2004 Fleetwood Prowler

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON ODI'S RECEIPT OF A CONGRESSIONAL LETTER ON BEHALF OF A CONSTITUENT.THE CONSTITUENT REPORTED INCIDENTS WHERE THE SLIDE OUT ROOM OF HIS MOTOR HOME WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE (EXTEND) DURING HIGHWAY USE.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT A FULLY EXTENDED SLIDE OUT WOULD DEGRADE THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS AND/OR POSSIBLY IMPACT AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH.ODI CONTACTED FLEETWOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT SLIDE OUT ROOMS WERE INSTALLED IN MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FOLDING TRAILERS. AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION ODI VISITED A RV SHOW AND THE FLEETWOOD PAXINOS PLANT TO EXAMINE SLIDE OUTS IN VARIOUS NEW MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES AND GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SYSTEMS WORK.DURING THE INVESTIGATION ODI LEARNED THAT THERE ARE TWO METHODS USED TO EXTEND SLIDE OUT ROOMS.SOME MANUFACTURERS USE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS AND OTHERS, SUCH AS FLEETWOOD, USE AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)

ON JUNE 30, 2004, FLEETWOOD FILED A DEFECT NOTICE (04V-310) THAT OUTLINES A NOTIFICATION AND REPAIR PROGRAM INTENDED TO HAVE 2002-2004 MODEL YEAR FLEETWOOD FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILER UNITS EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS INSPECTED FOR THE PRESENCE OF PAINT AND OTHER FOREIGN SUBSTANCES IN THE CLAMP JOINT, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND HUB CLAMP FACES, AND TO INSPECT FOR, AND CORRECT, ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED TO THE WHEELS OR HUBS DUE TO LOOSENING. THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES A PROVISION TO PROVIDE THE AFFECTED VEHICLE OWNERS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE METHOD AND IMPORTANCE OF TORQUING THE WHEEL NUTS WITH A TORQUE WRENCH AS DESCRIBED IN THE CAMPAIGN NOTICE AND IN FLEETWOOD'S PUBLISHED OWNER'S MANUAL.ODI EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN PROGRAM BECAUSE IT ASKS OWNERS TO PERFORM THE POST-INSPECTION AND REPAIR TORQUING OF THE WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS (AT INTERVALS OF 10, 25, AND 50 MILES OR UNTIL STABILIZED).TO ASSURE THAT THIS ASPECT OF THE CAMPAIGN IS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY, ODI HAS ASKED FLEETWOOD TO NOTIFY ODI OF ANY INCIDENTS OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS THAT OCCUR ON CAMPAIGN-REPAIRED VEHICLES WHOSE OWNERS WERE ASKED TO PERFORM THE POST-REPAIR WHEEL NUT TORQUE PROCEDURE.

FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS HAD BEEN INADEQUATELY TORQUED IN FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS BUILT WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS SINCE JUNE 2002.FLEETWOOD ALERTEDOWNERS VIA A CUSTOMER ADVISORY NOTICE IN APRIL AND MAY OF 2003.ON OCTOBER 29, 2003, FLEETWOOD MADE A DEFECT DETERMINATION AND RENOTIFIED OWNERS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INVESTIGATION, FLEETWOOD PROVIDED CERTAIN PRELIMINARY INFORMATION TO ODI, BUT THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN THE REASON(S) FOR WHEEL SEPARATIONS, AND ODI CONTINUES TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS MAY NOT COMPLETELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. FLEETWOOD'S CAMPAIGN DIRECTIVE REQUESTED THAT OWNERS RE-TORQUE THE WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS.ALTHOUGH RE-TORQUING IS CONSISTENT WITH GOOD MAINTENANCE PRACTICE, ODI IS CONCERNED THAT THE NEED TO FREQUENTLY RE-TORQUE THE WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS MAY BE INDICATIVE OF UNDERLYING DESIGN, ASSEMBLY, OR APPLICATION ISSUES THAT COULD AFFECT THE RETENTION INTEGRITY OF THE WHEEL MOUNTING SYSTEM.ALTHOUGH FLEETWOOD HAS ADVISED ODI THAT NO ADDITIONAL WHEEL SEPARATIONS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THEIR OCTOBER 29, 2003 DEFECT REPORT AND ASSOCIATED OWNER NOTIFICATION, ODI WILL OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUES THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO WHEEL SEPARATIONS IN FLEETWOOD VEHICLES.

TOWMAX ST225/75R-15/10 DOT NUMBERS ADB4GPB5014,JKLFID2613 AND 83B4GPB4011 700 TO 1000 MILES ON THE TIRES BELT SEPARATED AND TREAD LOSS 2 OF 4 TIRES 80 PSI IN TIRES AT ALL TIMES ACCORDING TO SIDEWALL REQUIREMENTS.

