Recall 10V268 affects 415 2009-2011 Four Winds Freedom Elite motor homes missing an exhaust heat shield. Repair is free at any franchised Four Winds dealer.
Four Winds is recalling 415 2009-2011 Freedom Elite motor homes because they were built without the exhaust heat shield specified by the chassis manufacturer. The missing shield lets heat build around the exhaust, which increases the risk of a fire; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The exhaust system on the 2009-2011 Four Winds Freedom Elite routes hot gases away from the engine and out of the motor home. A heat shield is a fitted metal barrier over the exhaust area. Its job is to move heat away from nearby parts and keep the surrounding space within the chassis maker's intended temperature range.
On affected Freedom Elite motor homes, that heat shield was not installed over the exhaust as specified by the chassis manufacturer. Without the shield in place, heat is not dissipated correctly around the exhaust. That leaves nearby areas exposed to more heat than the design allows during normal operation.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner should not rely on a smell, noise, dashboard light, or visible change to confirm this missing shield. The defect is a missing protective part, so the repair inspection has to confirm whether the shield is present and correctly installed.
Who's affected?
Spans the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Freedom Elite motorhomes, all tied to the exhaust system.
| 2010 Four Winds Freedom Elite | Exhaust system |
|---|---|
| 2009 Four Winds Freedom Elite | Exhaust system |
| 2011 Four Winds International Freedom Elite | Exhaust system |
| Units affected | 415 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
Excess exhaust heat near the living area of the motor home creates a fire risk. If your VIN is included, schedule the recall repair soon and follow any handling instructions from Four Winds or the dealer. The dealer installs a heat shield to dissipate heat buildup. Repair will be free at any franchised Four Winds dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2011 Four Winds Freedom Elite is included in this recall.
- Contact Four Winds customer service at 1-800-860-5658 and reference recall number 10V268 when you call.
- Ask where to schedule the free exhaust heat-shield installation that helps dissipate heat around the motor home exhaust.
- Bring the recall notice if Four Winds mailed one. If not, bring your VIN and recall number 10V268.
- Avoid long trips until Four Winds confirms the heat-shield repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Four Winds technician installs a heat shield between the exhaust and the living area of the motor home so exhaust heat can dissipate correctly. Parts and labor are free under recall 10V268. The filing does not list a separate reimbursement plan, so this section should focus on the dealer repair itself. Ask the service desk to confirm that the heat shield installation is tied to the recall before the appointment.
Timeline
| June 16, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 23, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V268?
Recall 10V268 covers 415 2009-2011 Four Winds Freedom Elite motor homes missing the required exhaust heat shield. Without that shield, heat is not properly dissipated around the exhaust and can result in a fire. Dealers install the heat shield for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2011 Four Winds Freedom Elite is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motor home is included in recall 10V268. If it is, contact a franchised Four Winds dealer or Four Winds at 1-800-860-5658 to schedule the exhaust heat shield installation. Reference recall number 10V268 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and Four Winds' remedy says dealers will install the heat shield free of charge. The repair adds a shield between the exhaust and the residential part of the motor home.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. The affected motor homes are missing the required heat shield over the exhaust, so heat is not properly dissipated near the residential part of the vehicle. The dealer repair adds the missing shield to control that heat buildup.
What if I bought my Four Winds Freedom Elite used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Freedom Elite is included, then call a franchised Four Winds dealer and reference recall number 10V268.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V268000 |
|---|---|
| Four Winds customer service | 1-800-860-5658 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V268 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V268000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →