RoadVitals

1999 Western Alpine Coach

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.
2
Latest Sep 2, 2005
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.
3
Latest Mar 21, 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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Western Alpine Coach, most frequently naming the brakes and fuel system categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

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

3 campaigns cover this model year

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
07V121000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Mar 21, 2007
6,188 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, TRUCK CAMPERS, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
The risk: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: WESTERN RV WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR WESTERN RV AT 1-866-567-4133.
WESTERN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
02V243000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Sep 9, 2002
254 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES (36', 38' AND 40") BUILT WITH BOSCH TWO-PISTON PIN-SLIDE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE BRAKE CALIPERS CAN HANG-UP ON ANY OR ALL WHEELS.
The risk: DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE COMPONENTS CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZOPS DISC BRAKE CLIPERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2004. 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 WESTERN RV AT 1-509-457-4133.
WESTERN RV, INC.Manufacturer number CSAR 1055View on NHTSA.gov
00V279002

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

Nov 21, 2000
268 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SHUTTLE BUSES, RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, UTILITY VANS, AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PHASE 1, D-VERSION ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), FAIL TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." AN INTERNAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM IN THE ABS MAY NOT DETECT AN EXTREME WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AIR GAP. SUCH A CONDITION COULD POSSIBLY OCCUR DURING (1) ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY OR (2) SUBSEQUENT WHEEL END SERVICE.
The risk: THIS COULD DISABLE THE ANTI-LOCK FUNCTION ON THE AFFECTED WHEEL WITHOUT PROVIDING THE REQUIRED OPERATOR WARNING THAT THE ABS FUNCTION REQUIRES SERVICING.
The remedy: MERITOR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY SCHEDULING FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. THE ABS ECU WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED OR THE ECU WILL BE REPROGRAMMED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. 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 MERITOR WABCO AT 1-800-535-5560.
WESTERN RV, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Sep 2, 2005

HX OF ENGINE SHUT OFF, 1999 ALPINE COACH W/ 39,670 MILES. SINCE PURCHASING IN OCTOBER 1998 HAD ENGINE QUIT NINE TIMES, FOUR OF WHICH HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAD MANY REPAIRS DONE ON THE COACH ITSELF THROUGH WRV (MANUFACTURER), PLUS THE PROBLEMS WITH CUMMINS ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. PAPERWORK SHOWS MANY REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. NOW THE COACH IS SETTING, UNABLE TO START AND RUN, DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. CUMMINS MOTORS DENIES THIS IS A WARRANTY PROBLEM, WILL PAY FOR 1/2 OF COST OF REBUILT FUEL PUMP. THROUGH RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THE ISC-330E-RV MOTOR DID HAVE A SAFETY CAMPAIGN FOR DEFECTIVE FUEL CAPS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE, NOR WERE CAPS REPLACED. THERE IS REAL DANGER TO MYSELF, MY WIFE, AND MY TWO CHILDREN HAVING A 30,000 POUND VEHICLE JUST SHUTTING OFF TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE NO FAITH THAT A REBUILT FUEL PUMP WILL ADDRESS THE SITUATION OF ENGINE STALLING. IT IS A MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLE TO OPERATE AS IT IS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10135223
Incident
Jul 10, 2005
Mileage
39,670 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2002

FRONT DISC ABS HYDRAULIC BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER MILD TO MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIME. THE THIRD TIME WAS AT 45-50 MPH CAUSING FRONT BRAKES TO OVERHEAD AND BURN UP THE ABS SENSORS. THIS BRAKE SYSTEM IS MFG BY BOSCH AND WESTERN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES USES THE BOSCH BRAKES IN THEIR ALPINE COACH. I HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME COACH THAT THEY TOO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BRAKE FAILURES THAT WESTERN RV HAS CHANGED THE CALIPERS TO A NEWER MODEL. BOSCH HASN'T RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THER EARLIER COACHES. I AM TOLD THAT THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES RELEASING IS RELATED TO A PROBLEM IN THE CALIPERS. I HAVE HAD TO A HAVE A BRAKE OVERHAUL WHICH IS APPROACHING $5000. WITH ONLY 23000 MI. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THIS COACH. MR

NHTSA ID
767972
Incident
May 1, 2002

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Western Alpine Coach by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006610—
2005163045.1
2004810—
2003010—
2002010—
2001240—
2000750—
1999Viewing230—
1998120—

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.