NHTSA ID

10897302

Incident

Aug 10, 2016

Mileage

900 mi

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF EVENTS WHERE I HAVE FOUND LARGE STRUCTURAL CRACKS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE 5TH WHEELS FRAME..PARTICULARLY THE FRONT PIN BOX FRAME AND LOWER FRONT SUPPORT FRAME. FROM WHAT MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE OBSERVED, WE FEEL THAT BOTH POOR WELDS, LOW QUALITY STEEL, INSUFFICIENT CROSS BRACING, AND TOO LIGHT A GAUGE OF METAL TO PROPERLY SUPPORT THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THIS AND OTHER TYPES OF TRAILERS. MY FRAME HAS BEEN WELDED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS, I HAVE LOST AXLES FROM UNDER IT BECAUSE OF BROKEN OR INSUFFICIENT CROSS BRACING ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE, THE UPPER FRONT FRAME WAS RE WELDED AND SUPPOSEDLY RE BRACED A FEW YEARS BACK BY A FACTORY DEALER. WE JUST RETURNED FROM WHAT WAS TO BE OUR VACATION, AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY TO TAKE A BREAK ON OUR TRIP WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY TRAILER HAD TORN LOSE AND WAS ABOUT TO COMPLETELY RIP FREE FROM MY TRUCK..AFTER LOOKING AT WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE STOPPED WHEN WE DID, THE METAL THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS COMPLETELY TORN LIKE A SHEET OF PAPER, THE WELDS THAT WERE TO BE FIXED LAST TIME WERE LOOKED OVER AND NEVER RE BRACED OR WELDED.. THE FRAME MANUFACTURER I AM SURE YOU FOLKS HAVE HAD PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMPANY. THE NAME OF COMPANY IS LIPPERT FRAMES.. LIPPERT FRAMES AT ONE TIME AND STILL DOES MANUFACTURE FRAME FOR PROBABLY 60-75% OF 5TH WHEEL AND OTHER TRAILERS TODAY..OUR CONCERN IS THAT THEY AS A MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR POOR WORKMANSHIP, LOW QUALITY MATERIALS,OR STAND BEHIND WHAT THEY BUILD, WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT OURSELVES OR ANY OTHER MOTORIST HAS NOT BEEN KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED IF ONE OF THESE FRAMES COMPLETELY LET LOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10516013

Incident

Jun 6, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD PROWLER FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WELDS OF THE CROSS MEMBERS ON THE CHASSIS WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V289000 (STRUCTURE) BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10444680

Incident

Jan 10, 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD PROWLER RV. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NUMBER RM2652. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY. ALSO, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF AMMONIA AND YELLOW RESIDUE THAT WAS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM BOILER TUBE IN THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08E032000 (EQUIPMENT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THE REMEDY CONSISTED OF A PROTECTION SHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED WITH THE RECALL REMEDY DUE TO THE REFRIGERATOR BEING INOPERATIVE AND IT WOULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE REFRIGERATOR HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10334956

Incident

May 1, 2009

IM INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD ON MY DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR AND IT IS THE WEEKEND AND I CANT GET ANY INFORMATION FROM ANYONE. TO ME THIS IS A CROCK. OUR BUSINESS HOURS OUR MON. THROUGH FRI.@#%&&^&(.ITS FILLED WITH FOOD THAT I CANT AFFORD TO WASTE. THEY SAY TO AT LEAST TURN OFF THE GAS PART OF IT BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247435

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

2004 FLEETWOOD PROWLER FRONT FRAME AND PIN BOX FAILURE. RESULTING IN HAVING TO DISCONNECT 5TH WHEEL FROM TOW VEHICLE AND WAIT FOR REPAIR SERVICES. 5TH WHEEL HAS BEEN PARKED ON PROPERTY FOR OVER 2YEARS, HAS VERY LITTLE ACTUAL TOWING TIME, THE UNIT WAS NOT OVER LOADED. FRAME WELDS AND LAYUP WERE WHAT I CONSIDER ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. MY WIFE AND I WERE STRANDED AT THE LAKE ON OUR VACATION,AND ARE STILL WAITING FOR A SOLUTION ON HOW TO GET IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. IF I HAD CONTINUED TOWING THIS 5TH WHEEL , ESPECIALLY IN THE HILLS THAT WE WERE TRAVELING IN, I AM QUITE SURE I WOULD HAVE LOST IT OFF THE BACK OF MY TRUCK.. TO DATE I THINK I HAVE READ APPROX. 30 -50 COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM EITHER FLEETWOOD OR LIPPERT FRAMES. I WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT IT WOULD TAKE A SEVERE WRECK AND THE LOSS OF LIVES TO WAKE THESE MANUFACTURERS UP...I AM HOPING MY INSURANCE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIRS ON MY RIG ,I CAN GUARANTEE NEITHER FLEETWOOD OR LIPPERT WILL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239879

Incident

Aug 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A DOMETIC RM2652. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000 (EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE) IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE UNIT WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE REPAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON AUGUST 31, 2007. THE CONTACT DENIED ANY REPAIR WORK BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRIOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PART NUMBER AND LOCATION IN THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/15/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10216482

Incident

Jan 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD PROWLER REGAL FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE UNIT IS CRACKING. A WELDER ARRIVED TO PLACE A TEMPORARY PATCH ON THE UNIT AND HE STATED THAT THE FACTORY WELDS WERE TOO COLD. WHEN THE UNIT SEPARATED, IT FELL DOWN ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS APPLICABLE.

NHTSA ID

10206655

Incident

Oct 7, 2007