THE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER FRAME RAILS ARE FABRICATED FROM I BEAMS

Sep 15, 1999 — Recall Campaign #99V228000

THE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER FRAME RAILS ARE FABRICATED FROM I BEAMS. THE WEB OF THESE BEAMS CAN CRACK ABOVE THE AXLE ATTACHMENTS.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 468 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

99V228000

Manufacturer:	COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Recall date:	September 15, 1999
NHTSA Campaign #:	99V228000
Units affected:	468

Description:: THE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER FRAME RAILS ARE FABRICATED FROM I BEAMS. THE WEB OF THESE BEAMS CAN CRACK ABOVE THE AXLE ATTACHMENTS.
Consequeces:: CRACKING OF THE FRAME RAILS ABOVE THE AXLE ATTACHMENT CAN CAUSE CONTROL PROBLEMS FOR THE TOW VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRAMES OF THESE TRAILERS. IF CRACKS ARE DETECTED, THE AREA WILL BE WELDED AND A PLATE WILL BE PLACED OVER THE AREA USING 1/4" FLAT STEEL. REROUTING OF THE HOLDING TANK DRAIN PIPES MAY BE NECESSARY ON SOME MODELS.
Notes:: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 8, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT COACHMEN AT 1-800-453-6064. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Affects the following:

1997-2000 SHASTA SHASTA

2000 SHASTA SHASTA Complaints
MY COMPLAINT IS ON GOODYEAR TIRES, WRANGLER HT 225/75R16 LOAD RANGE E. ON APRIL 3, 2005 I LEFT A RV PARK IN TYLER. TX AND WAS TRAVELING EAST ON I-20 NEAR THE MARSHAL. TX EXIT WHEN ONE OF THE ABOVE TIRES BLEW OUT. I PROCEEDED UP THE 614 EXIT IN ORDER TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE FOR MY SAFETY ON THE BUSY INTERSTATE. I CHANGED THE TIRE AND PROCEEDED ON TO BOSSIER CITY, LA TO FIND ANOTHER TIRE. THE DEALER HAD THE SIZE TIRE NEEDED AND REPLACED THE BLOWN OUT TIRE. I INFORMED THE SALES PERSON THAT THE TIRE HAD DAMAGED MY TRAILER. HE GOT A CLAIM NUMBER (000427752} FOR ME AND TOLD ME THAT GOODYEAR WOULD SEND ME FORMS TO FILL OUT TO GET REEMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE NEW TIRE ($214.65) AND THE DAMAGE TO MY TRAILER, LATER DETERMINED TO BE $547.96. I TRAVELED TO TALLULAH, LA AND STOPED FOR FUEL AND CHECKED TIRES AND FOUND ANOTHER TIRE ABOUT HALF INFLATED AND COULD HEAR AIR COMING FROM IT, CHANGE TIRE. I MADE IT ON TO JACKSON, MS WHERE I FOUND A GOODYEAR DEALER AND THEY ADJUSTED THE TIRE AND CHARGED ME $32.50. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPERATED. WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND PICKED UP MY MAIL AT THE POST OFFICE I DID HAVE THE PACKET TO FILE A CLAIM BUT I ALSO HAD A REGISTERED LETTER FROM GOODYEAR TELLING ME THAT MY CLAIM HAD BEEN DENIED EVEN BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO FILE IT. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY DEFECT IN THE TIRE, THEY SAID IT HAD BEEN RUN FLAT. I SENT GOODYEAR THE CLAIM FORMS AND A LETTER ASKING THEM TO RECONSIDER MY CLAIM. I DID IN FACT RUN THE TIRE FLAT AFTER IT BLEW OUT IN ORDER TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO CHANGE THE TIRE WHICH ONLY HAD CORDS AROUND THE TIRE AND THE BEADS AROUND THE WHEEL. GOODYEAR SAID THEY WOULD DESTROY THE IN 30 DAYS IF I DID NOT REQUEST THEM TO RETURN IT TO ME. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR TRAVEL CLUB HAVE HAD BLOW OUTS AND TREAD SEPERATIONS ON THIS SAME MAKE AND SIZE GOODYEAR TIRE. SINCE THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC I WOULD ASK THAT THIS TIRE BE INVESTIGATED.;