RoadVitals

2002 Monaco Coach Lapalma

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
11
Latest Nov 16, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest Jan 16, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Monaco Coach Lapalma, most frequently naming the brakes, other / unspecified and electrical categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes327.3%
  • Other / unspecified218.2%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%
  • Tires & wheels19.1%
  • Body & structure19.1%
  • Visibility19.1%
  • Driver assistance19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07V010000

TRAILER HITCHES

Jan 16, 2007
2,086 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR H0MES BUILT WITH GASOLINE ENGINES, THE FRAME EXTENSION LOWER FLANGE MAY CRACK ALLOWING THE HITCH TO BEND AND POSSIBLY SEPARATE FROM THE MOTOR HOME.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE TOWED VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD AN ADDITION OF TWO PIECES OF ANGLE STEEL TO THE FRAME EXTENSION AND HITCH MOUNTING POINT IN ORDER TO REINFORCE THE FRAME EXTENSION FLANGE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MONACO AT 877-466-6226. NOTE: THE ENDING MANUFACTURING DATE FOR INDIANA BUILT MOTOR HOMES IS MARCH 8, 2002 WHILE THE OREGON BUILT MOTOR HOMES WERE BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2002. THE FEDERAL ID LABEL LOCATED ON THE WALL NEXT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT SPECIFIES IN WHICH STATE THE MOTOR HOME WAS BUILT.
MONACO COACH CORPORATIONManufacturer number R02206View on NHTSA.gov
03V068000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP

Mar 5, 2003
5,361 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY STANDARD.
The risk: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MONACO COACH AT 1-877-477-6226.
MONACO COACH CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
02V278000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

Oct 22, 2002
8,581 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES THAT CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC DETERIORATION OF THE WHEEL END COMPONENTS SUCH AS BEARINGS, RACES, SPINDLES, KNUCKLES, SEALS, HUBS, ROTORS, PATCH BOLTS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, AND ABS SENSORS.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL, AND/OR THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FOR CORROSION AND REPLACE OR REBUILD THE CALIPERS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.
MONACO COACH CORP.Manufacturer number R02175View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE06047ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TOW HITCH/FRAME FAILURE

Opened Oct 24, 2006
Closed Jan 22, 2007

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING A CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY AND DETERMINING THE EXISTENCE OF TWO FAILURES.ADDITIONAL REPORTS WERENOTED ON THE INTERNET.THE REPORTS CLAIM THAT THE FRAME EXTENSION LOWER FLANGE IS CRACKING AND ALLOWING THE HITCH TO BEND DOWN TOWARDS THE GROUND.MONACO HAD PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED A SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS MATTER.ODI SENT AN INFORMATION REQUEST TO MONACO AND HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH MONACO OFFICIALS.AS A RESULT,MONACO COACH INC SUBMITTED A 573 AND IS RECALLING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. MONACO WILL REINFORCE THE FRAME EXTENSION FLANGE WITH TWO PIECES OF ANGLE IRON. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT MONACO'S ACTIONADDRESSES THE PROBLEM.ODI HAS EXCUSED MONACO FROM ANSWERING THE INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER. ODI IS UNAWARE OF THE NUMBER OF FAILURES, IF ANY REPORTED TO MONACO, SINCE THE INFORMATION REQUEST WAS UNANSWERED.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSLed to recall 07V010000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MONACO COACH LAPALMA RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, NOTICED VAPORS COMING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS SEIZED AND WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN THEN ADVISED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER, FRONT BRAKE LINES, AND THE BRAKE FLUID WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ID
10484895
Incident
Jul 15, 2005
Mileage
18,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 21, 2012

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FRACTURES OF THE FLOOR TRUSS NETWORK SUPPORT SYSTEM. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WE TOOK VEHICLE TO THREE RV SERVICE VENDORS. ALL OF THEM CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WERE FALSELY TOLD THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE. WE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER (GUARANTY IN JUNCTION CITY, OREGON) WHICH REFUSES TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR UNLESS WE PAY FOR IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471781
Incident
Aug 10, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 18, 2011

THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SUNVISOR MANUFACTURED BY CAREFREE OF COLORADO FELL UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED A FULL BLOCKAGE OF FOWARD SIGHT OF THE TWO LANE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON. I WAS ABLE TO PANIC STOP AND PULL OFF THE ROAD UNHARMED. MY INSPECTION OF THE SHADE SHOWED THAT THE PLASTIC MOUNTING CLIPS HAD DETERIORATED WHERE THE MOUNTING SCREWS ARE LOCATED CAUSING THE FULLY EXTENDED SHADE TO FALL. *TT

NHTSA ID
10425968
Incident
Sep 13, 2011
Mileage
40,021 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 30, 2010

NOTIFIED BY NORCOLD,INC. OF A FIRE HAZARD CAUSED BY MY REFRIGERATOR . THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH RECALL , BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DO A CHEAP QUICK FIX AND IT DIDN'T WORK . NOW , THEY ARE DOING IT OVER TO CORRECT THEIR FIRST SCREW UP. THEY REFUSED TO COME TO ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM .CAUSING ME TO SPEND MY MONEY AND TIME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED , MAYBE!! THE LETTER STATES " THE INSTALLATION OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE SENSOR WILL BE AT NO COST TO YOU ". THEY LIED ! I DO HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED . I REALIZE THE NHTSA HAS NO POWER TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS , SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO SEND A COMPLAINT TO YOU ANYWAY . NORCOLD INC. SAID IF I HAD A COMPLAINT I HAD TO NOTIFY YOU, THEY HAD NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY . THAN TO NOTIFY ME AND FURNISH THE PARTS AND IN-SHOP LABOR . ANY FOOD LOSS AND ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE AT MY EXPENSE . IF A LAW SUIT RESULTS FROM THEIR MISTAKES AND ERRORS THE ON -SITE COST WILL SEEM TRIVIAL . THANKS FOR YOUR TIME . *TR

NHTSA ID
10368351
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
48,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 17, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MONACO LAPALMA. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH FORD REGARDING A SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF 2007. THE SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED; HOWEVER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OR APRIL OF 2008. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE RECALL IS CONSIDERED URGENT WHEN THERE IS SUCH A DELAY MAKING THE RECALL REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID
10205947
Incident
Oct 17, 2007
Brakes
Filed Oct 18, 2006

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE MONACO LAPALMA COACH BRAKE FAILURE. *TS ON 11/5/04 A BRAKE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, RECALL NUMBER 50401-C, MILEAGE 25037. INCLUDED IN THIS REPAIR WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CALIPER PINS. ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, MILEAGE 33919, THE VEHILCE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THIS TIME THE CONSUMR WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO HEAT CRACKS. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE DAMAGE THAT OCCUED WAS DUE TO THE CALIPERS BINDING ON THE PINS AND NOT RUNNING FREE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EITHER THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY WITH PROPER LUBRICATION OF THE NEW PINS OR THAT THERE STILL EXIST A DESIGN DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10172237
Incident
Nov 5, 2004
Mileage
25,037 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 29, 2004

OWNER HAD A RECALL ON THE MONACO MOTORHOME WITH A WORK HORSE CHASSIS. THE OWNER WAS WAITING FOR THE BRAKE PARTS. THE DEALER HAS TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE OWNER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR MORE THAN 1 MONTH BUT AS OF TODAY THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10099036
Incident
Oct 29, 2004
Mileage
11,200 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 8, 2004

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2002 MONACO LAPALMA MOTORHOME.*MR THE MAIN STRUCTURE HOLDING THE PROPANE TANK BROKE AND AS A RESULT THE DROPPED WITHIN 4-5 INCHES OF THE FREEWAY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10075827
Incident
Jun 1, 2004

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

138

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE REPLACEMENT. SERVICE PROCEDURES AND PARTS PURCHASE ORDER FORM. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Monaco Coach Lapalma by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007120—
2006120—
2005220—
2004430—
2003251—
2002Viewing1161—
2001571—
2000260—
1999230—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.