Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite problems & recalls

Problem: Monaco rv, llc (monaco) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 recreational vehicles equipped with fastec-brand door locks. it may be possible to remove the key from the lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt.

Risk: If the deadbolt jams, the interior side of the door lock may also jam. a person inside the travel trailer at the time will then be locked in and be unable to exit the vehicle without using the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Monaco will notify owners, and fastec will coordinate the inspection and replacement of the cylinders, as needed, free of charge. the recall began on february 17, 2014. owners may contact monaco at 1-877-466-6226 or fastec at 1-800-837-2505.

Problem: Monaco rv, llc (monaco) is recalling certain model year 2011 holiday rambler campmaster and r-vision trail cruiser; model year 2011-2012 r-vision onyx; model year 2011-2013 r-vision trail light; model year 2012-2014 holiday rambler aluma-lite, aluma-lite ultra and r-vision trail sport and trail-lite crossover; and model year 2013-2014 mckenzie rainier ascent and r-vision trail lite trek recreational vehicles. these vehicles were manufactured october 12, 2009, through march 15, 2013 and have the water tanks mounted under the floor within enclosed underbellies. the water tank mounting system may fail.

Risk: If the mounting system fails, the water tank may separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Monaco rv, llc will notify owners and dealers will install a cross brace between the water tank and the mounting brackets, free of charge. the recall began on july 31, 2013. monaco's recall number is 13001mrv. owners may contact monaco at 1-877-466-6226.

Problem: Monaco is recalling certain motor homes equipped with norcold refrigerators. a fatigue failure in the section of the cooling unit which contains the refrigerant could allow the liquid solution to slowly leak.

Risk: Extended operation of a leaking cooling unit could lead to a fire from gas which might escape.

Fix: Monaco is working with norcold to repair these refrigerators. norcold will provide thermal switch kits to owners along with the necessary forms and instructions. the recall began on august 29, 2008. owners may contact norcold at 1-800-767-9101 or monaco at 1-800-685-6545.

Problem: On certain travel trailers, the converter neutral wire was connected to the bonding (ground) bar instead of the neutral bar.

Risk: This could lead to a situation with a shock hazard increasing the risk of personal injury.

Fix: Dealers will remove the neutral wire from the bonding bar and install it on the neutral bar, both of which are located in the load center of the vehicle. the recall began on december 14, 2007. owners may contact monaco at 1-800-685-6545.

Problem: On certain motor homes, fifth wheel and travel trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerator manufactured by the dometic corporation, the refrigerator may have a defect in the boiler tube. pressurized coolant solution could be released into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present.

Risk: Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.

Fix: Monaco will be working with dometic in order to repair these refrigerators (please see 06e076). dometic will repair these refrigerators by installing a secondary burn housing, a thermal fuse, and a melt fuse free of charge. dometic has retained stericycle inc. to manage this campaign. stericycle will assist the owner in locating dealerships or service centers and will provide assistance with s

Problem: On certain fifth wheel trailers, a deficiency in the structural integrity of the main frame rails could cause the rails to crack and axles could shift, causing the fifth wheel to pull erratically.

Risk: This could cause the driver of the tow vehicle to lose control creating the potential for a crash resulting in personal injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and add an addition of gusset plates and cross tubes to strenghen the axle spring hangers. the recall began on october 29, 2004. owners should contact monaco at 1-800-685-6545.

Problem: On certain motorhomes, fifth wheels and travel trailers equipped with norcold refrigerator cooling units model numbers 1200lr and 1200rim, these refrigerators can experience low cycle fatigue failure which can lead to the liquid solution slowly leaking from the sealed, pressurized cooling unit through a small crack.

Risk: If a leak occurs and the unit is continually operated, hydrogen gas may be expelled and can be ignited, resulting in a fire, possibly causing serious injury or death.

Fix: Norcold will notify its customers and provide a replacement cooling unit free of charge. 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 norcold service center at 1-800-667-3005 or monaco at 574-862-7211.

Problem: Vehicle description: travel trailers and fifth wheel trailers. a wire supplying 12volt dc to the holding tank monitoring system display panel was installed without proper circuit protection. the circuit is connected to the voltage source with a 12volt dc 50 amp self-resetting circuit breaker as protection against an electrical short to ground.

Risk: An electrical short could occur.

Fix: Dealers will install a 6-amp circuit breaker on the 12volt dc wire supplying voltage to the holding tank monitor panel display. owner notification began june 5, 2001. 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 monaco at 1-800-685-6545.

Problem: Fifth wheel trailers. the routing of the liquid propane gas (lpg) line was inadvertently installed in the sidewall of the slideout. if the recreational vehicle is operated with the line improperly installed, there is the risk of premature failure due to abrasion, or puncture of the lpg line, which could lead to release of lpg in the recreational vehicle.

Risk: The release of the lpg inside the vehicle could lead to an explosion in the presence of an ignition source, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Fix: Dealers will replace the refrigerator lpg line, and if mounted in the slideout, the stove lpg line. the new line(s) will be routed in a way that makes them accessible the entire run to the appliance. owner notification began march 29, 2001. owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact monaco at 1-800-685-6545.

Problem: Vehicle description: travel trailers. the springs used on the two axles are under rated.

Risk: The current springs were not rated properly to allow a sufficient gross vehicle weight rating (gawr).

Fix: Dealers will replace the current springs with springs that will allow the axles to be rated at 5,200 lbs. each. also a new federal certification label and metal identification plate will be installed to reflect the increased gawr.

Problem: The federal certification label overstates the gross axle weight rating (gawr) as 5,000 lbs. the correct gawr is 4,670 lbs. this does not conform to fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."

Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: the load rating for the tires and atires pressures designated on the federal certification label are not appropriate for the incorrectly stated gawr. incorrect tire and tire inflations can result in tire failure and possible vehicle accident.

Fix: Owners will be sent replacement certification labels and instructions for replacing them. if they prefer, owners can have their dealers replace these labels for them.

Problem: The federal certification label incorrectly states the gross axle weight rating (gawr) causing the load ratings for the tires and tire pressures to be wrong. this does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."

Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: incorrect tires and tire inflation can result in tire failure and possible vehicle accident.

Fix: Owners will sent replacement certification labels and instructions for replacing them. if they prefer, owners can have their dealers replace these labels for them.