RoadVitals

2003 Damon Intruder Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
14
Latest Jul 26, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
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.
0

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.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE CAUSED BRAKE LOSS FROM MELTED CALIPER.

NHTSA ID 11235175 · filed Jul 26, 2019

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

NHTSA ID 10546448 · filed Oct 1, 2013

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD SEPARATES FROM GASKET AT TOP RIGHT LEAVING A 2" OPENING BETWEEN WINDOW OPENING AND WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ID 10297755 · filed Jan 1, 2010

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

NHTSA ID 10138059 · filed Sep 28, 2005

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.

2
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10546448 · filed Oct 1, 2013

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

NHTSA ID 10093524 · filed Oct 3, 2004

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE CAUSED BRAKE LOSS FROM MELTED CALIPER.

NHTSA ID 11235175 · filed Jul 26, 2019

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

NHTSA ID 10275157 · filed Jun 28, 2009

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10455858 · filed Apr 20, 2012

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10275152 · filed Jun 28, 2009

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10546448 · filed Oct 1, 2013

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10080926 · filed Jul 13, 2004

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

Data on this page last refreshed .