2005 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE M450 LXI

2 recalls — 6 complaints

07V586000 Dec 20, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN MY 2005-2007 WANDERLODGE 450 LXI MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH ARVIN MERITOR AND TRW TIE ROD ENDS, THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED WITH STEEL TUBING THAT DID NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS WHICH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WHEN COACH MILEAGE APPROACHES OR EXCEEDS 100,000 MILES. ALSO THE FRONT AXLE CURB WEIGHT MAY EXCEED THE SPECIFIED 16,000 POUNDS WEIGHT RATING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND FRONT TIE ROD ENDS ALONG WITH A CERTIFICATION LABEL STATING THE CORRECT WEIGHT LIMITS. APPROPRIATE REPLACEMENT TIRES WILL BE PROVIDED AND THE FRONT STEERING ALIGNMENT WILL BE CHECKED AND CORRECTED, IF NECESSARY. NEW TIRE DATA DECALS WILL ALSO BE SUPPLIED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-825-2021.
58 vehicles affected
05V044000 Feb 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, A CIRCUIT DESIGN RESULTED IN A 12.1 AMP CIRCUIT DRAW IN THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT WHEN IT IS PROTECTED BY A 10 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE CIRCUIT TO INCORPORATE RELAYS TO REDUCE CURRENT DRAW IN THE FUSED CIRCUIT TO LESS THAN 10 AMPERES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-825-2021.
22 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Nov 20, 2009
PETITION FOR THE INCOMPLETE, UNSAFE REPAIRS AND MODIFICATION TO THE 2006 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE 450 LXI THAT ARE BEING DONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE CONDITIONS FOR THE NHTSA RECALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR HOME SUCH AS; A FIRE IN THE DASH, A BURNT INVERTER, UNSOLVED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, EXTENSIVE HADLEY SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND A SLIDE OUT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEW RESTRICTIONS BLUE BIRD WANTS TO PLACE ON ITS OWNERS WITH REGARDS TO WEIGHT IN BAYS TRAVELING WITH 1/4 WATER AND PASSENGERS RESTRICTIONS IS UNREASONABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT BUY A MOTORHOME WITH RESTRICTIONS.
Fire
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER Nov 20, 2009
PETITION FOR THE INCOMPLETE, UNSAFE REPAIRS AND MODIFICATION TO THE 2006 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE 450 LXI THAT ARE BEING DONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE CONDITIONS FOR THE NHTSA RECALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR HOME SUCH AS; A FIRE IN THE DASH, A BURNT INVERTER, UNSOLVED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, EXTENSIVE HADLEY SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND A SLIDE OUT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEW RESTRICTIONS BLUE BIRD WANTS TO PLACE ON ITS OWNERS WITH REGARDS TO WEIGHT IN BAYS TRAVELING WITH 1/4 WATER AND PASSENGERS RESTRICTIONS IS UNREASONABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT BUY A MOTORHOME WITH RESTRICTIONS.
Fire
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY Nov 20, 2009
PETITION FOR THE INCOMPLETE, UNSAFE REPAIRS AND MODIFICATION TO THE 2006 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE 450 LXI THAT ARE BEING DONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE CONDITIONS FOR THE NHTSA RECALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR HOME SUCH AS; A FIRE IN THE DASH, A BURNT INVERTER, UNSOLVED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, EXTENSIVE HADLEY SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND A SLIDE OUT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEW RESTRICTIONS BLUE BIRD WANTS TO PLACE ON ITS OWNERS WITH REGARDS TO WEIGHT IN BAYS TRAVELING WITH 1/4 WATER AND PASSENGERS RESTRICTIONS IS UNREASONABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT BUY A MOTORHOME WITH RESTRICTIONS.
