DUTCHMEN Complaints

RECENTLY I HAD A TIRE EXPLODE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS TIRE HAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST A FEW MONTHS OVER 1 YEAR OLD (DELIVERY WAS MARCH OF 2016). THE TIRE IS A RIDGWAY SPORT ST ST225 75 R15 H173 LOAD RANGE D. I AM WORRIED THAT THERE MAY BE TIRES OUT THERE THAT ARE SUBSTANDARD AND MIGHT POSSIBLY CAUSE MAJOR INJURIES AND DAMAGE (HUMAN AND PROPERTY). MY SPEED ON THE ROADWAY WAS 60 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND I NEVER WENT OVER 65 MPH. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 77 JUST SOUTH OF ROCK HILL, NC, IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE MORE PICTURES THAN ALLOWED TO UPLOAD. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE ADVISED ON WHETHER OR NOT TO KEEP POSSESSION OF THE FAILED TIRES. UPDATED 10/24/2017*JS

REFRIGERATOR GAS VALVE MALFUNCTION RECALL:. WHEN WE PARKED OUR TRAILER WE HAD AN UNUSABLE FRIDGE, DUE TO THE GAS LEAK OF THE VALVE UNDER THE NORCOLD 462 MODEL FRIDGE. WE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL, AND MEANT TO FIX IT, BUT DID NOT. WHILE THE TRAILER WAS PARKED AT THE HOUSE, WE DIDN'T NEED THE FRIDGE, AND THE COOLING UNIT WENT BAD. AS I'VE STARTED TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN, I'VE ENCOUNTERED THE GAS LEAK CAUSING EXPLOSIONS AND ALSO REALIZED THE COOLING UNIT IS BAD. AS I'VE TRIED TO GET THE GAS VALVE REPLACED, I AM UNABLE TO BECAUSE THEY DON'T SUPPORT THAT FRIDGE MODEL ANYMORE. THEY WON'T TAKE THE FRIDGE BACK BECAUSE THE COOLING UNIT DOESN'T WORK. I COULD REPAIR THE COOLING UNIT WHICH COSTS $900, BUT THE GAS VALVE WOULD STILL BE LEAKING AND EXPLODING. THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE UNIT AT THAT TIME EITHER BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED "MODIFIED." SO BECAUSE NORCOLD HAS NO REPLACEMENT PART, NEITHER WILL THEY HONOR A RECALL, I'M FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW FRIDGE FOR $1700 ROUGHLY, INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO REPAIR MY CURRENT ONE. MY CALL TO GAIL, THEIR RECALL MANAGER, ON 4/4/17: GAIL STATES THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO EXCEPT GIVE ME A $200 DISCOUNT ON A NEW FRIDGE IF I SEND THEM A RECEIPT FOR MY PURCHASE OF THAT. IS NORCOLD REALLY FREE OF LIABILITY HERE? OR SHOULD THIS RECALL COVER THIS?

AFTER PICKING UP OUR NEW 2013 DUTCHMEN RUBICON 2900 IN MIDDLEBURY IN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2013 WE DROVE 500 MILES TO GEORGETOWN KY. AFTER ARRIVING IT WAS DISCOVERED THE PAN HOLDING THE PROPANE TANKS TO THE FRONT TONGUE OF THE TRAILER WAS VERY LOOSE AND SLIDING AROUND ON THE TRAILER FRAME. AFTER REMOVING THE TANKS I DISCOVERED 3 OF THE 4 SELF TAPING SCREWS HOLDING THE TANK PAN ON THE FAME HAD THE HEADS BUSTED OFF. ALL 3 OF THE MISSING SCREW HEADS WERE RUSTED GIVEN THE INDICATION THE SCREWS HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF AND HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER LONG ENOUGH TO RUST. THE 1 REMAINING SCREW HOLDING THE PROPANE TANKS ON THE TRAILER WAS LOOSE ENOUGH TO UNSCREW BY HAND. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TRAVELING TO TEXAS I HAD TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE PROPANE TANKS AND PAN FROM THE TRAILER AND STORE IN THE BED OF TOW VEHICLE UNTIL WE ARRIVED HOME TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. DURING THE 500 MILE TRIP THE PAN WITH PROPANE TANKS WAS SLIDING FORWARD AND REARWARD ON THE TONGUE. *TR

