HOLIDAY RAMBLER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED ALL OF THE CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND PROCEED TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CALIPER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,342. UPDATED 10/17/13*CN THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP AND A SMALL FLAME STARTED. THE ABS SENSOR, BRAKE PADS AND BRAKE CALIPER BURNED UP. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. UPDATE 12/5/13

FRONT CALIPERS DID NOT RELEASE, CAUSING ABNORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROTORS AND PADS I HAVE A ROADMASTER CHASSIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HOLIDAY RAMBLER NEPTUNE XL RV EQUIPPED WITH A NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NUMBER: 6210IMSS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR OVERHEATED AND LEAKED AMMONIA. THE AMMONIA ATE THROUGH THE PIPES AND ALMOST BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE LEAK AND PREVENT THE FIRE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MODEL WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS BEEN REMOVED AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,558. UPDATED 8/19/13, *CN THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO HAVE A HIGH TEMP. SWITCH INSTALLED IN THE RV. THE CONSUMER COMPLIED. HOWEVER, THE RV STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE, BUT ONLY BRIEFLY. HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE ANY SEVERE DAMAGE OCCURRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT FAILED TO RELEASE. THE BRAKES RESPONDED BUT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT DISPENSED WATER ONTO THE BRAKES. AFTER THE BRAKES HAD COOLED, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED NORMALLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) IN 2004. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

EMBARKED ON A ROAD TRIP AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 4 MILES THE ENTIRE MOTORHOME WENT INTO A VIOLENT AND SEVERE SWAYING MOTION. I SLOWED THE VEH AND PULLED TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, INSPECTED ALL TIRES, NOTHING APPARENT OR OBVIOUS. USED A CREEPER TO INSPECT UNDER VEH SUSPENSION UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. RESORTED TO INTERNET WITH DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT AND DISCOVERED A POTENTIAL CAUSE. ARMED WITH INFORMATION GARNERED FROM SEVERAL WEB SITES. THE PROBLEM WAS QUICKLY DETECTED. THE LEFT REAR TRAILING ARM WAS CRACKED, COMPLETELY INTO TWO PIECES AT THE U BOLT AREA IN FRONT OF THE AXEL. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS MOTORHOME OVER 24000 MILES AND MAINTAIN IT WELL. OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS I AM SURPRISED THAT I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. MY PRIOR INTERNET INQUIRIES DONE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE NEVER INDICATED A PROBLEM. APPARENT THIS INFORMATION IS LEFT TO THE OWNER TO FIND OUT ON THEIR OWN AT THE RISK OF PERIL TO ANYONE ON THE HIGHWAY THAT HAPPENED TO BE NEAR AN INCIDENT. *TR

DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD AT LEAST FOUR FAILURES OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS. THE RUBBER BLADE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER GOES OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND HANGS UP ON THE RUBBER WINDSHIELD MOLDING THEREBY CAUSING THE MOTOR AND USUALLY THE CONTROL MODULE TO FAIL. THE REPAIR PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED PARTS AND THE WIPERS WILL WORK IN THE PARKING LOT BUT FAIL WITH THE ADDITIONAL WIND PRESSURE FROM HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE REPAIR TECHNICIANS DO NOT HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM OR WHAT TO DO TO PREVENT FAILURE RECURRENCE. DRIVING WITHOUT WORKING WIPERS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR EQUIPPED WITH HERCULES S208 LOAD RATING TIRES, SIZE: 255 70 22.5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW AND THE TREAD BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE TIRE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM TRUCK DRIVERS ABOUT THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

