2003 Damon Intruder Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Damon Intruder, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes635.3%
- Visibility317.6%
- Steering211.8%
- Electrical211.8%
- Fuel system15.9%
- Exterior lighting15.9%
- Other / unspecified15.9%
- Tires & wheels15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE CAUSED BRAKE LOSS FROM MELTED CALIPER.
I WAS DRIVING THE RV ON A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT AS THE RIGHT BRAKE LOCKED UP. MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HAD TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL VERY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED O.K. A SHORT TIME LATER, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA. STOPPED VEHICLE AND GOT OUT AND FOUND ALL WHEELS HOT AND SMOKING. THE BEHAVIOR CONTINUED OFF AND ON. TOOK TO RV DEALER AND WAITING TO GET DIAGNOSIS AND ESTIMATE ON ABS BRAKE REPAIR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD SEPARATES FROM GASKET AT TOP RIGHT LEAVING A 2" OPENING BETWEEN WINDOW OPENING AND WINDSHIELD. *TR
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE WHISTLING NOISE STARTED AROUND WINDSHIELD AREA INSPECTION FOUND WINDSHIELD COMING OUT OF MOUNTING. PUSHED WINDSHIELD BACK FOR DURATION OF TRIP. WINDSHIELD IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. THIS COACH ONLY HAS 12.000 MILES ON IT. THE WINDSHIELD CONTINUES TO POP OUT. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING THE RV ON A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT AS THE RIGHT BRAKE LOCKED UP. MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HAD TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL VERY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED O.K. A SHORT TIME LATER, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA. STOPPED VEHICLE AND GOT OUT AND FOUND ALL WHEELS HOT AND SMOKING. THE BEHAVIOR CONTINUED OFF AND ON. TOOK TO RV DEALER AND WAITING TO GET DIAGNOSIS AND ESTIMATE ON ABS BRAKE REPAIR. *TR
THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM: WHILE TRYING TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH IS OBSCURED BY THE STERING WHEEL A CRASH COULD RESULT. WHAT COULD BE DONE IS A 18" WHEEL INSTALLED SO WE CAN SEE THE SPEED OMETER ECT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE CAUSED BRAKE LOSS FROM MELTED CALIPER.
1. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. 2. THE LCD DISPLAY IN THE DASH GOES BLANK. MOST IMPORTANTLY I CANNOT SEE THE SPEED THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INFORMATION SUCH AS GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN, OIL PRESSURE, ETC. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THE MOTOR HOME. 3. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DASH DISPLAY WHICH WAS DONE IN 2007. ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL REPROGRAMMING WAS DONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN REMEDIED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A CUMMINS ONAN GENERATOR MODEL 5.5HGJAB SPEC. B, WITH TWO FUEL FILTERS. THE FILTERS ARE APPARENTLY FAULTY AND CAN SEPARATE AT THE SEAM CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. THE UPPER FILTER CAN LEAK ONTO HOT GENERATOR SURFACES AND BOTH CAN LEAK ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. THE UPPER FILTER ON MY UNIT IS LEAKING AND CANNOT BE OPERATED SAFELY IN THAT CONDITION. THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT PARTS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONFINED TO THIS ONE MODEL. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REFERENCES TO THIS ISSUE IN ONLINE POSTS AND FORUMS. UPDATED 05/02/12*BF *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. & 2. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WHEN I USE THE HIGH BEAMS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THEY WILL GO OUT FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN COME BACK ON. THE FREQUENCY BECOMES SHORTER AND THE DURATION OF OUTAGE BECOMES LONGER. EVENTUALLY I HAVE TO STOP USING HIGH BEAMS SINCE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY FLASHING ON AND OFF. 3. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND DAMON WHO HAVE EACH DENIED RESPONSIBILITY STATING THE OTHER PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE. ( I HAVE EMAILS FROM EACH) I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM AS NO ONE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING THE RV ON A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT AS THE RIGHT BRAKE LOCKED UP. MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HAD TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL VERY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED O.K. A SHORT TIME LATER, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA. STOPPED VEHICLE AND GOT OUT AND FOUND ALL WHEELS HOT AND SMOKING. THE BEHAVIOR CONTINUED OFF AND ON. TOOK TO RV DEALER AND WAITING TO GET DIAGNOSIS AND ESTIMATE ON ABS BRAKE REPAIR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
GENERATOR IS LOCATED RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BEDROOM SLIDE CAUSING THE CO DETECTOR TO GO AS HIGH AS 210. MY SON BECAME ILL. THE WINDSHIELD JUST POPPED OUT. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER HE SAID THAT DAMON KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SHOWED THEM WHAT TO DO IF THEY CAME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM, HE SAW THIS AT THE PLANT TOUR. WHY AREN'T THE CONSUMER AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, WE WEREN'T UNTIL IT POPPED OUT ON US.THE TIRE SIZE I FEEL IS UNSAFE FOR THIS SIZE UNIT. THE RIGHT FRONT FOLDED OUT TWICE ON ME. THEY NOW HAVE BIGGER TIRES ON THE NEW UNITS BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ONES WHO DON'T. WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS UNIT AND GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD YOU GO SO HIGH YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE COMING OUT OF YOUR SEAT.I DO NOT FEEL SAVE AT ALL IN THIS UNIT.I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND I CONTACTED DAMON. DAMON DOESN'T DO ANYTHING BUT SAY THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I REALIZED THAT MOTORHOMES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE LEMON LAW SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE DRIVING AROUND IN UNSAFE VEHICLES BECAUSE MANUFACTURERS CAN TAKE AS MANY TIMES AS THEY WANT TO TRY TO FIX SOMETHING.I ALSO FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THESE VEHICLES DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL LICENSE TO DO SO. ALL YOU NEED IS A REGULAR CLASS LICENSE. ALSO THE SLIDES DON'T SHUT PROPERLY. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO THE MAXIMUM BUT THEY STILL DON'T SHUT RIGHT ALSO THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DAMON WANTS TO TAKE IT BACK TO INDIANA BUT I REFUSED AS I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO THE MAXIMUM. WHAT IF THEY OPEN WHILE DRIVING? I REALLY FEEL THAT DAMON NEEDS ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS.NOW THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THERE MAY BE A POSSIBLE SHORT SOMEWHERE. THIS UNIT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 72 DAYS FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE STILL UNRESOLVED. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .