Kibbi, LLC Recalls Renegade Verona RVs Over Potential Airbag Defect

Kibbi, LLC, the manufacturer of Renegade Verona and Renegade Verona LE recreational vehicles, is initiating a recall for 69 model year 2024-2025 units due to a defect that could compromise the rear suspension airbags. The issue stems from insufficient clearance between the rear leveling jack mounting plates and the vehicle’s rear suspension airbags. This oversight, identified through a customer inquiry on July 16, 2025, could lead to serious safety risks if not addressed.

The manufacturing flaw involves the placement of rear leveling jack mounting brackets, which were installed too close to the rear suspension airbags. This proximity means that as the airbags inflate and bear the weight of the vehicle, they could come into contact with the mounting brackets. Such contact could cause the airbags to deflate. If the rear suspension deflates, the rear tires might rub against the vehicle’s rear fenders. This rubbing could damage the outer tires of dual-wheel setups, potentially leading to a loss of control and a crash. A warning that may alert drivers to this issue is the illumination of the low air warning light on the dashboard.

The root cause of this defect has been traced back to a change in the chassis manufacturing process by Freightliner, the chassis supplier. Freightliner altered the location of a crossmember, which had historically served as the reference point for installing the rear leveling jack mounting brackets. When Kibbi, LLC continued to mount the brackets using the previous standard practice, their placement inadvertently created the insufficient clearance with the airbags. The investigation, which began with a customer report, progressed rapidly, with engineering and production teams devising a potential remedy by July 21, 2025. Testing of this remedy was completed by July 30, 2025. The specific crossmember change by Freightliner was verified on August 3, 2025, and the date of this production change was provided by Freightliner on August 7, 2025. Kibbi, LLC then identified the full scope of affected vehicles by August 8, 2025, including those already in the field and on their premises.

Kibbi, LLC will be conducting a voluntary recall to address this issue. The remedy involves inspecting the rear leveling jack mounting brackets and, if necessary, notching a portion of the bracket to create at least three-quarters of an inch of clearance between the inflated airbag and the bracket. This modification is designed to eliminate the possibility of contact. Kibbi, LLC will provide compensation for up to five hours of labor for the inspection and modification. In instances where the inspection reveals that the airbag has already come into contact with the mounting bracket, Kibbi, LLC will arrange for the replacement of the rear airbag(s) at the nearest certified Freightliner service center. The company will cover the labor costs for these replacements at the service facility’s standard flat rate. This includes replacing both rear airbags even if only one shows signs of contact.

Owners of the affected 2024-2025 Renegade Verona and Renegade Verona LE RVs are advised not to drive their vehicles and to park them outdoors. Kibbi, LLC plans to notify dealers and owners about the recall between September 22, 2025, and October 3, 2025, with the remedy being implemented in phases. The company will also provide a contact email for owners to use if they need to arrange for airbag replacement. For reimbursement claims, owners should submit completed invoices to Kibbi, LLC at 2707 County Road 15, Elkhart, IN, 46514. Payments will be processed upon receipt of the invoice, with no terms applied.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Kibbi, LLC

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