IN SHORT, PURCHASED 5TH WHEEL, DEALER SAID ALL TIRES WERE NEW,+ OTHER THINGS. FIRST TRIP OUT ENDED UP WITH 4 BLOWOUTS, REPLACED THEM FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM NIGHTMARE BEGINS, DEALER INSTALLS TIRE THAT FAIL WITHIN 1YR AND LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THEN CAUSING ANOTHER CLAIM, DEALER WON'T STAND BEHIND TIRES, I LOOKED UP THE TIRES ON THE INTERNET AND THEY WERE RECALLED AT THAT TIME, THE TIRES WERE PUT ON THE 5TH WHEEL. NOW AT THAT TIME, I FOUND OUT WHO AND WHERE THEY GOT THE TIRES AND I REFUSED THE TIRES BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE I HAD WITH THAT COMPANY, (WENT THROUGH 4 TO 5 SETS OF 4 TIRES WITHIN 1 YEAR) WITH THAT DEALER OF TIRES. THE 5TH WHEEL DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THAT'S IS THE TIRE COMPANY THEY USE, HENCE , ANOTHER CLAIM ON MY INSURANCE WITHIN 2 YRS, IN THAT 2 YEARS THE DEALER HAS HAD THE 5TH WHEEL AT LEAST IN THERE POSSESSION AT LEAST 8 MONTHS, SO REALITY IS THAT WITHIN 1 YEAR I HAVE HAD 3 CLAIMS ON THAT 5TH WHEEL DUE TO BAD REPAIRS AND BAD TIRES, TIRES HAVE CAUSED ALL THE DAMAGES TO 5TH WHEEL. ALL DAMAGES WERE FROM FLAT TIRES COMING APART ALL ON THE HWY. AT NORMAL SPEEDS. I HAVE FILES AND LETTERS THAT I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR A YEAR NOW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DUTCHMEN GRAND JUNCTION FIFTH WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BREAKERS WERE OVERHEATING AND MADE A POPPING NOISE, WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR ACCOMPANIED WITHY THE FAILURE. THE BREAKERS WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V026000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT RV MECHANIC WHO ATTEMPTED TO GAIN APPROVAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE MECHANIC WAS AN AUTHORIZED KEYSTONE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT APPROVE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INSTEAD. THE CLOSEST DEALER TO THE CONTACT WAS OVER 200 MILES AWAY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE OCCURRING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD COVER A PORTION OF THE RECALL REPAIRS, IF NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TRAILER DID NOT ACCUMULATE MILEAGE.

ON THE WAY TO PAYSON ARIZONA 90 MILES WE BLEW 1 MICHELIN TRAILER TIRE ON THE WAY BACK BLEW 2 MORE THIS TRAILER IS EXACTLY ONE YEAR OLD NO WEAR ON TIRES MICHELIN POWER TOURING TIRES EXPLODED FROM SIDWALLS DAMAGING THE TRAVEL TRAILER, LEAVING US STRANDED AND NEEDING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES! MICHELIN POWER TOURING HIGHWAY SPORT ST 225/75 R15 LOAD RANGE D

TIRES CHECKED FOR PROPER PRESSURE PRIOR TO DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS AT 65 MPH OR LESS, EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT WITH STEEL BELT SHREDDED AND EXPOSED. USED SPARE TIRE OF IDENTICAL MAKE AND DOT DATA. AFTER DRIVING AN ADDITIONAL 8 MILES ON SPARE TO REACH DESTINATION, , IT TOO WAS SHOWING SEPARATION OF THE TREAD AT THE EDGE. TOOK BOTH TIRES PLUS A 3RD IDENTICAL TIRE (SAME DOT DATES)) TO TIRE SHOP FOR REPLACEMENTS AND WAS TOLD THE 3RD TIRE WAS ALSO OUT OF ROUND AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN WE CHECKED TWO REMAINING TIRES ON THE UNIT ANOTHER IS SHOWING OUT OF ROUND. ALL 4 TIRES WERE UNDER TWO YEARS OLD, INSTALLED 16 MONTHS EARLIER AND HAVE LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THEM.

UNSURE HOW FAILURE OCCURRED. FOUND AFTER STOP AT CAMP SITE. REPLACED WITH SPARE. THE TIRE IS AN AKURIT NOT IN THE DATABASE LISTING

THE TRAILER HAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED BRAKE WIRES (OVER 1 FT). THE WIRES HANG DOWN FROM THE WHEEL AND ARE PRONE TO DAMAGE FROM RABBITS (OR OTHER ANIMALS) AND/OR ROAD DAMAGE (FROM DEBRIS). I SPOKE WITH DUTCHMEN AND THEY SAID THIS WAS BUILT TO SPEC. MY WIRES WERE COMPLETELY EATEN BY RABBITS AND LEFT ME WITHOUT TRAILER BRAKES. THE COMPANY DOES NOT CARE AND WILL NOT COVER THE EXTENSIVE REPAIR COSTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DUTCHMEN GRAND JUNCTION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND THAT THE TRANSFER SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO AN INDEPENDENT ELECTRICIAN WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER SWITCH AND OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V02600 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.