On the weekend of May 23-24, 2026, on the first and only trip taken in this new 2026 Renegade Classic 43CMD Super C motorhome (coach built by Renegade RV of Elkhart, IN, on a Freightliner chassis; production no. K01-4121), the Firefly multiplex control system failed and blacked out, disabling operation of the coach including the air conditioning while parked in approximately 100-degree desert heat. During the same period, an electrical spark occurred at a fan switch. A dealer technician (IWS Sales, Mountain Home, ID) inspected the coach and reported that a relay on the mid-coach A/C control board had overheated and was burnt and melted with visible burn marks. Photographs provided by the manufacturer show the relay's power-terminal connector melted and charred, with melted material having run onto the relay housing, indicating a high-resistance or overheating connection at a live power terminal. The dealer replaced the control board and stated that this same A/C board failure occurs "a few times a year" on these coaches, indicating a possible recurring defect. A component that overheats to the point of melting and charring inside an occupied motorhome presents a fire risk to occupants. The original burnt and melted board was discarded by the dealer and is no longer available for inspection. Photographs are available on request. I am filing this complaint so the defect is documented for safety-trend and potential recall analysis.
- NHTSA ID
- 11757557
- Incident
- May 23, 2026