1999 BLUE BIRD Wanderlodge recalls

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 162 MY 1999-2002 WANDERLODGE MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR OR 1200LRIM GAS/ELECTRIC REFRIGERATORS. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK.

EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.

BLUE BIRD IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS. NORCOLD WILL PROVIDE THERMAL SWITCH KITS TO OWNERS ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-825-2021.

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TOUR COACHES, A 'CHECK TRANS' WARNING LIGHT WHICH IS REQUIRED BY ALLISON TRANSMISSION INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WAS OMITTED. IN THE EVENT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR MALFUNCTIONS (LOOSES POWER OR SENDS ERRONEOUS SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT), THE COMPUTER WILL STOP ACCEPTING INPUT FROM THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT SELECTOR UNIT. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE HELD IN THE LAST VALID RANGE SELECTED. ALTHOUGH THE SINGLE DIGIT RANGE SELECTED DISPLAY ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR WILL BE BLANK OR A DASH, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT A MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURRED.

THE DRIVER MAY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR TO CHANGE DIRECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE IT AND REMAIN IN THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A "CHECK TRANS" WARNING LIGHT ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 31, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY TRW. THE SUSPECT TIE RODS CONTAIN 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE SOCKET.

IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-822-2242 OR TRW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-280-3287.

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR COOLING UNITS MODEL NUMBERS 1200LR AND 1200RIM WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 700000 AND 1008700 AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1996 AND FEBRUARY 1999. THESE REFRIGERATORS CAN EXPERIENCE LOW CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE LIQUID SOLUTION SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE SEALED, PRESSURIZED COOLING UNIT THROUGH A SMALL CRACK.

IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUALLY OPERATED, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COOLING UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 11, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NORCOLD SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-667-3005.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS. SOME OF THESE ALARMS MAY HAVE BECOME CONTAMINATED DURING SHIPPING WHICH WILL DIMINISH THE SENSITIVITY OF THE ALARM TO DETECT CARBON MONOXIDE.

PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT THE ALARM DOES NOT WORK AND ALERT THE OCCUPANTS TO THE PRESENCE OF CARBON MONOXIDE.

ATWOOD WILL EXCHANGE THESE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOME COACHES. THE TRAILER HITCH MAY BE INADEQUATELY WELDED TO THE CHASSIS FRAME.

PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT THE TRAILER HITCH SEPARATES FROM THE CHASSIS FRAME WHILE TOWING A TRAILER OR OTHER VEHICLE.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS AND, IF NECESSARY, REWELD THE TRAILER HITCH PROPERLY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOME COACHES EQUIPPED WITH RIDEWELL FOLLOWING TAG AXLES. THE RIDEWELL FOLLOWING TAG AXLE LOCKING CYLINDERS CAN ALLOW THE TAG AXLE TO OFF-STEER, CAUSING A REAR END OVERSTEER PROBLEM.

OVERSTEERING OF THE REAR AXLE COULD CAUSE, WITHOUT WARNING, AN UNEXPECTED SHIFT IN THE COACH TRAVEL DIRECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THESE COACHES TO CORRECT THE OVERSTEER PROBLEM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH RIDEWELL TAG AXLES. THE RIDEWELL TAG AXLE CASTER CONTROL ARM BOLTS CAN BACK OUT OF THE NUT SECURING IT, ALLOWING THE TAG AXLE TO MOVE OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONE SIDE, POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH RIDEWELL TAG AXLES. SOME OF THE RIDEWELL TAG AXLE AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES HAVE THE BRAKE S-CAMS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED.

THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSPECTING THE BRAKE S-CAM AND IF FOUND INCORRECT, INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECTION OF THE S-CAM INSTALLATION.