NHTSA Investigation EA04032

WHEEL SEPARATIONS

ON JUNE 20, 2005, KEYSTONE RV NOTIFIED ODI OF KEYSTONE'S INTENTION TO CONDUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 05V-309 TO ADDRESS 2,668 VEHICLES CONSISTING OF 1,677 MY 2004 MONTANA, 550 MY 2004 EVEREST, AND 441 MY 2005 EVEREST VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS.THIS CAMPAIGN PROPOSES TO REMOVE THE WHEELS, INSPECT THE WHEEL ENDS FOR INDICATIONS OF PRIOR LOOSENING AND/OR OTHER DAMAGE, REMOVE PAINT AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WHEEL MOUNTING INTERFACE, AND EDUCATE THE OWNER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CHECKING THE TORQUE OF THE WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS AS PRESCRIBED IN KEYSTONE'S OWNER'S MANUAL.ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTED WHEEL END SERVICING INFORMATION IN DVD FORMAT TO 114,618 OWNERS OF NON-CAMPAIGNED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 1, 2003 AND SEPT 1, 2005. ALTHOUGH KEYSTONE HAS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE IMPROVED THE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF THE WHEEL NUT INSTALLATION AND TORQUING, ODI IS CONCERNED THAT THE NEED FOR FREQUENT RETORQUE MAY BE INDICATIVE THAT OTHER CURRENTLY-UNADDRESSED FACTORS MAY BE INVOLVED.ODI WILL CLOSE THIS INVESTIGATION BUT CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE WHEEL SEPARATION ISSUE AT KEYSTONE RV.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.