FOUR WINDS Complaints

I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH POOR QUALITY FROM FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL FOR THREE YEARS. 8 MONTHS AGO THEY SWAPPED OUT MY FIRST DEFECTIVE PRODUCT FOR A REPLACEMENT UNIT. TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING THE REPLACEMENT MOTORHOME DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE PROPANE TANK IN PLACE UNDER THE COACH PORTION OF THE MOTORHOME, LET GO. AT 50 MPH I WAS DRAGGING AN 80# (THAT IS CAPACITY, NOT ACTUAL WEIGHT) PROPANE TANK UNDERNEATH THE MOTORHOME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE. THE MANUFACTURE DOES NOT SEEM TOO CONCERNED. I WILL NEVER PUT MY FAMILY IN THIS MOTORHOME AGAIN AS I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE REST OF THE COACH ON THE CHASSIS ARE ANY BETTER THAN THE WELDS THAT FAILED ON THE PROPANE TANK. MY STEP-FATHER IS A LICENSED PROPANE TECHNICIAN. WHEN I ASKED HIT WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF I: DIDN'T HAVE THE VALVE SHUT OFF TO THE PROPANE, THE TANK GOT SQUISHED UNDER THE RV OR CAUGHT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD, AND THE RESULTS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD. THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT I WOULD BE DEAD. FOR SOME REASON FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL DOES NOT FEEL THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE. AFTER SEEING THE QUALITY ON TWO DIFFERENT MOTORHOMES I AM DEATHLY AFRAID OF THE ONE I OWN. *TR

I HAVE A 40 FOOT MOTOR HOME I PURCHASED IN 2005. DURING THAT TIME UP UNTIL NOW THE FRONT WINDSHIELDS HAVE COME LOOSE AND POPPED OUT OF THE FRAME. THE MOTOR HOME COMPANY PAID TO REPAIR THE WINDOWS BUT THEY CONTINUED TO POP OUT. UP TO NOW THEY HAVE POPPED OUT 6 TIMES . NOW THE MOTOR HOME COMPANY SAYS IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THEY HAVE TO BRING THE MOTOR HOME TO INDIANA BUT THEY WANT ME TO SIGN A RELEASE. I DO NOT WANT TO SIGN A RELEASE BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD MAY FALL OUT AGAIN WHEN I GET IT BACK. WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE WINDSHIELD COULD HAVE FALLEN BACK IN ON ME AND PASSENGERS OR FALLEN OUT ON SOMEONE ELSE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SELLING LARGE 40 FOOT UNITS WITH WINDSHIELDS THAT FALL OUT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY VIOLATION. *TR

I RECEIVED A DEFECT SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH STATES THAT 2004 FOUR WINDS, HURRICANE MOTORHOMES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 3 POINT SHOULDER HARNESS SEAT BELTS AND MAY HAVE A DEFECT. I HAD THE COACH IN ON JULY 18, 2006 AT MCMAHON'S RV IN COLTON, CA, PICKED IT UP ON AUG 2, 2006, WHEN I WAS THERE PICKING UP THE COACH I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT BELTS CAME IN TOO LATE TO BE INSTALLED, I ASK THEM IF I COULD TAKE THE BELTS AND HAVE THEM INSTALLED BY ANOTHER RV DEALER CLOSER TO ME, WAS TOLD NO, THE COACH IN FOR REPAIRS AGAIN AND ASK THEM IF THEY COULD ORDER THE BELTS AND GET THEM INSTALLED, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A CAMPAIGN AND IT WAS EXPIRED, THERE IS NO EXPIRATION DATE ON MY NOTICES. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I CANNOT HAVE THESE BELTS REPLACED WHILE IT IS IN HAVING REPAIRS DONE. THE COACH IS AT MCMAHON'S IN IRVINE. PLEASE RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, MY MH IS ALMOST DONE AND READY FOR ME TO PICK IT UP. *TR

THE WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ANY SEALANT BETWEEN THE WINDOW AS THE FIBERGLASS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FOUR WINDS HURRICANE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT OF THE FRAME AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BY AN INDEPENDENT DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 27,500. UPDATED 7/1/09 *CN UPDATED 07/07/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DUTCHMEN 34R (NA) CAMPER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE ROOF OF THE CAB DROPPED APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH. THE OUTSIDE AIR BEGAN BLOWING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CREATED MASSIVE WIND CIRCULATION. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, FOUR SCREWS DETACHED FROM THE TELEVISION OVERHEAD COMPONENT AND FELL ON THE PASSENGER. SHE SUSTAINED MASSIVE INJURIES AND UNDERWENT SURGERY ON HER NECK AND SHOULDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 30,000. UPDATED 12/22/08 *CN WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR BEDROOM LIGHT AND SKYLIGHT, THE SEAL WERE FALLING OFF THE SLIDEOUTS, THE WINDOW OVER THE KITCHEN TABLE WOULD OPEN WHILE THE RV WAS IN MOTION. HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE RESERVOIR, THE LEVELING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, THE DRIVERS SIDE JACK WOULD NOT COME UP. THE GENERATOR SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE EXHAUST HANGERS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/24/08. *JB