Fire
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY Nov 9, 2009
THIS LETTER IS AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A FORMAL PETITION REGARDING THE INCOMPLETE, UNSAFE REPAIRS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE 2005 TO 2007 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE 450 LXI THAT ARE BEING DONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE CONDITIONS OF THE NHTSA RECALL. THE ORIGINAL RECALL, 07V586000, INDICATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE ON THE 450 LXI COULD BE OVERWEIGHT. BLUE BIRD STATED IN SUBSTANCE THAT ITS RV WAS OVERWEIGHT ON THE FRONT AXLE WITHOUT CARGO BUT WITH THE STANDARD 4 PASSENGERS AND FULL WATER (USING PRE-2008 DEFINITION OF CCC). THE TIRE SAFETY FACTOR WAS NOT AN ISSUE IN THE RECALL BUT SURFACED WITH THE LATER COMPLAINT. THE TIE ROD WEAKNESS WAS NOT A CAUSE OF THE RECALL BUT WAS A RESULT OF THE NEED TO INCREASE THE AXLE RATING. (I.E. IT WAS ONE OF THE REMEDIES). THE TIE RODS WERE SAFE AT AN AXLE LOAD OF 16,000 LBS AND NO TIE ROD RECALL WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE 16,000 LB. AXLE WAS SUFFICIENT AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. THE RECALL WAS BASED ON THE AXLE BEING IN EXCESS OF ITS RATING AND THE MOTORHOME COULD NOT BE SAFELY USED WITH REASONABLE LOADING AND DESIGNED PURPOSE OF THE VEHICLE. IN DOING THE MANY LEVELS OF 'FIXES', BLUE BIRD HAS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE 'NO CARGO', WEIGHT OF THE MOTORHOME IN ORDER SHOW AN APPARENT DECREASED FRONT AXLE LOAD AND TO SHOW SOME CAPACITY IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS. THE UNLOADED WEIGHT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A NON-STANDARD, 2 PASSENGERS AND 1/4 TANK OF FRESH WATER. (RIVA) THE NEW BAY WEIGHT LIMIT PLACARDS ARE MISLEADING IN THAT THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE FACT THAT THEY REFER TO THE TOTAL WEIGHT IN THE ENTIRE BAY AREA, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES AND IN THE VERTICAL AREA ABOVE THE BAY, IN THE COACH. OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS AND MAINTAINING THESE LIMITS IS UNREASONABLE. THE LIMITS CAN BE EASILY OVERLOADED, EVEN BY PANTRY ITEMS ALONE. THE OVERLOADING OF THE FRONT TIRES IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. ONE OF THE 'FIXES' WAS TO MODIFY THE HADLEY AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM SO THAT IN DRIVE MODE. *TR
SUSPENSION:FRONT Nov 9, 2009
THIS LETTER IS AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A FORMAL PETITION REGARDING THE INCOMPLETE, UNSAFE REPAIRS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE 2005 TO 2007 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE 450 LXI THAT ARE BEING DONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE CONDITIONS OF THE NHTSA RECALL. THE ORIGINAL RECALL, 07V586000, INDICATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE ON THE 450 LXI COULD BE OVERWEIGHT. BLUE BIRD STATED IN SUBSTANCE THAT ITS RV WAS OVERWEIGHT ON THE FRONT AXLE WITHOUT CARGO BUT WITH THE STANDARD 4 PASSENGERS AND FULL WATER (USING PRE-2008 DEFINITION OF CCC). THE TIRE SAFETY FACTOR WAS NOT AN ISSUE IN THE RECALL BUT SURFACED WITH THE LATER COMPLAINT. THE TIE ROD WEAKNESS WAS NOT A CAUSE OF THE RECALL BUT WAS A RESULT OF THE NEED TO INCREASE THE AXLE RATING. (I.E. IT WAS ONE OF THE REMEDIES). THE TIE RODS WERE SAFE AT AN AXLE LOAD OF 16,000 LBS AND NO TIE ROD RECALL WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE 16,000 LB. AXLE WAS SUFFICIENT AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. THE RECALL WAS BASED ON