RoadVitals

2006 Damon Challenger

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Oct 13, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest Jun 16, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Damon Challenger, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and tires & wheels categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09V225000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Jun 16, 2009
2,415 units potentially affected
The defect: DAMON IS RECALLING 2,415 MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG.
The risk: THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL, AND POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY AND OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.
DAMON CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
08V534000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Oct 9, 2008
4,677 units potentially affected
The defect: DAMON IS RECALLING 4,677 MY 2004-2006 CHALLENGER, DAYBREAK, INTRUDER, MY 2004-2005 ESCAPER, ULTRASPORT, AND MY 2005 ASTORIA AND ASTORIA WALDORF MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
The risk: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DAMON WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR DAMON AT
DAMON CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
07V022000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Jan 30, 2007
2,618 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE MOTOR HOMES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE RED REAR REFLEX REFLECTORS AND SOME MOTOR HOMES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE SIDE REAR RED REFLEX REFLECTORS.
The risk: DURING NIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS OR WHILE THE MOTOR HOME IS PARKED, THE REAR AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REFLEX REFLECTION TO MARK THE VEHICLE'S LOCATION IN THE DARK INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DAMON WILL PROVIDE THE OWNERS WITH A KIT CONTAINING THE MISSING REFLECTORS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING THEM TO THEIR VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR DEALERS DO THE REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAMON AT 1-800-860-3812.
DAMON CORPORATIONManufacturer number 06-119View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 13, 2011
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DAMON CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT BLINKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING ONE OF THE FOUR JACKS HAD RELEASED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT NONE OF THE JACKS WERE RELEASED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE JACK DOWN IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE HYDRAULIC HOSE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE JACK HAD FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE WIRES ON THE HOSE TO MELT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200.

NHTSA ID
10430042
Incident
Oct 11, 2011
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 4, 2011

PURCHASED 2006 CLASS A MOTOR HOME WITH 4285 MILES ON IT FROM DICK GORE'S RV IN JACKSONVILLE. WAS TOLD THEY REPLACED THE TIRES WITH NEW BECAUSE OLD TIRES HAD DRY ROT. I TOLD THE DEALER WE WERE GOING ON A 3,000 MILE TRIP AND WAS ASSURED THEY WERE NEW! PLUS EXPLAINED I WOULD BE TOWING A CAR ! MY WIFE IS DISABLED AND I JUST HAD BACK SURGERY. I WANTED TO BE SAFE FOR OUR TRIP. HAD BLOW OUT IN SC WITH ONLY 1917 MILES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE RV. ROAD SERVICE SUPPLIED AND MECHANIC EXPLAINED THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED AND COATED WITH WAX AND ARMORAL TO COVER IT UP! DOT#S ON TIRES SHOW THEY PROBABLY WERE ORIGINAL TIRES INSTALLED ON CHASSIS IN 2005. L/F TIRE DOT# A14L MJ93 MHAW 0405 R/F A02L MJ93 MAW 0405 R/I/R AC2R MJ93 MHAW 0405 R/O/R A02L MJ93 MHAW 0405 L/I/R A14R MJ93 MHAW 0405. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT I DO NOT HAVE THE # . THE CITIES THAT WE DROVE THRU AND HOW HEAVY TRAFFIC WAS THE NO TELLING HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. IN SELLING A RV TO ANYONE THAT CAN DRIVE A CAR IS THERE NO REGULATION FOR THEM TO BE AS SAFE AS ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR TRUCK THAT CAN KILL MANY PEOPLE. WE WERE LIED TO AND IT WAS NO LESS THAN A PERSON HOLDING A GUN TO YOUR HEAD WITH PEOPLE LINED UP BEHIND YOU WAITING TO DIE! I HOPE THAT THE NEXT RV ACCIDENT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. IT MAY BE THE ONE YOU DRIVING NEXT TO THE RV ON THE WAY HOME! THINK ABOUT HOW MANY RV'S ARE OUT THERE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10417109
Incident
Aug 2, 2011
Mileage
6,202 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 27, 2006

WE PURCHASED NEW 2006 DAMON CHALLENGER MODEL 355 ON SEP. 6, 2006. THE BODY OR FRAME HAS BEEN TORQUED OR BENT , WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FRACTURE AND POP OUT LEAVING GLASS SHARDS ON DASH, THE SLIDE OUTS DO NOT COMPLETELY RETRACT, ENTRY STEP IS BINDING GOING IN AND OUT. DRIVERS DOOR NOT SHUT COMPLETELY, HYDRAULIC JACKS OPERATE ERRATICALLY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PARTS NOT TO FIT PROPERLY, DOES NOT DRIVE CORRECTLY ON HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND PARTICULARLY THE MFR. HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING EXCEPT OFFER A LOANER FOR A WEEKEND, THE MFR. MAY TAKE TO FACTORY TO INVESTIGATE, BUT HAS NOT DONE SO AS OF THIS LETTER. *NM

NHTSA ID
10169456
Incident
Sep 8, 2006
Mileage
480 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Damon Challenger by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012010—
2011120—
2010030—
2009050—
2008340—
2007260—
2006Viewing360—
2005250—
2004250—
2003740—
2002230—
2001150—
2000340—
1999631—
1998631—
1997220—
1996100—
1994200—
1993001—
1992001—
1991100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.