I OWN A 2008 PRESIDIO 400 MOTORHOME BUILT BY MANDALAY. THE WIPER SYSTEM ON MY MOTORHOME HAS NOT WORKED SINCE THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO USE THEM. AT A SPEED OF 60 - 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER BLADE TRAVELS TO FAR TO THE DRIVERS SIDE AND LOCKS UP WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER AND THEY BOTH CEASE TO WORK. I HAVE TAKEN THE MOTORHOME INTO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND TO THE MANDALAY SERVICE CENTER IN ELKHART, IN. ONCE AND THE SYSTEM IS STILL NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED ADJUSTING THE SYSTEM, DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. THE MANDALAY SERVICE CENTER TRIED TO REPLACE THE 2008 WIPER ARM AND BLADE THAT CAME ON THE MOTORHOME WITH THE 09 WIPER ARM AND BLADE, AND THIS DID NOT WORK. NOW THEY FEEL THAT THE WIPER ARM "ACORN" WAS NOT SEATED CORRECTLY AND THEY ARE SENDING ME NEW ACORNS TO REPLACE THOSE I HAVE. I FEEL THAT THIS SITUATION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS MOTORHOME DOWN THE ROAD IF I DO NOT KNOW IF THE WIPER SYSTEM IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT!! I GUESS I DON'T THINK MANDALAY FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT THIS SITUATION. *TR

IN JULY 2007 WE WERE IN JAMESTOWN, NY ON LOCAL ROADS DOING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE DRAGGING AND COULD SMELL BURNING AND NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS LOOSING AIR PRESSURE ON THE MONITOR AND PULLED OVER. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WAS LOCKED UP CAUSING THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR TO MELT AND TIRE TO LOOSE PRESSURE. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS ALSO HOT AND SMOKING. WE WERE TOWED TO A CHEVY TRUCK DEALER IN TOWN. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT CALIPERS, PADS, ABS SENSORS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID SOME BUT WE HAD TO PAY MOST OUT OF OUR POCKET. AT THIS TIME WE ONLY HAD 24,000 MILES ON THE MOTORHOME. NOW IN AUGUST 2008 WE WERE IN SEFFNER, FL LEAVING ONE CAMPGROUND AND GOING TO ANOTHER 25 MILES AWAY AND SMELT BRAKES BURNING. WE CONTINUED DRIVING TO THE CAMPGROUND AND DISCOVERED THE BACK TIRES WERE VERY HOT AND BURNING BRAKE SMELL ON BOTH REAR WHEELS. WE CONTACTED LAZY DAYS IN SEFFNER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR US TO COME IN. THEY INSPECTED THE REAR BRAKES AND DISCOVERED THEY WERE BURNT UP. THE SEALS WERE LEAKING FRONT AND REAR. THEY REPLACED THE CALIPERS REAR ONLY, ABS SENSORS REAR ONLY, PADS FRONT AND REAR, TURNED THE ROTORS FRONT AND REAR, REPLACED SEALS AND GASKETS FRONT AND REAR AND BRAKE LINES THEY CALLED OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY WHO SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE BRAKES AFTER BEING HERE 4 DAYS. THE ONLY THING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY IS PAYING FOR IS THE CALIPERS AND 6 HOURS OF LABOR. WE ARE LEFT PAYING $2,000 OUT OF OUR POCKET WHICH WE DON'T FEEL IS RIGHT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WORKHORSE HAD A RECALL ON THE BOSCH BRAKES BUT OUR VIN NUMBER WAS OUT OF THE VIN NUMBER RANGE. *TR

I QUESTION THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THESE EXPENSIVE MOTOR HOMES BUILT BY FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL (ELKHART, IN) AND ATTACHED TO A FORD TRUCK CHASSIS. I QUESTION THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS RIDING INSIDE THE COACH OF THIS POORLY CONSTRUCTED VEHICLE RAPIDLY DETERIORATING WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD AND WITH ONLY 5000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE INTEGRITY OF THE LOCK LATCHES ON DOORS AND CABINETS ARE QUESTIONABLE WITH STORED ITEMS FLYING THROUGH THE CABIN AT HIGH SPEEDS WHILE NAVIGATING HIGHWAYS. THE INTEGRITY OF THIS PRODUCT IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE AS EVIDENT BY THE FOLLOWING LIST OF PROBLEMS AS A RESULTING FROM POOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS SELECTION ON A VEHICLE MARKETED FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION AND OPERATING ON OUR HIGHWAYS. BELOW ARE JUST SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE CAN SEE. THERE ARE LIKELY DEEPER MORE INVISIBLE PROBLEMS: MECHANICAL FAILURE:POP OUT ROOM MECHANISM IS FAILING. THE FAILURE OF THIS MECHANISM WOULD INTERFERE WITH BALANCE AND COMPROMISE SAFETY AT HIGH SPEEDS. MATERIALS FAILURE:PARTICLE BOARD CONSTRUCTION OF INTERIOR FIXTURES HAVE LITTLE RESISTANCE TO TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY AND UTILIZED IN THIS VEHICLE MARKETED FOR OUTDOORS RECREATION. CABINETS AND OTHER STRUCTURES ATTACHED TO THE INTERIOR WALLS SHOW EXTRAORDINARY DETERIORATION OVER THIS SHORT PERIOD AND MAY POSE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN SEPARATION OCCURS. STRUCTURAL FAILURE:WATER IMPINGEMENT DUE TO LEAKS FROM EITHER FAILURE OF ROOF OR OUTSIDE STRUCTURES ATTACHED TO THE BODY (AWNING, ETC.). WATER INTRUSION WOULD CERTAINLY ACCELERATE INTERNAL FAILURE THAT MAY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF COACH FIXTURES AND INJURY TO PASSENGERS AND OPERATORS IN THIS VEHICLE. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOT THE DEALERSHIP WILL ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FLAWS THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO INJURY DUE TO STRUCTURAL FAILURE. SOME INDUSTRY STANDARDS SHOULD EXIST FOR THESE VEHICLES REGARDING CONSTRUCTION TO MAXIMIZE THEIR SAFETY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOUR WINDS CHATEAU SPORT MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE REAR AXLE. HE STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS MERELY A BAND-AID AND NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED, BUT WILL BE SOON. THE MILEAGES AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN.