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1997 Jayco Designer Recalls & Complaints

5

open safety recalls on record

Critical

14 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical06V320000

Vehicle Speed Control

OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURNING, AND IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy & full details

FORD IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06V286) AND WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332 OR JAYCO AT 1-800-283-8267.

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Critical98V122001

Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND THE PC BOARD CAN OVERHEAT, CHAR AND PRODUCE SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy & full details

RV PRODUCTS IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS RECALL. OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER INSTALL THIS CONTROL BOX.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI-MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS, AND FIFTH WHEELS EQUIPPED WITH A PRINTED CIRCUIT (PC) BOARD HOUSED IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX ASSEMBLY EQUIPPED WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. AN ELECTRICAL RELAY ON THE PC BOARD WILL FAIL TO ACTIVATE. WHEN THE RELAY FAILS TO ACTIVATE, OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, AND THE PC BOARD ITSELF, ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY EXCESS ELECTRICAL CURRENT.

Critical97V062000

Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

IF A SHORT OCCURRED IN THE POWER LINE FROM THE BATTERY WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF OVER-CURRENT PROTECTION, THE 12 VOLT LINE CAN OVERHEAT, raises the risk of A FIRE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IN-LINE FUSE TO THE AUXILIARY BATTERY.

AN IN-LINE FUSE TO THE AUXILIARY BATTERY WAS OMITTED.

Serious01V251000

Structure

IF THIS OCCURRED, THE SECTION COULD FALL TO THE PAVEMENT, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH FOR FOLLOWING VEHICLES.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL ADD OR REPLACE FASTENERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 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 JAYCO AT 1-219-825-5861.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAVEL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS. THE FASTENERS USED ON THE UNDERFLOOR CAN EITHER COME LOOSE OR PULL THROUGH THE UNDERFLOOR CAUSING PORTIONS OR ALL OF A SECTION OF UNDERFLOOR TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE.

Serious97V113000

Structure

IF THE STEP RISER FALLS FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET WHILE A PERSON IS STEPPING ON IT, PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEP RISER ASSEMBLY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS. RIVETS USED TO SECURE THE STEP RISERS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE THE WRONG SIZE. THE RIVETS ARE TOO SHORT IN LENGTH AND UNDER STRESS CAN ALLOW THE STEP TREADS TO BECOME UNATTACHED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET.

Complaint volume

14 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 14 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Tires · Tread/Belt5 · 36%Electrical System · Wirin…2 · 14%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 7%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 7%Equipment1 · 7%Electrical System1 · 7%Trailer Hitches1 · 7%Structure1 · 7%
  1. Tires:Tread/Belt — 5 reports
  2. Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers — 2 reports
  3. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control — 1 reports
  4. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc — 1 reports
  5. Equipment — 1 reports
  6. Electrical System — 1 reports
  7. Trailer Hitches — 1 reports
  8. Structure — 1 reports
  9. Structure:Frame And Members — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (2) · 1996 (2) · 1997 · 1998 (3) · 1999 (3) · 2000 (5) · 2002 (4) · 2004 (1) · 2008 (4) · 2009 (2) · 2010 (3)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.