WESTERN Complaints

THE BRAKES GOT HOT BECAUSE THE BRAKE CALIPERS WOULDN'T RELEASE THE PADS FROM THE ROTORS. IT WOULDN'T STOP HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE. *TR

THE WELDS HOLDING THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL TO THE RIM ON THE CHROME WHEELS THAT CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 2005 ALPENLITE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER HAVE FAILED. THREE OF THE FOUR WHEELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ONE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY SEPARATED WHEN I DISCOVERED IT. SINCE WESTERN R V IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND OUT WHO SUPPLIED THEM WITH THESE DEFECTIVE WHEELS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY UNIT AND THAT ANOTHER OWNER WILL HAVE A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. *TR

I HAVE JUST LEARNED OF THE BAD DESIGN OF THE STEERING BOX BRACKET ON MY 2006 ALPINE APEX MOTOR HOME. I DID THE TESTING RECOMMENDED BY OTHERS AND FIND THAT THE BRACKET FLEXES A LARGE AMOUNT WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND BACK. THE COACH WAS BUILT BY WESTERN RV OF UNION GAP, WA AND WAS BOUGHT OUT BY MONOMOY INC OF NEW YORK. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY RECALL AS OF YET. *TR

I CAN SEE A 3/4 INCH CRACK IN THE PAINT ON THE UPPER REAR FLANGE OF THE STEEL STEERING GEAR BRACKET. OTHER MOTORHOMES OF SIMILAR VINTAGE AND MODEL HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE STEEL BRACKET AT THIS LOCATION. THE STEEL STEERING GEAR BRACKET WILL BE REINFORCED AT MY OWN EXPENSE WITH ABOUT 20 INCHES OF 5/8 INCH THICK STEEL ANGLE AND EIGHT GRADE 8 BOLTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 WESTERN ALPINE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE END OF THE WHEEL THAT CAUSED THE BRAKE TO DRAG. THE TEMPERATURE INCREASED AT THE WHEEL END WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL. IF THE FAILURE OCCURS IT COULD EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT HIS MODEL TYPE WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL 09V110000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE BRAND NAME OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS BOSCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTED ON A DOWN HILL TO 2ND TO SLOW THE RV DOWN, THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. UPON INSPECTION, A LOT OF SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL WAS PRESENT. UPDATED 05/13/10. *JB

I WAS MADE AWARE OF MY PROBLEM @ IRV2.COM FORUM (CAUTION LATE ALPINE OWNERS!!! STEERING BOX MOUNT ISSUE) WHEN I LOOKED UNDER MY COACH I FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING MOUNT AS MOST OF THE OTHERS AT THE FORUM. I FOUND SMALL STRESS CRACKS AND PAINT FLAKING FROM STRESS ON THE BRACKET. HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE BEFORE THEIR ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD. THANKS. *TR

STEERING BOX SUSPENSION SUPPORT. WHEN WESTERN STARTING PUTTING ADJUSTABLE PEDALS FOR BRAKE AND FUEL INTO THE ALPINE RV THEY REMOVED ON OF THE METAL SUPPORT BRACKETS TO DO SO. THE RESULT HAS CAUSED A TORQUING OF THE STEERING BOX AND ONLY SUPPORT BRACKET RESULTING IN CRACKING THE WELD. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A SUPPORT BRACKET INSTALLED IN MY 06 WESTERN ALPINE. *TR

FAILURE: STEEL BRACKET CONNECTING POWER STEERING GEAR TO THE VEHICLES FRAME BENDS EXCESSIVELY WHENEVER OPERATING THE STEERING. OCCURENCE: WHENEVER VEHICLE IS OPERATED. CORRECTION: NONE AT THIS TIME. *TR

BRACKET THAT HOLDS STEERING BOX TO FRAME FLEXES EXCESSIVELY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TR

FAILURE: POWER STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET FLEXES EXCESSIVELY WHEN TURNING WHEELS. *TR