THE AXLE BEING IN EXCESS OF ITS RATING AND THE MOTORHOME COULD NOT BE SAFELY USED WITH REASONABLE LOADING AND DESIGNED PURPOSE OF THE VEHICLE. IN DOING THE MANY LEVELS OF 'FIXES', BLUE BIRD HAS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE 'NO CARGO', WEIGHT OF THE MOTORHOME IN ORDER SHOW AN APPARENT DECREASED FRONT AXLE LOAD AND TO SHOW SOME CAPACITY IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS. THE UNLOADED WEIGHT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A NON-STANDARD, 2 PASSENGERS AND 1/4 TANK OF FRESH WATER. (RIVA) THE NEW BAY WEIGHT LIMIT PLACARDS ARE MISLEADING IN THAT THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE FACT THAT THEY REFER TO THE TOTAL WEIGHT IN THE ENTIRE BAY AREA, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES AND IN THE VERTICAL AREA ABOVE THE BAY, IN THE COACH. OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS AND MAINTAINING THESE LIMITS IS UNREASONABLE. THE LIMITS CAN BE EASILY OVERLOADED, EVEN BY PANTRY ITEMS ALONE. THE OVERLOADING OF THE FRONT TIRES IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. ONE OF THE 'FIXES' WAS TO MODIFY THE HADLEY AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM SO THAT IN DRIVE MODE. *TR
STRUCTURE Nov 9, 2009
THIS LETTER IS AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A FORMAL PETITION REGARDING THE INCOMPLETE, UNSAFE REPAIRS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE 2005 TO 2007 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE 450 LXI THAT ARE BEING DONE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE CONDITIONS OF THE NHTSA RECALL. THE ORIGINAL RECALL, 07V586000, INDICATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE ON THE 450 LXI COULD BE OVERWEIGHT. BLUE BIRD STATED IN SUBSTANCE THAT ITS RV WAS OVERWEIGHT ON THE FRONT AXLE WITHOUT CARGO BUT WITH THE STANDARD 4 PASSENGERS AND FULL WATER (USING PRE-2008 DEFINITION OF CCC). THE TIRE SAFETY FACTOR WAS NOT AN ISSUE IN THE RECALL BUT SURFACED WITH THE LATER COMPLAINT. THE TIE ROD WEAKNESS WAS NOT A CAUSE OF THE RECALL BUT WAS A RESULT OF THE NEED TO INCREASE THE AXLE RATING. (I.E. IT WAS ONE OF THE REMEDIES). THE TIE RODS WERE SAFE AT AN AXLE LOAD OF 16,000 LBS AND NO TIE ROD RECALL WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE 16,000 LB. AXLE WAS SUFFICIENT AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. THE RECALL WAS BASED ON THE AXLE BEING IN EXCESS OF ITS RATING AND THE MOTORHOME COULD NOT BE SAFELY USED WITH REASONABLE LOADING AND DESIGNED PURPOSE OF THE VEHICLE. IN DOING THE MANY LEVELS OF 'FIXES', BLUE BIRD HAS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE 'NO CARGO', WEIGHT OF THE MOTORHOME IN ORDER SHOW AN APPARENT DECREASED FRONT AXLE LOAD AND TO SHOW SOME CAPACITY IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS. THE UNLOADED WEIGHT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A NON-STANDARD, 2 PASSENGERS AND 1/4 TANK OF FRESH WATER. (RIVA) THE NEW BAY WEIGHT LIMIT PLACARDS ARE MISLEADING IN THAT THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE FACT THAT THEY REFER TO THE TOTAL WEIGHT IN THE ENTIRE BAY AREA, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES AND IN THE VERTICAL AREA ABOVE THE BAY, IN THE COACH. OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS AND MAINTAINING THESE LIMITS IS UNREASONABLE. THE LIMITS CAN BE EASILY OVERLOADED, EVEN BY PANTRY ITEMS ALONE. THE OVERLOADING OF THE FRONT TIRES IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. ONE OF THE 'FIXES' WAS TO MODIFY THE HADLEY AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM SO THAT IN DRIVE MODE. *TR