NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE04025
Preliminary Evaluation · FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
INCORRECT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER
IN LATE FEBRUARY 2004,FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL NOTIFIED OWNERS OF CERTAIN MOTORHOMES BY LETTER THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO REPLACE THE FACTORY INSTALLED CIRCUIT BREAKER DUE TO AN OVERRATED CIRCUIT BREAKER BEING INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY.THIS ISSUE REPORTEDLY AFFECTS THE 110 VOLT (HOUSE CURRENT) SYSTEM OF THE COACH AND WOULD SUBJECT THE WIRES TO EXCESSIVE AMPERAGE AND OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A THERMAL EVENT, INSTEAD OF ACTIVATING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND INTERRUTING THE CURRENT FLOW IN THE EVENT OF A CIRCUIT FAULT BEING DETECTED IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.FOUR WINDS HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL AND REPLACE THE BREAKERS ON ALL THE AFFECTED MOTOR HOMES WITH ONE OF PROPER AMPERAGE.THE ACTION TAKEN BY FOUR WINDS RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- PE04025
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL
- Component
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
- Opened
- Mar 15, 2004
- Closed
- Apr 27, 2004
- Associated recall campaign
- 04V139000
Vehicles named in this investigation
3 model years across 3 models
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.