Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.
Many National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls are affecting several popular recreational vehicle brands and tow vehicles. Owners who believe they may be affected by these recalls or other issues may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to Safercar.gov. The most recent recalls noteworthy to RV'ers are as follows:
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
FOREST RIVER, INC.:
1) 2019-2020 Surveyor, NO BO, Cherokee, R. POD, Clipper, Viking, Independence, and Puma and East to West trailers
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Surveyor, NO BO, Cherokee, R. POD, Clipper, Viking, Independence, Puma and East to West trailers. The spare tire carrier U-bolts may fail allowing the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace U-bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 13, 2020. Owners may contact Surveyor, NO BO, R. and POD customer service at 1-574-642-3119, Independence, Viking, and Clipper customer service at 1-269-467-4600, Puma customer service at -574-642-0606, East and West customer service at 1-574-264-6664 or Cherokee customer service at 1-877-426-5337. Forest River's number for this recall is 51-1133.
2) Shasta SST240TH and SST260TH trailers
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain Shasta SST240TH and SST260TH trailers. The tires may have insufficient clearance inside the wheel well allowing the tire to contact the inside of the wheel well, possibly resulting in tire failure. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers with ones that are 2 inches taller and replace any tiresthat has evidence of damage, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 8, 2020. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-821-1311. Forest River's number for this recall is 53-1144.
DAIMLER VANS USA LLC
2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vans
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The flange connection between the exhaust gas turbocharger and the exit to the diesel particulate filter may not be attached properly, potentially causing an exhaust gas leak. DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealers will replace the flange seals and properly tighten the connection, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3FLABIND.
HEARTLAND RVs, LLC
2020 Bighorn Traveler, Elkridge, Milestone, and Pioneer Fifth Wheel trailers
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is recalling certain 2020 Bighorn Traveler, Elkridge, Milestone, and Pioneer Fifth Wheel trailers. The smoke detector may be incorrectly located in the bedroom. Heartland will notify owners, and dealers will either relocate the detector or add an additional one, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Heartland customer service at 1-877-262-8032.
JAYCO, INC.
2013-2015 Fifth Wheel Seismic and 2015 Pinnacle trailers
146 UNITS AFFECTED
Jayco is recalling certain 2013-2015 Fifth Wheel Seismic and 2015 Pinnacle trailers. The trailers were built with 6,000lb capacity axles instead of 7,000lb axles as intended. Jayco will notify owners, and dealers will replace the axles and leaf springs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 23, 2020. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-517-9137. Jayco's number for this recall is 9901506.
KEYSTONE RV COMPANY
2020 Hideout, Springdale, and Crossroads Zinger trailers
1,099 UNITS AFFECTED
Keystone RV Company (Keystone) is recalling certain 2020 Hideout, Springdale, and Crossroads Zinger trailers. The spare tire carrier U-bolts may fail allowing the spare tire carrier and spare tire detach from the vehicle. Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will replace U-bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 20, 2020. Owners may contact Keystone customer service at 1-866-425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 20-371.
TOW VEHICLES
CHRYSLER:
2019 Ram 1500 Pickup Trucks
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive. A gear within the transfer case may not have been installed correctly, possibly causing the vehicle to become stuck in neutral. If this occurs while driving, there could be a sudden loss of power. Additionally, a loss of 'PARK' function may occur. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transfer case, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W06.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
1) 2018-2020 F-150 Pickup Trucks
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from the "Autolamps" switch position to "Headlamps On." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment." Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 9, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
2) 2015-2016 F-150 pick-up trucks
13,854 UNITS AFFECTED
Ford is recalling certain 2015-2016 F-150 pick-up trucks equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines and block immersion heaters that were potentially relocated from their originally installed location. The incorrect location could put the heater too close to hot engine components, possibly resulting in a damaged cable. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the block heater's location and its cable, replacing components as necessary, free of charge. If the replacement parts are not available, dealers will disable the existing block heater cable from being used until parts become available. The recall is expected to begin April 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S08.
3) 2020 F-550 and 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles
319 UNITS AFFECTED
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-550 and 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The rear axle differential fluid may be below the minimum level, possibly resulting in a failure of the rear axle assembly and driveshaft separation. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle differential fluid level and adjust it, or replace the rear axle as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S09.
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING
2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra vehicles
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020.
On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Toyota issued owners an interim notification on February 17, 2020 to the original population of potentially affected vehicles. Owners of the vehicles in the expanded population will be mailed letters by March 13, 2020. Toyota will send a second notice to owners around May 3, 2020 to have the fuel pump replaced. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC
2019-2020 G550 4MATIC and G63 AMG 4MATIC vehicles
6,517 UNITS AFFECTED
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 G550 4MATIC and G63 AMG 4MATIC vehicles. An electrical resistor within the differential locking module may malfunction, interrupting communication between the control unit and the differential locking actuator, possibly resulting in the deactivation of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) while driving. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the differential locking modules and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 14, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
TIRES
COMPANIA HULERA TORNEL, S.A.DE CV:
Tornel A/T-09 tires
832 UNITS AFFECTED
Tornel is recalling certain Tornel A/T-09 tires, size LT265/75R16, Load Range C. Due to improper manufacturing, the sidewall rubber may separate from the body ply cords and cause separation of the lower sidewall. As such, these tires fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 139, "New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles." Tornel will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 24, 2020. Owners may contact Tornel customer service at 1-281-919-1944. Tornel's number for this recall is 100.