2004 Travel Supreme Motorhome Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TRAVEL SUPREME MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE SUSPENSION WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT ALL FOUR BOLT JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10583527

Incident

Apr 5, 2011

Mileage

35,000 mi

AT LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, THE RUBBER BOOTS ON MY FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS FAILED. THIS ALLOWED DIRT AND WATER INTO THE SEALED AREA WHICH CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS TO FAIL. I HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT 47,000 MILES. WHILE I WAS AT THE SPARTAN FACTORY HAVING THE WORK DONE, I TALKED TO 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF THESE PEOPLE ONLY HAD 20,000 MILES ON THEIR COACH. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE BALL JOINT UNITS, THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10411990

Incident

Jul 8, 2011

Mileage

39,800 mi

ALL OF THE4 EA FRONT SUSPENSION/STEERING BALL JOINTS ON MY MOTORHOME WITH A 2003 SPARTAN CHASSIS NUMBER [XXX] HAVE BOOTS THAT ARE CRACKED AND FAILED PER THE MECHANIC AT BRIDGEWAY CUMMINS IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI. I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT THE BALL JOINTS MUST BE REPLACED. SPARTAN APPARENTLY HAD A REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IF THE OWNER COMPLAINED WITHIN 50K MILES AND 5 YEARS, BUT OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE FAILING EARLY. I AM TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS CHANGED THE MATERIAL IN THE BOOT OF THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE OEM BALL JOINTS ARE PERMANENTLY LUBRICATED SO THE OWNER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE TIME/RATE OF FAILURE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DESIGNER AND THE MANUFACTURER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER. WHEN THE STEERING OF THE MOTORHOME FAILS, IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THESE SPARTAN CHASSIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH AN IMPROVED PRODUCT WITH A REASONABLE EXPECTED LIFE SPAN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10360710

Incident

Oct 10, 2010

Mileage

48,420 mi

MY FRIDGE FAILED DO TO THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS STATED BELOW. I NEED AT LEAST A NEW COOLING UNIT. I CAN SEND PICTURES IF YOU LIKE. WHAT HELP CAN YOU PROVIDE? SERIAL NUMBER 1294027. CU1744291. IN A 2004 MOTOR HOME. THERE IS CHARRED BURNED WOOD ABOVE THE REFRIGERATOR STACK. THETFORD WAS EVASIVE AND NO HELP. 1200LR, 1200LRIM AND 1201LRIM SERIES MODELS NORCOLD HAS VOLUNTARILY RECALLED 1200LR, 1200LRIM AND 1201LRIM MODEL GAS/ELECTRIC REFRIGERATORS BUILT FROM 1996 THROUGH FEBRUARY OF 2001. AFFECTED MODELS HAVE A COOLING UNIT SERIAL NUMBER (FOUND ON THE SOLUTION CHAMBER AND VIEWED THROUGH THE REFRIGERATOR VENT DOOR OUTSIDE THE RV) FROM 700000-1273700. THE DEFECT IS A POTENTIAL COOLING UNIT LEAK CAUSED DURING AC ELECTRIC MODE OPERATION. IF A LEAK OCCURS, THE REFRIGERATOR'S COOLING PERFORMANCE WILL DETERIORATE AND A YELLOW POWDER RESIDUE WILL BE EVIDENT AT THE COOLING UNIT'S HEATING ELEMENT. BECAUSE EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT IN THE AC ELECTRIC MODE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, IMMEDIATE REPAIR. WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE, AND WANT TO ASSURE THAT YOUR REFRIGERATOR PROVIDES YOU YEARS OF SAFE, RELIABLE AND DEPENDABLE SERVICE. AN AFFECTED REFRIGERATOR WITHOUT A LEAK MUST STILL BE SERVICED TO HAVE ITS COOLING UNIT REPAIRED TO PREVENT ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE PROBLEM. PERSONS OWNING ONE OF THE AFFECTED MODELS SHOULD: TURN OFF THE REFRIGERATOR. DO NOT USE IT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. CONTACT A DEALER/SERVICE CENTER TO ARRANGE A SERVICE DATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE COOLING UNIT WILL BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256128

Incident

Jan 23, 2009

Mileage

6,000 mi