COACHMEN Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 COACHMEN CLASS-C RV. THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR DOOR LOCK BECAME STUCK AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. ....UPDATED 09-26-13 *BF

TRUCKER PULLED ME OVER, DUE TO EXCESIVE DIESEL FUEL LEAKING. STOPPED, DUMPED 2 GAL OF DIESEL, BEFORE I COULD STOP THE ENGINE. PULLING CAR, COVERED WITH DIESEL FUEL. PART COST $17.00, LABOR $300.00, PISTON #5 MY WARRANT CARD HAS 50,000 AND OR 5 YEARS, THE DEALERSHIP ONLY PURCHED A 3 YEAR CONTRACT. (FYI ONLY) CONTINUED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 1000 MILES. PISTON #4 GAS LINE CRACHED AND DUMPING DIESEL FUEL. NOTE: 6 CYLINDERS, NEW PARTS HAVE DAMPER ON THE FUEL LINE, THIS MUST BE A KNOWN PROBLEM. 5 CYLINDERS NO DAMPER, THE 6 TH CYLINDER HAD THE DAMPER. I REPAIRED #4 CYLINDER IN 15 MIN. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ORDERED 4 MORE PARTS SO I HAVE A SPAIR. PART NUMBER:420D/DDE A9060702433 I HAVE CONTACED DETROT DESOL, WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR

NOTE: WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS "THE DEATH WOBBLE" AS FOLLOWS: THIS OCCURRED ON OUR FIRST "SHAKEDOWN" (PUN INTENDED) TRIP OF 300 MILES TAKEN IN A NEW 29 FT COACHMEN MIRADA (LEFTOVER 2011 MODEL) CLASS A MOTORHOME W/F53 CHASIS WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED BY FORD IN OCT 2008. ITS NOTEWORTHY THAT, INITIALLY, A SLIGHT SHUTTER IN COACH BODY COULD BE FELT WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING OVER MINOR BUMPS OR SURFACE DISCONTINUITIES. AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES, WE DROVE AT 55 MPH OVER A HIGHWAY BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT - KIND OF A QUICK DOUBLE BUMP, WHICH SET OFF AN EXTREMELY VIOLENT RAPID SHAKING OF THE ENTIRE COACH RESULTING IN DIFFICULT STEERING AND A HARROWING EXPERIENCE. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS LIMITED TRAFFIC, TRAVELING IN RIGHT LANE, AND ROOM ON SHOULDER TO PULL OVER. THIS VIOLENT SHAKING CONTINUED UNTIL < 5 MPH. CHECKED TIRES AND UNDER CHASIS - ALL SEEMED OK. CONTINUED DRIVING HOME TO COMPLETE THE BALANCE OF TRIP, AVOIDING AS MANY BUMPS AS POSSIBLE, AND WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. RV IS CURRENTLY AT A FORD SERVICE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND RESOLUTION. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION, AND COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND LIMITED ROOM TO PULL OVER. *TR UPDATED 11/25/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 COACHMAN SANTARA EQUIPPED WITH BCT RADIO A/P TIRES (N/A) (LT 235/85/R16) DOT OJ21XA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP, WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC PLACED THE NEW TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE INSIDE TIRE AND PLACED ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE REAR PASSENGER OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND ALSO OCCURRED TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OUTER TIRE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CROSS COUNTRY RV. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A FAULTY INTELLITEC 50 AMP TRANSFER SWITCH. THE PART NUMBER WAS 00-00803-100. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TRANSFER BOX CHIP MELTED, WHICH CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRICITY. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E086000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 08/14/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 COACHMEN MIRADA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAD BECOME JAMMED AND WOULD NOT EXTEND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

MY FAMILY WAS JUST LEAVING A CAMPGROUND AFTER A NICE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CAMPING TRIP. WE WERE ABOUT 1/2 MILE OUTSIDE THE CAMPGROUND WHEN WE LOST A WHEEL CAUSING THE AXLE TO HANG DOWN. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE CAMPER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WHEEL BARING THAT HAD COME LOOSE. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED,BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COMPANY LIPPERT, WHO MANUFACTURES FRAMES. JACKS, AXLES, BEARINGS,ETC. FOR MANY RV COMPANIES,"WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH NOT 25 MPH? OR, DO YOU EVEN CARE THAT YOU ARE MANUFACTURING FAULTY EQUIPMENT THAT PUT PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER?" APPARENTLY THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR LIPPERT PRODUCTS, NONE OF WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION ABOUT BY MAIL, EMAIL, OR PHONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 COACHMEN SPORTSCOACH RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A MOUNTAINOUS ROAD, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THE THIRD OCCURRENCE WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WIRES WERE DISCONNECTED. THE DEALER RECONNECTED THE WIRES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,070.

I BELIEVE THE FIRE STARTED BY A RECALLED REFRIGERATOR THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF, THE MAKE OF REFRIGERATOR WAS A DOMETIC. *TR

THE HIGH PRESSURE PROPANE GAS LINE FROM THE PROPANE TANK TO THE STOVE HAS CRACKED. I JUST DISCOVERED THIS YESTERDAY NOV 1, 2011 WHILE LOOKING FOR THE REASON THE GAS TO THE STOVE WAS SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE SLIDE WAS RETRACTED. WHAT I FOUND WAS THE GAS LINE PINCHED AT A 180 DEGREE ANGLE, FOLDED BACK ON ITSELF. WHEN THE SLIDE-OUT IS EXTENDED THE GAS LINE STRAIGHTENS ENOUGH TO ALLOW GAS TO FLOW. WHEN THE SLIDE-OUT IS DRAWN BACK IN TO MOVE THE MOTORHOME, THE GAS LINE IS FOLDED AND PINCHED CLOSED. I INSPECTED THE GAS LINE AT THE FOLD/PINCH POINT AND DISCOVERED A CRACK ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE RUBBER TUBING. THE SLIDE-OUT HAS BEEN MOVED, IN AND OUT, APPROXIMATELY 100 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2002. THE SMALLEST HOLE IN THIS LINE WOULD PRODUCE A MAJOR LEAK RESULTING IN POSSIBLE EXPLOSION WITH SEVERE BODILY BURNS OR DEATH. I CONTACTED RON ROFF IN CUSTOMER SUPPORT AT THE FORREST RIVER FACTORY AND HE SEEMED LESS THAN CONCERNED, TELLING ME NOT TO WORRY, THE GAS ALARM WOULD SOUND IF A LEAK SHOULD DEVELOP AT THE CRACKED AREA. AND HIS POSITION, ACTING IN BEHALF OF THE COMPANY, IS TO SEND ME A NEW HOSE, CASE CLOSED. THIS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT NEEDS SPECIAL TOOLS, QUALIFIED UNDERSTANDING OF CONNECTING GAS LINES AND HOW THE GAS LINE SHOULD BE PLACED BENEATH THE SLIDE-OUT FLOOR SO THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO, THE SLIDE-OUT HAS TO BE LIFTED TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS UNDER THE FLOOR OF THE SLIDE-OUT. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH FREELAND SLIDE-OUT MODELS. I SURE HOPE THESE DEFECTS ARE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS BLOWN UP AND DIES. I TURNED MY GAS TANK OFF AND AM TAKING IT TO A RV DEALER. I WISH I COULD MAKE THE REPAIRS MYSELF BUT IT IS BEYOND MY CAPABILITY. THANK YOU UPDATED 11/10/11 *BF *TR UPDATED IVOQ 03/12/12 UPDATED IVOQ 06/05/12