URGENT SAFETY ISSUE - Sturgis Regulator Recall

[khollister]

Airstream has started using a relatively new MB Sturgis branded auto-changeover regulator that I just had a catastrophic failure on. Come to find out, there is a recall that Airstream nor my dealer seem to be aware of ...

https://www.ncconsumer.org/news-arti...fire-risk.html

Mine failed last night in exactly the manner described in the recall notice - the indicator housing completely disintegrated and I heard gas escaping from 100' away!. Fortunately no damage was done.

Furthermore, I cannot find any SN, production code or other identifying marking on my regulator to aid in establishing the effectivity of this problem.

As a result, I am replacing it with a Marshall regulator since I have no confidence in knowing if a replacement Sturgis is similarly defective or not.

Be aware that AS uses 1/4" MNPT pigtails rather than industry standard 1/4" M inverse flare, so unless you want to try and remove the inverse flare adapters from a replacement regulator sourced anywhere but AS, you will need new pigtails too.

I alerted AS tech support to this and they indicated they had no knowledge of the recall! If you have a 2016 (not sure about the 2015 models), GET THE STURGIS PART OFF OF THERE & replace it with a Marshall or Cavagna. This also probably explains why nobody actually has these for sale on the internet.

[dwightdi]

You can receive all the latest US DOT NHTSA notices by subscribing on their website. Recall Notification by Email | Safercar.gov | NHTSA I subscribed to all "Airstream" recalls. I got my notice for this recall last week. I wonder why a dealer would not subscribe?

[Foiled Again]

Thank you for posting to this forum. I'm sure you've told your dealer about this. I've got a 2012 I bought gently used from Colonial - I know they read the forums daily so I'll bet they'll have techs out in their yard today checking ALL of their inventory.

I'm going to pay it forward and notify my home campground and two local RV dealers.

Good Karma to you. Paula

[CDONA]

I replaced what ever they put on a '13, it was making a water drop on tin, noise.
Drove me nutz trying to find the source, mostly crack of dawn, so I had to get dressed and poke around. I looked for dew dripping, but no wet spots. I finally had a hold of the regulator and felt the noise, as it happened. My refer was running on propane at the time and that flow was enough to get the sticking diaphragm to kind of burp.

[Plan-B]

I have a 2016 FC 25' and I contacted my dealer, Woodland Travel Center in MI. They were not aware of this issue or recall and have not been notified as such by AS. They are going to look at the recall notice that was posted on this thread, contact AS and get back with me. I will f/u here with what I learn. Thanks for sharing this information with us. This is about as dangerous as a problem as you can get.

[khollister]

Sturgis doesn't even have any mention of the recall on their website - they just pulled the part from the product list. This thing is a lawsuit waiting to happen due their "stealth" handling of it.

And now that AS has been alerted to the issue, they are under the gun to deal with it as well.

UPDATE - just saw on the NHTSA site that Airstream issued a recall 17 Nov. Given that the tech support person I talked to yesterday knew nothing and none of the dealers have apparently been notified, it seems AS is just as negligent as MB Sturgis. Disappointing.


Keith
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[HoffmanP]

Can you post a picture of the subject regulator?

[khollister]

I noticed the AS recall notice at NHTSA listed a phone number and extension to call at AS. I called it and got the same individual I spoke to yesterday who said they didn't know about it. Today, they admitted to being aware of the recall. I told them they have a huge problem and that the Internet is starting to light up and none of the dealers claim to have been notified. They also said they didn't know what the solution was going to be. I offered my opinion that "working on it" was not a reasonable plan with a safety issue of this magnitude and they needed to make sure everyone knows the potential danger.

The recall affects all trailers with build dates of 3 Aug thru 13 Nov. I wonder what they are installing currently?


Keith
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[khollister]

This is the culprit - notice the indicator completely disintegrated at the top

[khollister]

This is the Marshall 253 I replaced it with, along with my new Al bracket I fabricated

[SSquared]

Originally Posted by CDONA

I replaced what ever they put on a '13, it was making a water drop on tin, noise.
Drove me nutz trying to find the source, mostly crack of dawn, so I had to get dressed and poke around. I looked for dew dripping, but no wet spots. I finally had a hold of the regulator and felt the noise, as it happened. My refer was running on propane at the time and that flow was enough to get the sticking diaphragm to kind of burp.

My 2013 AS also produced a "bong" type noise from the propane system when the fridge was running on propane. Sometimes it was steady like a metronome, sometimes it was irregular. Loud enough to interfere with sleep.

I have purchased a new regulator and will install it soon.

Fortunately I happened to choose a regulator that is not from Sturgis! I'd rather have a "bong" sound than a "hisssss--BOOM" sound.

[khollister]

Originally Posted by SSquared

I'd rather have a "bong" sound than a "hisssss--BOOM" sound.

LOL Bongs, not bombs

[khollister]

Things seem to be moving @ AS - just found a dealer notification letter @ NHTSA dated yesterday (12/1/15). It also claims letters have been mailed to owners.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs...5V761-8792.pdf

[Plan-B]

Originally Posted by khollister

This is the culprit - notice the indicator completely disintegrated at the top

I have a 2016 25' FC manufactured in June-2015. This is a different regulator than yours.

[khollister]

That is the Cavagna I believe. The recall states an effectivity from 3 Aug to 13 Nov build dates.

If you read the defect report that also just surfaced on nhtsa.gov, Sturgis only made less than 2000 of these so far of which 560 or so were shipped to AS. It is a new product for MB Sturgis this year apparently

[Mrjkq]

Originally Posted by khollister

This is the culprit - notice the indicator completely disintegrated at the top

Thanks for posting these pictures. My AS was built this past June & I'll check my regulator tomorrow.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Plan-B

Attachment 253233

I have a 2016 25' FC manufactured in June-2015. This is a different regulator than yours.

Yes that is an Italian made valve, and I got mine as a replacement at the factory in early August.

I think they just buy big lots of regulators. They one that originally came on my 2014 was altogether different. It had an indicator window that you couldn't see unless you removed the tank cover. They replaced it on warranty.

[AtomicNo13]

I wouldn't count on a MEC being that much better!
I've list 2 in the past year, both catastrophic failures!

[miskeeta]

How do you tell when your camper was built
paul

[Ron A]

Originally Posted by miskeeta

How do you tell when your camper was built
paul

There should be a plate/sticker attached indicating manufacturing date on your airstream.


Ron
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