Recall Notice: SAF Holland ADL Suspension Transverse Beam Welds

[Wayne M]

RECALL: SAF-HOLLAND/ADL (SUSPENSION)
Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
SAF-HOLLAND / ADL 9999
SAF-HOLLAND / ADLSD 9999
Manufacturer : SAF-HOLLAND Mfr's Report Date : APR 04, 2008
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08E031000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: SUSPENSION
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 2065
Summary:
SAF-HOLLAND HAS REPORTED A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT IN 2,065 TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 90547733, 90547813, AND 90548443, INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IN CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES TO AID IN PROVIDING ROLL RESISTANCE OF THE DRIVE AXLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. IN SOME INSTANCES THE TRANSVERSE BEAM WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE WELD.
Consequence:
IF THE WELD FAILS, VEHICLE STABILITY WHILE CORNERING COULD BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD.
Remedy:
EACH VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WILL FILE A DEFECT REPORT AND REMEDY PLAN FOR THEIR VEHICLES WHICH INCLUDED THESE TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLIES AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT EITHER THEIR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER OR SAF-HOLLAND AT 231-773-3271.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO http://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
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According to the recall notice I received, this is on specific Freightliner Custom Chassis XC motor home chassis manufactured between July 2, 2007 and October 30, 2007 with SAF Holland ADL suspensions.

[Wayne M]

Follow-up:

Getting into the Houston Freightliner shop was an impossibility until October 30th, so I called Freightliner, Austin, TX and they said there should be no problem and that it is first come, first served. We were already delayed by a week and a half on our trip, so we opted for Austin.

The personnel at Freightliner in Austin were grate, on the phone and in person. We drove to Austin on Sunday and at 0700 hours I was in the Freighliner service parking lot. We only had to wait for a short time. I snuck inside to use the facilities and when I came back out, the technician was putting the recall sticker on the driver side sticker post.

We did not have the problem of the recall and will be on our way tomorrow, Tuesday, for points west to Las Vegas.

Highly recommend Freightliner of Austin, TX. Call first to see what there schedule is.

In my case it only took a couple of minutes for the inspection. We were hoping for the best and we got it. Had the inspection gone the other way we would have had to park it until the part came in. Luck was with us for a change.