2004 Fleetwood Prowler Other / unspecified Problems

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 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

RECALL OF DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR. CHARGED 60.00 IN ORDER TO HAVE DONE AND RELEASED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10189503

Incident

Apr 24, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR. RECALL 06E076000 WAS RECEIVED FOR MODEL# 2652. THE LETTER INFORMED HIM TO CALL DOMETIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE HE TYPED IN THE MODEL NUMBER THE INFORMATION SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE, OR ALLOW AN OPTION TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. THE CONTACWAS UNCERTAIN WHAT TO DO WITH THE RECALL NOTICE OR THE REFRIGERATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL BEGAN IN APRIL 2007.

NHTSA ID

10184427

Incident

Mar 5, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT READ ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR MODEL # RM2652. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ISSUE OF WAITING TOO LONG TO HAVE REPAIRED. THE TRAILER IS THE CONTACT'S PRIMARY RESIDENCE. AK UPDATED 01/31/07.*JB

NHTSA ID

10176967

Incident

Dec 25, 2006

MY TRAILER SEWER DISCHARGE SYSTEM IS ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162147

Incident

May 27, 2006

2004 PROWLER REGAL 270 SKY LIGHT OVER SHOWER LEAKED. PANEL ON REAR OF DINNETTE BOOTH CAME OFF, PANEL UNDER BED CAME OFF AND LATCH WILL NOT STAY FASTENED. *TS THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE SLIDE OUT. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE SHOWER DOOR DID NOT SLIDE. THE HITCH BALL WAS NOT TILTED CORRECTLY, THE STEEL RODS WERE BENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158411

Incident

Jun 11, 2004

THE PIN BOX WHICH WAS WELDED ONTO THE 5TH WHEEL FRAME TO BE USED TO PULL THE TRAILER BROKE FROM THE WELD FOR THE SECOND TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105030

Incident

Oct 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS FRONT SHOCKS PUNCTURED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL WELL. CONSUMER HAD THE TIRE CHANGED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE SLIDEOUTS CAME OUT ABOUT 8 INCHED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND PUSH THEM BACK IN BY HAND. *NM

NHTSA ID

10097755

Incident

Sep 27, 2004

Mileage

2,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED MICROWAVE IN MOTOR HOME WAS ON RECALL. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF TRYING TO CONTACT ASSISTANCE FOR HELP ON THIS MICROWAVE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, AND DID NOT HELP. CONSUMER WAS IRATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091623

Incident

Sep 8, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF FROM THE AXLE, DAMAGING THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF THE 5TH WHEEL AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK DUE TO IMPROPER TORQUE, THE WHEEL AND LUG NUTS CAME OFF. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10039701

Mileage

1,279 mi