NHTSA Investigation PE05022

CRACKED OR BROKEN WHEELS

IN RESPONSE TO THE PRODUCT FAILURES THAT PROMPTED ODI TO INITIATE INVESTIGATION PE05-022, KEYSTONE RV HAS FILED TWO DEFECT NOTICES (1) 05V-201 ON MAY 5, 2005 TO ADDRESS 174 MODEL YEAR 2006 CAMBRIDGE VEHICLES AND (2) 05V-424 ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 TO ADDRESS 834 MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 MOUNTAINEER, COUGAR, SPRINTER, AND TAIL-GATOR MODEL VEHICLES.BOTH CAMPAIGNS PROPOSE TO REPLACE CERTAIN 16 CHROME PLATED STEEL WHEELS THAT WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IN THESE VEHICLES.TREDIT TIRE, KEYSTONE RV'S SUPPLIER OF TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES, HAD INVESTIGATED THE REASONS FOR THE CRACKED AND BROKEN WHEELS, DETERMINED THE CAUSES, AND NOTIFIED KEYSTONE AND ODI (05E-051) OF THEIR FINDINGS IN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 2005.KEYSTONE RV HAS REPORTED FIVE INCIDENTS OF WHEEL CRACKS IN 2004 AND 2005 MODEL YEAR MONTANA BIG SKY FIFTH WHEEL VEHICLES. THESE REPORTS INDICATE THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO MARCH 2005 MAY ALSO BE EXPERIENCING CRACKED, BROKEN, OR LEAKING WHEELS.ACCORDINGLY, ODI WILL EVALUATE WHETHER ADDITIONAL ACTIONS APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED FOR WHEELS INSTALLED IN KEYSTONE RV VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO MARCH 2005 AND NOT ADDRESSED BY CAMPAIGN O5V-201 OR 05V-424.

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.