2002 Monaco Coach Lapalma Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Monaco Coach Lapalma, 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
- 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.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE BRACKET WHICH ATTACHED THE PROPANE TANK TO THE MOTORHOME WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE TANK. WHILE DRIVING THE BRACKET LOOSENED AND CAUSED THE TANK TO DANGLE FROM THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST FALL OFF. *NLM
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT END BOUNCES SEVERLY ON SECONDARY ROADS AND IS UNCONTROLABLE. WORKHORSE AND MONACO BOTH DENY A PROBLEM. THIS IS OUR 5TH MOTORHOME AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF RIDE. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE SEAT BELT, WE WOULD BE THROWN FROM OUR SEATS. WE HAVE ASKED FOR HEAVIER DUTY SHOCKS BUT WERE TOLD NONE WERE AVAILABLE.*AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES SHE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE TRUSS ASSEMBLY. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD BE IN ABOUT A WEEK. SHE WAITED A WEEK, AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. SHE STATES ALSO THAT SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART IS AVAILABLE. THE DEALERS NAME IS GREAT AMERICAN RV AT 3801 20TH ST E. FIVE, WASHINGTON. 253-926-2322. THE MANAGER'S NAMES ARE [XXX]. TS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .