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Secguru · 08-01-2010, 03:56 AM

AIRSTREAM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 CLASSIC TRAVEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2005 THROUGH APRIL 2009 AND EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE CONTROLLER BY ACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

2007 AIRSTREAM CLASSIC RECALL FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

Good to know if you own one of these.

mistral blue · 08-01-2010, 05:49 AM

The thread title needs to be "recalled."

wayneskid · 08-01-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistral blue

The thread title needs to be "recalled."

Mistral,
What exactly is the flaw you see in the title for this thread? I'm not a trailer guy; sorry if I'm missing something obvious.

mistral blue · 08-01-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayneskid

Mistral,
What exactly is the flaw you see in the title for this thread? I'm not a trailer guy; sorry if I'm missing something obvious.

It missed the years 2008 & 2009.

**azflycaster** · 08-01-2010, 08:03 AM

I changed the title to reflect all the years

Roadtoaster · 08-01-2010, 08:08 AM

Thanks for the heads up. My AS falls under this recall and I will be at the factory for an alignment on the 9th of August. I sent an e-mail to Chris Burch this morning asking if they will be able to check and/or repair mine while I'm there. I will update after he responds tomorrow.

2airishuman · 08-01-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadtoaster

Thanks for the heads up...

ditto here.

but AS WRITTEN there is still confusion in the actual recall notice and WHICH UNITS are affected...

1. the later units _(some time in ?08/09?)_ did NOT have the 'active technology' controller referred to the notice ...

something from dexter was used for the last 2 years, but don't bank this info.

2. for the EARLIER YEARS that DO have actibrake, the wording is....

"DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CONTROLLER AND IF FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE IT WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE."
__________

so i wonder if the means ALL the actibrake units will be replaced and the OTHERS will be inspected/replaced as needed?

or only "defective" controllers will be replaced?

since the notation is "can fail unexpectedly" what DEFECT are they looking for?
__________

so greg, IF you would be so inclined how 'bout asking chris and CLEARING up this a bit...
__________

cheers
2air'

**GCinSC2** · 08-01-2010, 08:54 AM

Darn good reason to be a member and find stuff like this.

I'll be checking into this real fast.

Thanks Sceguru for posting this.

Gary

Secguru · 08-02-2010, 10:28 AM

Sorry if I got the title wrong. I took it directly from the dates in the article. I'm glad if this helps though.

Roadtoaster · 08-02-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

ditto here.

but AS WRITTEN there is still confusion in the actual recall notice and WHICH UNITS are affected...

1. the later units _(some time in ?08/09?)_ did NOT have the 'active technology' controller referred to the notice ...

something from dexter was used for the last 2 years, but don't bank this info.

2. for the EARLIER YEARS that DO have actibrake, the wording is....

"DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CONTROLLER AND IF FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE IT WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE."
__________

so i wonder if the means ALL the actibrake units will be replaced and the OTHERS will be inspected/replaced as needed?

or only "defective" controllers will be replaced?

since the notation is "can fail unexpectedly" what DEFECT are they looking for?
__________

so greg, IF you would be so inclined how 'bout asking chris and CLEARING up this a bit...
__________

cheers
2air'

Chris responded this morning saying they will be happy to inspect my controller while I'm there. As requested, I sent another e-mail asking him to elaborate on the recall. I'll share what he tells me.

2airishuman · 08-02-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadtoaster

Chris responded this morning saying they will be happy to inspect my controller while I'm there...

and they'd have been HAPPY to inspect it even without the recall

just for the sake of CLARITY (for anyone reading and confused)...

-the "controller" is tow vehicle mounted hardware.

-the "actuator" is part of the trailer braking system,

along with the fluid reservoir, pump, hard lines, rotors, calipers, pads and so on.

the actuator (along with the reservoir and pump and wiring) is THE actibrake portion as i understand it.

looking forward to your next UPDATE here.
_________

the notification suggests LETTERS will be going out to owners (probably based vin) mid AUGUST...

so we're ahead of that here and chris may not know any more about it than we do...

my understanding has been the actibrake bits are sensitive to proper grounding

and SOME of the problems relate to that...

but that also the circuit boards FAIL unexpectedly which=no brakes.

so how do they go aboug "inspecting" for sudden failure of an electrical/circuit type item?
_________

2 other issues...

