COACHMEN Complaints

IN JUNE 2010 WE WENT TO MOVE OUR RV AND WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF AMMONIA. WE DISCOVERED THE DOMETIC RV REFRIGERATOR MODEL RM2652 SERIAL #42708236 WAS NOT OPERATING. WE TURNED THE REFRIGERATOR OFF AND REMOVED ALL SPOILED FOOD. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF THIS HAPPENING WE HEARD FROM FRIENDS WHO HAVE A RV JUST LIKE OURS THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE ON THIS MODEL REFRIGERATOR. WE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE RECALL INFORMATION FROM THEM AND OUR REFRIGERATOR HAD ALL PROBLEMS LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. WE CONTACTED DOMETIC BY PHONE WAS ISSUED AN ID#28302359 AND THEN TOLD OUR REFRIGERATOR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPLACEMENT. WE FOLLOWED UP WITH A LETTER ON JULY 13, 2010 AND ASK THEM TO RECONSIDER SINCE OUR UNIT HAD ALL PROBLEMS LISTED ON THERE RECALL LIST, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESPONSE FROM THEM AS OF THIS DATE. SINCE OUR FRIENDS UNIT HAD NOT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THEY ARE REPAIRING, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR OUR UNIT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 COACHMAN FREEDOM EXPRESS 31 MOTOR HOME. THE SLIDE ROOM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED, CAUSING IT TO EXTEND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V539000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING) YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AND IT WOULD BE TRADED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER LATER RENEGED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE WAS AWAITING A RETURN CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER ADVISEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 COACHMEN CATALINA LYTE 259RK TRAILER. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. HE THEN FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND NOT ALIGNED. THE DEALER SENT A MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THE CONTACT WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE AXLE AND THE BEARINGS WERE NOT SUITED FOR THE TRAILER. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. FOUR YEARS LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE AXLE, WHEEL ASSEMBLY, AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AXLE AND BEARINGS WERE NOT THE CORRECT SIZE FOR THE TRAILER. THE WHEEL BARINGS WERE RE-PACKED DURING THE DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 COACHMEN CATALINA EQUIPPED WITH A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS REFRIGERATOR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000. EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL REMEDY BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED AND THE REPAIR WOULD NOT FIX THE REFRIGERATOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 COACHMEN CLIPPER CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE PARKED POSITION, WITH TWO PASSENGERS SITTING ON THE SLIDE OUT ASSEMBLY ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE ASSEMBLY BENT DOWNWARD. THE STICKER ON THE SLIDE OUT ASSEMBLY READS THAT IT CAN SUPPORT UP TO 1000 POUNDS OF WEIGHT AND THE TWO PASSENGERS WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 270 POUNDS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,000.

FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM BY LOCKING UP, DUE TO A PIECE OF PANELING LEFT INSIDE THE BRAKE DRUM AT PRODUCTION. TOOK OUR R.V. IN TO GET AN AWNING REPLACED AT KENT VALLEY RV AS THEY WERE MOVING IT TO THE SHOP TO START REPAIR SERVICE THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THEM AND THE RV WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER INSPECTING TO MAKE SURE THE EMERGENCY CABLE HADN'T BEEN PULLED THEY TOOK OFF THE TIRE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION TO SEE WHY THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP AND FOUND A PIECE OF PANELING WEDGED BEHIND THE ELECTRICAL UNIT WITHIN THE BRAKE DRUM. PICTURES WERE TAKEN AND PANELING WAS REMOVED, ALSO BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AND EVERYTHING LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BACK IN WORKING ORDER ALL OTHER TIRES WERE ALSO REMOVED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO MORE PIECES OF PANELING INSIDE THEM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND COULD HAVE COST THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING. I THANK THE LORD THEY DISCOVERED IT THERE AT THE REPAIR SHOP, I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE WERE GOING 55 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY AND OUR TRAVEL TRAILER LOCKED UP OUR CAR WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN FLIPPED OVER AND WHO KNOWS IF WE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED THAT'S ALOT OF WEIGHT BEHIND US. *TR

