2000 Product Recalls

THOMAS BUILT/FMVSS 222/STORAGE COMPARTMENT

CONTACT WITH THIS STORAGE COMPARTMENT DOES NOT MEET THE IMPACT ZONE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

DEALERS WILL ADD PADDING TO THE SIDES OF THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 8, 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 THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.

JAGUAR/LOWER BALL JOINTS

IF THE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, THEY CAN LOOSEN AND ULTIMATELY, RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD. IF THE BALL JOINT FRACTURES, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE TWO BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS. VEHICLES WITH LOOSE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS WILL EITHER HAVE THE FASTENERS TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION, OR IF NECESSARY, THE BALL JOINTS WILL BE REPLACED.

NABI/INSTABILITY

THE TRAILER COULD START TO SWING FROM SIDE TO SIDE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THESE VEHICLES.

THOMAS BUILT/DRIVER SEAT BRACKET

IF THE BRACKET IS NOT REPLACED AFTER DEFORMING, AND IS ALLOWED TO BREAK, ITS BREAKING WILL RESULT IN A SUDDEN DROP OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BASE AND ADD REINFORCEMENT TO THE SEAT ASSEMBLY

FREIGHTLINER/BRAKE PEDAL LINKAGE

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD.

FORD/FMVSS 103/COOLANT BLOCKAGE

LOSS OF VISIBILITY COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

CUSTOMERS WILL BE ASKED TO VERIFY, FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED, THAT HEATED AIR FLOWS FROM THEIR VEHICLE'S HEATER/DEFROSTER OUTLETS. THE CUSTOMERS WILL BE ADVISED TO CONTACT THEIR DEALERS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPAIR OF THEIR VEHICLES IF NO HEATED AIR FLOW EXISTS AT THESE OUTLETS.

AMERICAN RACING/ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS

THE DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE WHEEL COMING OFF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT, AND/OR TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.

AMERICAN RACING WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS TO CONTACT A LOCAL AMERICAN RACING WAREHOUSE TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE.

COOPER/THIN INNERLINER

WHEN THIS CONDITION EXISTS, IT COULD RESULT IN ACCELERATED AIR LOSS. THE LOSS OF AIR COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO RUN UNDER-INFLATED AND RESULT IN EARLY FAILURE. LOSS OF AIR MIGHT RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SHOULD BE AVOIDED UNTIL THE TIRES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND REPLACED.

COOPER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR TIRES INSPECTED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.

CPSC Nov 2, 2000

Toy xylophone Recalled for Choking Hazard

The red mallet sold with the toy xylophone can get lodged in the throats of young children, posing a choking hazard.

Consumers should immediately take this toy away from children and return it to their local Dollar General store for a full refund.

NHTSA Nov 1, 2000

WARREN OIL CO/BRAKE FLUID

IF THE BRAKE FLUID PH BALANCE IS LOWER THAN REQUIRED BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS, CORROSION COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN POOR BRAKING ABILITY.

THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOTIFY ALL ITS PURCHASERS TO REMOVE ANY UNSOLD BOTTLES OF THE AFFECTED BRAKE FLUID AND RETURN IT TO WARREN OIL COMPANY FOR FREE REPLACEMENT FLUID.

CPSC Nov 1, 2000

Window blinds with pull cords and inner cords Recalled for Strangulation Hazard

The recall involves millions of window blinds with pull cords and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation.

Consumers who have window blinds with cords in their homes should call the Window Covering Safety Council to receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in the home. The repair kit will include small plastic attachments to prevent the inner cords from being pulled loose. The kit also includes safety tassels for pre-1995 window blinds with outer pull cords ending in loops. Consumers should cut the loops and install a safety tassel at the end of each pull cord. Consumers who have vertical blinds, draperies or pleated shades with continuous loop cords should request special tie-downs to prevent strangulation in those window coverings. Parents should keep window covering cords and chains permanently out of the reach of children. Never place a child's crib within reach of a window blind. Unless the cords can be completely removed from the child's reach, including when the child climbs on furniture, CPSC recommends that parents never knot or tie the cords together because this creates a new loop in which a child could become entangled.

FORD/FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET

IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

FORD/PARKING BRAKE PAWL

THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL AND INSTALL A PLATE OR OVER-BRACKET TO THE CONTROL TO LOCK THE SELF ADJUST MECHANISM IN POSITION FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENT.

FORD/SEAT BELT RETRACTOR

THIS COULD CAUSE SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT WHEN WORN, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.

MERCEDES-BENZ/SEAT BELT ANCHOR

IF THIS IS THE CASE, THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE.

FORD/FMVSS 118/ACCESSORY POSITION

THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT POWER OPERATED WINDOWS MAY BE CLOSED ONLY WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE "ON," "START," OR "ACCESSORY" POSITIONS, OR DURING THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE TIME THE KEY IS TURNED OFF, AND THE OPENING OF EITHER OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT DOORS.

DEALERS WILL RECONFIGURE THE VEHICLE FRONT END ELECTRONIC MODULE.

SUN HAWK/RUNNING BOARD BRACKET

THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE RUNNING BOARD BRACKETS.