Wanderlodge M450 LXI Suspension: Front Tires Valve Wheel

[iamflagman]

NHTSA Action Number : RQ08004NHTSA

Recall Campaign Number : N/A

Make / Models : Model/Build Years: BLUE BIRD / WANDERLODGE M450 LXI 2005-2007

Manufacturer : BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

Component :

SUSPENSION: FRONT TIRES

TIRES VALVE WHEELS

Date Investigation Opened : June 24, 2008

Date Investigation Closed : Open

Summary:

ON DECEMBER 11, 2007, BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY FILED DEFECT REPORT 07V-586 REPORTING THAT 58 MOTOR HOMES HAD BEEN BUILT WITH A "FRONT AXLE CURB WEIGHT THAT EXCEEDS THE SPECIFIED 16,000 LBS WEIGHT RATING." THE PROPOSED REMEDY CONSISTED SOLELY OF REPLACING THE FRONT AXLE TIE ROD ENDS.

ON MARCH 12, 2008, BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY AMENDED DEFECT REPORT 07V-586 AND SPECIFIED THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT, THE REMEDY WOULD NOW ALSO REQUIRE INCREASING THE RECOMMENDED FRONT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE TO 130 P.S.I. AND CHECKING/CORRECTING THE FRONT STEERING ALIGNMENT. ODI BELIEVES THAT A CAMPAIGN ACTION THAT SPECIFIES 130 P.S.I.

TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE IS CRITICALLY DEPENDENT ON OWNERS RECEIVING AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STRINGENT AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT.

ODI HAS FOUND (REFER TO EA05-011 CLOSING REPORT) THAT MOTOR HOME OWNERS ARE FREQUENTLY UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO INFLATE TIRES THIS HIGH BECAUSE OF LOSS OF RIDE COMFORT AND IS (1) ALERTING BLUE BIRD BODY TO THESE CONCERNS AND (2) REQUESTING A SUMMARY OF THE ACTIONS THAT BLUE BIRD PLANS TO UNDERTAKE TO ASSURE THAT THE PROPOSED CAMPAIGN ACTIONS WILL BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.

Defect Investigations Documents

INIM-RQ08004-29624.pdf IR TO MFR592
INME-RQ08004-29343P.pdf MEMO JUNE 27,2008 TO THE FILE MEETING WITH BLUE BIRD AT ODI ON JUNE 25,200822101
INOA-RQ08004-66278.pdf OPENING RESUME APPROVED69



National Highway Traffic Safety Administration / Office of Defects Investigation
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/index.cfm

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/defectsearch.cfm

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallsearch.cfm