2004 Fleetwood Terry

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.

THE FRAME OF MY FIFTH WHEEL CAMPING TRAILER BROKE IN TWO WHERE THE KING PIN BOX IS WELDED IN THE FRONT WHILE I WAS TOWING IT ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOWING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN I WENT OVER AN OVERPASS WITH AN UNEVEN LIP AT ITS EDGE WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. ONLINE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE SHOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM COMMON TO TRAILER FRAMES MADE BY LIPPERT COMPONENTS AND SUPPLIED TO NUMEROUS RV MANUFACTURERS. IT IS CHALKED UP TO "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". LIPPERT ONLY WARRANTIES THEIR TRAILER FRAMES FOR TWO YEARS. IN MY OPINION, A VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF TYPE OR SIZE, SHOULD NEVER SUFFER A BROKEN FRAME DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

11383230

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

Mileage

25,000 mi

2004 TERRY TRAILER W/ DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR MODEL 2852 SERIAL# 605-03267. ITEM WAS RECALLED FOR DEFECT BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS UNTIL FAILURE OF COMPONENT. DOMETIC REFUSING TO REPAIR REFRIGERATOR. DUE TO THE LEAKAGE OF AMMONIA THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386794

Incident

Feb 28, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD TERRY TRAILER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE FIRE ALARMS IN THE TRAILER WERE ACTIVATED. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE WHEEL WELL CAUSING SMOKE TO ACCUMULATE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10344038

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD TERRY. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. A UTILITY BUILDING ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SERIAL AND PART NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT APPLICABLE. UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08

NHTSA ID

10249380

Incident

Nov 7, 2008

WE WERE PREPARING TO GO CAMPING IN OUR '04 TERRY QUANTUM (BOUGHT NEW FEB 08) AND TURNED ON FRIG TO COOL BY ELECTRICITY. NOTICED NEXT DAY UNIT WAS NOT COOLING, TRIED THE GAS, STILL NOT COOLING. MY HUSBAND REMEMBERED SOMEONE TOLD HIM ABOUT THEIR RV CATCHING ON FIRE AS RESULT OF THE FRIG CATCHING ON FIRE. WE CALLED DOMETIC SERVICE CENTER, LISTENED TO A RECORDING WHICH STATED A RECALL ON ALL '04-'06 FRIG'S WITH PARTICULAR MODEL/SERIAL NUMBERS TO LOOK FOR ANY LEAKS WITH YELLOW RESIDUE ON BACK SIDE OF THE UNIT OR NOT COOLING PROPERLY. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED YELLOW RESIDUE, CONTINUED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM DOMETIC'S RECORDING STATING "TO TURN OFF THE GAS VALVE" AND "DO NOT OPERATE WITH GAS". IT STATED "COULD USE ELECTRICITY". WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES FROM DOMETIC. NOTIFIED DOMETIC RECALL CENTER, TOLD OUR MODEL RM2852, SERIAL NUMBER 40503272 WAS DEFINITELY ON RECALL LIST AND GIVEN A CUSTOMER ID NUMBER WITH "FREE SERVICE". DOMETIC PROVIDED LOCAL SERVICE CENTER. UPON PICK-UP, DOCUMENTATION WAS PROVIDED FOR FIX; HOWEVER, UPON INSPECTION THE COOLING UNIT WAS NOT REPLACED AND A METAL SHIELD WAS INSTALLED. IMMEDIATELY SHOWED AND DISCUSSED SITUATION WITH SERVICE CENTER, WHO STATED THE "RECALL" WAS FOR A "HEAT SHIELD" NOT FOR REPLACING THE COOLING UNIT. HOWEVER, OUR APPOINTMENT WAS TO FIX THE COOLING UNIT LEAK. SERVICE REP LOOKED AT THE FRIG PANEL AND SAW THE RESIDUE. HE WOULD NOT SAY WHY THEIR SERVICE TECH DID NOT SEE THE RESIDUE, WHICH WAS VISIBLE, AND THE TECH SHOULD NOT HAVE INSTALLED THE "HEAT SHIELD" WITH THIS LEAKAGE. THE REP STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT DOMETIC TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE UNIT. NO REPLY FROM LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, WE CONTACTED CENTER AND THEY WERE TOLD BY DOMETIC THAT OUR UNIT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED AS "FREE SERVICE". TO DATE, THE COOLING UNIT IS NOT REPAIRED/REPLACED AND IS NOT OPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232769

Incident

Jun 5, 2008

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER SUPPORT BETWEEN THE AXLE BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE CAMPER TO SHIFT 3 INCHES AND ADDED FRICTION TO THE TIRES. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V289000 , REGARDING THE STRUCTURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP HAD AGREED TO REPLACE THE BEAM THAT BROKE AND PLACE A SUPPORT BEAM IN THE FRONT AND IN THE BACK.

NHTSA ID

10164102

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

2004 TERRY 5TH WHEEL CAMPER HAS A ROD AND ANGLE CROSS MEMBER WELD AND POOR DESIGN WEAKNESS PROBLEM. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER HE IS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING A DEALER TO FIX IT. THE CONSUMER DID EVENTUALLY FIND SOMEONE TO PERFORM THE RECALL, HOWEVER HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. RECALL 05V289000 *JB

NHTSA ID

10151887

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT: CALLER SAID THAT TRAVEL TRAILER CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH A BENT AXLE AND AXLE ALIGNMENT. CALLER SAID VEHICLE JUMPED AROUND THE ROAD. DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER PAID DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. CALLER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE SAFETY ON THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131966

Incident

Apr 6, 2004