NHTSA Investigation EA89016

POWER STEERING HOSE

SUMMARY:ACCORDING TO WINNEBAGO, ROAD AND ENGINE VIBRATION MAY CAUSEFAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE IN CERTAIN H BODYVEHICLES.WINNEBAGO HAS STATED THAT A METAL ELBOW IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLYMAY FATIGUE.TO REMEDY THIS, WINNEBAGO HAS DEVELOPED A STABLIZING BRACKETTO ALLEVIATE RELATIVE MOTION OF THE COMPONENTS.PRODUCTION MODELS MODIFIEDON AUGUST 9, 1989.LEAKAGE OF THE POWER ASSIST HYDRAULIC FLUID WILL NOT CAUSE A LOSS INSTEERING.IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT POWER ASSIST WILL DEGRADE GRADUALLY,DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE OPENING, AND THE AMOUNT OF STEERING ASSISTREQUIRED (I.E. LOW SPEED PARKING MANEUVERS).THE PRIMARY RISK IS THATHYDRAULIC FLUID ATOMIZED UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE WILLCONTACT AN IGNITION SOURCE RESULTING IN A FIRE.THE AFFECTED JOINT ISLOCATED BELOW THE MID LINE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HOWEVER,CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CAUSE THE ATOMIZED FLUID TO CONTACT AN IGNITION SOURCE(EXHAUST, WIRING, ETC.).BY LETTER DATED MARCH 30, 1989, WINNEBAGO ANNOUNCED THE RECALL OF THEEFFECTED H BODY MOTORHOMES.===

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.