FAILURE OF RV MOTOR HOME ENGINE/TURBO EXHAUST BRAKING SYSTEM... (1) MANUFACTURER DID NOT INSTALL A DASH LIGHT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE BRAKE IS ACTIVE. THE DRIVER HAS TO GUESS WHETHER THE BRAKE IS ON OR OFF! (2) SUBJECT BRAKE CEASES TO FUNCTION AT ALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER (A RECURRING ELECTRICAL ISSUE) -- IF THIS OCCURS ON A MOUNTAIN GRADE IT CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO OCCUPANTS OF THE MOTOR HOME! (3) IF AND WHEN THE ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKE IS FUNCTIONING IT IS INEFFECTIVE IN ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN SAFE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ON MOUNTAIN GRADES. VEHICLE WILL ATTAIN SPEED OF 75 MPH OR GREATER EVEN WHILE THE DRIVER IS APPLYING (AND BURNING UP) THE VEHICLE AIR BRAKES. THIS SITUATION CAN AND WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. I HAVE INFORMED NAVISTAR RV, THE MANUFACTURER OF HOLIDAY RAMBLER MOTOR HOMES, AND THREE INTERNATIONAL TRUCK (AFFILIATED WITH NAVISTAR LLC) REPAIR FACILITIES AND ALL HAVE STATED THAT THE ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKE IS FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL NAVISTAR AND INTERNATIONAL TRUCK REPRESENTATIVES CONTACTED HAVE REFUSED MY INVITATION TO DRIVE OUR MOTOR HOME DOWN A MOUNTAIN GRADE! INCIDENTALLY, THIS IS OUR FIFTH MOTOR HOME SO I AM QUITE KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE SUBJECT OF ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKING SYSTEM CAPABILITY! BOTTOM LINE IS THAT NAVISTAR RV AND ITS AFFILIATED COMPANIES HAVE ENGINEERED A ENGINE/EXHAUST BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS INCAPABLE OF CONTROLLING A 42 FOOT 40,000 LB MOTOR HOME AND ACCOMPANYING 6,000 LB TOW VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING ON MOUNTAIN GRADES, PARTICULARLY THOSE GRADES OF 6-7% OR GREATER AND 3-4 MILES IN LENGTH THAT ARE QUITE COMMON IN THE WESTERN STATES . HOPEFULLY YOU WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. UPDATED 05/01/13*LJ *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND ENGINE BRAKE WERE INOPERATIVE. THE AIR AND HYDRAULIC LEVELING SYSTEM DID NOT LEVEL THE COACH PROPERLY/ THE SO

THE IOTA ENGINEERING ITS-50R INVERTER SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A MINOR ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR

LIPPERT AXLE SYSTEM AXLE MODEL NV-173547 AXLE RATING 7000 LBS. CONTRARY TO A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, THE LIPPERT SBS WHEEL/BEARINGS ARE NOT NEV-R- LUBE (SIMILAR BUT WITH SOME CRITICAL DIFFERENCES). ALSO THIS IS NOT THE KODIAK DISK BRAKE SYSTEM, IT IS THE DRUM BRAKE SYSTEM (THE ONLY THING KODIAK IS THE DUST CAP). IF YOU HAVE THE LIPPERT SBS (SEALED BEARING SYSTEM) YOU WILL HAVE BEARING FAILURE; THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN! THE MAIN PROBLEM IS NOT CHINESE BEARINGS (ALTHOUGH I AM SURE THAT DOESN'T HELP). IT IS A SERIOUSLY FLAWED DESIGN. THE BEARING WASHER DISTORTS TO A CONICAL SHAPE BY THE FORCES GENERATED WHILE RUNNING AND MANEUVERING. YOU CAN KEEP THE TORQUE CHECKED, BUT AFTER ABOUT 7000 MILES 100 SHARP TURNING MANEUVERS, THE BEARING WASHER IS SO DISTORTED INTO A CONICAL SHAPE THAT THE WASHER BOTTOMS OUT ON THE AXLE SHOULDER AND NO LONGER PROVIDES THE BEARING PRE-LOAD THAT IS REQUIRED. I HAVE HAD ONE BEARING FAILURE AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY, I HAVE RETORQUED THESE, BUT THEY NEVER STAY TIGHT, MY FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER WEIGHS ALMOST 13,000 POUNDS, THE WEIGHT IS STRESSING THE LARGE WASHER BEHIND THE AXLE NUT CAUSING THE AXLE NUT TO SPIN LOOSE, THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EVEN SOMEONE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *TR 11/14/12 *CN UPDATED 11/14/2012 *JS