1. THE HOSE FOR THE EUREKA CENTRAL VACUUM WAS RUN UNDER THE HEATING HOSES AND UP UNDER THE STEPS. WHILE RUNNING THE HEATER WE NOTICES A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL FROM UNDER THE STEPS AND HEAT COMING FROM THE VACUUM CONNECTION. I REMOVED THE COVERS ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE HOSE WAS BEING MELTED BY THE HEAT RUNS THAT WERE LAID OVER TOP OF IT I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE, IT CLEARLY PRODUCED A UNFAVORABLE SMELL AND CONCERN. I HAVE REMOVED THE HOSE FROM AROUND THE HEAT DUCTS AND AWAIT A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. 2. THE MICROWAVE AND GROUND FAULT IN THE KITCHEN BUMP OUT BOTH BLEW AFTER THE FIRST TRIP WITH THE UNIT AND WE WERE UNABLE TO RESET THE BREAKER. THE JUNCTION BOX UNDER THE SLIDE OUT IS NOT WATERPROOF AND THAT IT WAS FULL OF WATER. 3.TWO PIECE OF MOLDING ON THE SLIDES ARE NOT SECURED AND HAVE COME OUT WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY WE HAVE CAUGHT THEM AND PUT THEM BACK ON BEFORE THEY CAME COMPLETELY LOOSE AND HIT A CAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY GLUED THEM, BUT THE TOP ONE CAME LOOSE DRIVING HOME AFTER THE REPAIR IT HAPPENS WITHIN 50 MILES OF TRAVEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD COACHMAN SANTARA RV. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE CARRIER ASSEMBLY AND FELL TO THE ROAD SERVICE. ALSO BROKE ELECTRICAL PLUG IN CONNECTION AND CHEWED UP THE BRAND NEW SPARE TIRE, WHICH IS NO LONGER USABLE. SAFETY CHAIN IS THE ONLY THING THAT PREVENTED A REAR END ACCIDENT. *TR

WE PURCHASED AN 03 COACHMEN SANTARA RV WITH THE FORD F450 TRITON V10 ENGINE IT HAD 28500 MIL. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN OCT. 08. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE TO IT AND THE ENGINE RAN FINE,WE HAVE TAKEN A FEW TRIPS IN IT AND IT HAS RAN FINE. WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO HOLBROOK FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IT RAN FINE WE DECIDED TO DRIVE BACK ON FRIDAY AM ON OUR WAY BACK THE ENGINE RAN FINE WE GOT ABOUT 20MILES OUTSIDE OF PAYSON AND WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD BAG CRASH!! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!! AND WE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER I VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME MONDAY AND ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD,I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE HEAD IS FAULTY OK, THEN MY WARRANTY COMPANY STATES THEY WON'T COVER A SPARK PLUG ISSUE WHAT!!,WELL IT JUST GETS BETTER, I GO ONLINE TO FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING AND FORD NOR THE WARRANTY COMPANY'S WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T COVER A THING. STATING IT'S A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM AND FORD STATES THE SAME EVEN AFTER THE MECHANIC'S ARGUE THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM IT IS A FORD DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE ALUMINUM HEADS. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE GOING UP OR DOWN HILL, MY FAMILY AND I MAY NOT BE HERE AND THESE ISSUES HAVE CAUSED NUMEROUS FIRES. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE LOSS OF LIFE HAPPENS. I JUST WANT A FAIR DEAL, IF THIS WAS SOMETHING I COULD'VE AVOIDED OR WAS DO TO SOMETHING I DID I COULD UNDERSTAND,HOWEVER I/WE HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND WE ARE ALL HAVING TO PAY FOR IT. FORD CANNOT CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THERE IS A SPARK PLUG ISSUE IN THE THOUSAND OF ENGINES THAT THIS SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO. IT'S STATISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE! I HOPE SOMEONE CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS MAJOR PROBLEM AND HELP US ALL. *TR