1. the a/s company service center has installed actibrake/kodiak systems AFTERMARKET on some trailers...

are THOSE folks part of this too?

2. some people have already REPLACED faulty actibrake gear on their classics (05/07)...

do THOSE folks get compensated for having already PAID to replace this recalled item?
_______

it's gonna be an interesting few weeks, sorting this out.

cheers
2air'

gduff · 08-02-2010, 02:59 PM

We had an incident during the summer of 2008 with our 2007 Airstream Classic 27FB. We were traveling through Colorado Springs and the breaks locked up stranding us in the middle lane of the Interstate. The actuator had some type of a short and locked the breaks. After approximately 30 minutes, it went off, releasing the breaks. Airstream replaced the break actuator in the trailer and we haven't had any problems since. Will be interesting to see what the company will do for replacing the actuators.

WK57ABF · 08-02-2010, 03:21 PM

Thanks Secguru for highlighting this recall.

I fail to see how a dealer can inspect a brake actuator and decide whether or not it will fail unexpectedly.

It works or it doesn't and no one knows when or if it will fail by "checking" it.

I wish Airstream would just replace our fourth Actibrake unit with a reliable actuator, then I can start towing again with confidence in the braking system.

John in the UK

Roadtoaster · 08-02-2010, 05:11 PM

I may not have expressed myself clearly to Chris at AS when I asked for more detail and symptoms. His response mirrored the recall notice so I will report more after my inspection on August 9. I thought ActiBrake was out of business but in checking their website, they now list an address in Ankeny, Iowa, which is just north of Des Moines. I too wonder how they check/test and what the fix is if the actuator is bad. So far, my brakes have performed without problems.

Sky · 08-03-2010, 02:38 PM

Thanks for the heads up. Just got my notice in the mail today from Airstream.

I wish there was one thread that Airstream recalls could be posted to.
Then we could all subscribe to it. I didn't notice this post until I received
my notice in the mail, then i started poking around on the forums.
Just a thought.

2airishuman · 08-03-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky

...I wish there was one thread that Airstream recalls could be posted to...

yep, me too.

tried to suggest and get one going...

but the idea went nowherefastorslowly.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f317...lls-37376.html

mehbe it was the blue oval post that kill'd it....

cheers
2air'

**GCinSC2** · 08-03-2010, 05:57 PM

Does anyone know when you buy a used AS does AS know that I am the new owner? If this does not happen via the state titling and registration, can a new owner notify AS of the change of ownership?

I'm watching this one and I start my calls real soon for my '07.

lynn · 08-03-2010, 07:00 PM

The only way Airstream knows if a unit has changed hands is if was under warranty and there was a warranty transfer. A customer can call Airstream and provide ownership changes and they can be recorded.
,

2airishuman · 08-03-2010, 07:22 PM

PLEASE explain how the recall is to be handled, from a company perspective lynn...

there are plenty of us here with the equipment that is the subject of this thread.

and i am SURE we would all like to understand the details...

how can an actuator that has the potential to 'suddenly fail' be inspected?

is there some specific issue that some of the actibrake units exhibit that OTHERS don't?

or should they all just be replaced?

IF we opt to visit a local a/s authorized dealer/service center WHAT exactly will they do INSPECTION wise ???

really we'd love to have your clear concise expert opinion on this important issue.

it's great that a/s has acknowledged a problem in a few bits supplied by another vendor...

it's a BIG step for the company to take control of this issue by way of a RECALL,

so please take the next step...

and explain it for us.

cheers
2air'

lynn · 08-03-2010, 08:01 PM

The issue is that the fluid reservoir may leak. It could let fluid into pump compartment (motor/controls)housing, which could cause the pump to not operate properly. The case will be inspected by drilling a weep hole in the non-reservoir side of the actuator case. No fluid, it passes the inspection,if there is fluid found to be in the motor comp. the actuator will be changed.
As you know Acti-Brake is no longer in business so Airstream is sending letters to have the actuators tested as a precaution. This recall pertains to the actuators installed by Airstream.