTHORIZATION, THEY SHIMMED STABILIZER BUSHINGS WITH TWO WASHERS ON TOP AND TWO ON BOTTOM OF BUSHING WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE A MORE SAFE RIDE TO THE FREIGHTLINER FACTORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. MASTER FLEET STATED BAD STEERING WANDERING PROBLEM, POSSIBLE PLAY IN STEERING BOX. TIGHTENED LOOSE BOLTS. POUNDING NOISE STILL IN FRONT END. 6/09/05 APPOINTMENT WITH FREIGHTLINER SET FOR TWO DAYS. PLAY IN STEERING CHECKED DRAG LINKS, TIE RODS AND SHOCKS - MECHANIC STATED OK. FRONT END BANGING NOISE - MECHANIC STATED TIGHTENED RIGHT FRONT SPRING BOLT -BUSHINGS OK. REQUESTED UNIT TO BE ALIGNED. MECHANIC STATED ALIGNMENT OK. THIS TOOK 21/2 HOURS. OF A TWO DAY SCHEDULE. WENT BACK IN THE NEXT DAY. BOLTS WHICH WERE TIGHTEN WERE ON THE AXLE SUPPORT WHICH WERE TO BE TORQED AT 600 FT LBS. RV WAS PUT ON LAZER ALIGNMENT -RV WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. LEFT SIDE AXLE SUPPORT NUT OVER TORQUED. BOTH NUTS WERE REPLACED. BOLTS WERE NOT REPLACED. STILL BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE RV HAS ONLY BEEN TRAVELING A FEW MILES THE STEERING IS BETTER THAN WHEN IT HAS WARMED UP. IF TWO CURVES ARE BACK TO BACK THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE NEXT CURVE. WIND AND LARGE TRUCKS REQUIRES FOR OVER COMPENSATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

LOUD BANGING NOISE BETWEEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. SOUNDS LIKE WHEEL MAY BE COMING OFF AXLE. STEERING WONDERS AND HAS TOO MUCH FREE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. BELIEVED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. TOOK TO NEWMAR TO HAVE IT ROAD TESTED. NEWMAR SENT TO FREIGHTLINER SERVICE DEALER IN SOUTH BEND. 5/06/05 SOUTH BEND FREIGHTLINER SERVICE DEALER STATED SWAY BAR HITTING RF SPRING AND FRONT LOWER SHOCK BOLTS LOOSE. ADJUSTED RIDE HEIGHT 1/4 INCH AND INFLATED BACK TIRES FOR 80 TO 110 PSI. ADJUSTED FRONT BRAKES. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DEPT WOULD NOT STATE IF RV WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. 5/12/05 TOOK RV TO MY SERVICE COMPANY TO BE CHECKED FOR SAME COMPLAINT. BECAUSE FREIGHTLINER SERVICE PERSON WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT GIVE WARRANTY AUTHORIZATION, THEY SHIMMED STABILIZER BUSHINGS WITH TWO WASHERS ON TOP AND TWO ON BOTTOM OF BUSHING WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE A MORE SAFE RIDE TO THE FREIGHTLINER FACTORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. MASTER FLEET STATED BAD STEERING WANDERING PROBLEM, POSSIBLE PLAY IN STEERING BOX. TIGHTENED LOOSE BOLTS. POUNDING NOISE STILL IN FRONT END. 6/09/05 APPOINTMENT WITH FREIGHTLINER SET FOR TWO DAYS. PLAY IN STEERING CHECKED DRAG LINKS, TIE RODS AND SHOCKS - MECHANIC STATED OK. FRONT END BANGING NOISE - MECHANIC STATED TIGHTENED RIGHT FRONT SPRING BOLT -BUSHINGS OK. REQUESTED UNIT TO BE ALIGNED. MECHANIC STATED ALIGNMENT OK. THIS TOOK 21/2 HOURS. OF A TWO DAY SCHEDULE. WENT BACK IN THE NEXT DAY. BOLTS WHICH WERE TIGHTEN WERE ON THE AXLE SUPPORT WHICH WERE TO BE TORQED AT 600 FT LBS. RV WAS PUT ON LAZER ALIGNMENT -RV WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. LEFT SIDE AXLE SUPPORT NUT OVER TORQUED. BOTH NUTS WERE REPLACED. BOLTS WERE NOT REPLACED. STILL BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE RV HAS ONLY BEEN TRAVELING A FEW MILES THE STEERING IS BETTER THAN WHEN IT HAS WARMED UP. IF TWO CURVES ARE BACK TO BACK THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE NEXT CURVE. WIND AND LARGE TRUCKS REQUIRES FOR OVER COMPENSATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

THE LOCATION OF THE DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER WHICH CONTAINS ENGINE/GEAR LOCATION,AND MILES PER GALLON IS LOCATED AT A DIFFICULT ANGLE. DRIVER IS UNABLE TO READ SETTINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE THE EYES COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD. THE INFORMATION CENTER IS LOCATED AT KNEE LEVEL AND PROJECTS STRAIGHT OUT. THE INFORMATION IS UNREADABLE IN THE DAYTIME, AND BARELY READABLE AT NIGHT. DEALERSHIP CANNOT PROVIDE ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THIS CHASSIS IS CONNECTED TO A WINNEBAGO JOURNEY 2004.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. REAR END WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *AK