NHTSA Investigation PE06025

COMPLETE OR PARTIAL JACK COLLAPSE

DURING THE 1998-2002 SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, ATWOOD RECEIVED 42 REPORTS OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL JACK COLLAPSES AND AN ADDITIONAL 18 REPORTS THAT DESCRIBE THE INNER PORTION OF THE JACK UNEXPECTEDLY EXTENDING --- SOMETIMES WHILE TRAVELING --- INDICATING THAT THESE JACKS WERE AT IMMINENTRISK OF COLLAPSE IF THE JACKS HAD BEEN SUPPORTING THE CAMPER.ATWOOD'S INSPECTION RECORDS OF RETURNED JACKS INDICATE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COLLAPSES DURING THIS PERIOD WERE ASSOCIATED WITH SPLIT OR DEFORMED BALL BEARING RETURN TUBES WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE LOAD SUPPORTING BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE FROM THE BALL SCREW NUT ASSEMBLY AND CAUSE THE JACK TO COLLAPSE. RECORDS FROM LANCE CAMPER MANUFACTURING CORP, THE PRINCIPAL PURCHASER OF ATWOOD ELECTRIC BALL SCREW JACKS, INDICATE 40 REPORTS IN WHICH SWING-OUT BRACKETS OR BRACKET WELDS WERE FOUND CRACKED OR BROKEN IN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 CAMPERS. ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN A CAMPER TIPPING. ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE ATWOOD HAS AGREED TO ISSUE (MAIL, WEBSITE, AND POINT OF SALE) INFORMATION TO PAST AND FUTURE PURCHASERS OF ATWOOD BALL SCREW JACKS REGARDING THE PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN FOR SAFE JACK OPERATION AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING PERIODIC INSPECTIONS TODETECT CRACKS THAT MAY DEVELOP IN THE SWING OUT BRACKET WELDS.

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.