RoadVitals

2006 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.
6
Latest Oct 26, 2009
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.
1
Latest May 20, 2005
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Western Alpine Coach, most frequently naming the steering, body & structure and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Steering675.0%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Suspension112.5%

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

1 campaign 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
05V230000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER

May 20, 2005
111 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE SYSTEMS' AQUA-HOT AND HYDRO-HOT WATER HEATERS, WHICH USE WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, THE BURNER TUBES DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.
The risk: THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE EXHAUST TUBE EXITING FROM THE HEATER CAN INCREASE AND COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IN OR AROUND THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: VEHICLE SYSTEMS IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VEHICLE SYSTEMS AT 1-800-685-4298 OR WESTERN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AT 1-800-685-4298.
WESTERN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Steering
Filed Oct 26, 2009

I CAN SEE A 3/4 INCH CRACK IN THE PAINT ON THE UPPER REAR FLANGE OF THE STEEL STEERING GEAR BRACKET. OTHER MOTORHOMES OF SIMILAR VINTAGE AND MODEL HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE STEEL BRACKET AT THIS LOCATION. THE STEEL STEERING GEAR BRACKET WILL BE REINFORCED AT MY OWN EXPENSE WITH ABOUT 20 INCHES OF 5/8 INCH THICK STEEL ANGLE AND EIGHT GRADE 8 BOLTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10289799
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
42,261 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 5, 2009

STEERING BOX SUSPENSION SUPPORT. WHEN WESTERN STARTING PUTTING ADJUSTABLE PEDALS FOR BRAKE AND FUEL INTO THE ALPINE RV THEY REMOVED ON OF THE METAL SUPPORT BRACKETS TO DO SO. THE RESULT HAS CAUSED A TORQUING OF THE STEERING BOX AND ONLY SUPPORT BRACKET RESULTING IN CRACKING THE WELD. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A SUPPORT BRACKET INSTALLED IN MY 06 WESTERN ALPINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279521
Incident
Jul 31, 2009
Mileage
14,900 mi
Steering
Filed May 16, 2009

I AM AWARE OF THE FACT THAT OTHER ALPINE COACHES OF SIMILAR AGE HAVE FOUND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE STEERING BRACKET, AND THIS IS A MATTER OF CONCERN TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268915
Incident
May 16, 2009
Mileage
16,740 mi
Steering
Filed May 12, 2009

STEERING BRACKET, THAT ATTACHES STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME, FLEXES EXCESSIVELY WHICH SHOWS SIGNS OF STRESS FAILURE - AS INDICATED BY CRACKS IN A WELD ON THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING BRACKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268536
Incident
May 12, 2009
Mileage
26,408 mi
Steering
Filed May 11, 2009

2006 THE BRACKET HOLDING THE STEERING GEAR IN PLACE ON OUR 2006 ALPINE COACH FLEXES TOO MUCH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED ON HARD PAVEMENT. I AM CONCERNED THE BRACKET WILL DEVELOP CRACKS AND BREAK. A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A STIFFENER BUILT FOR AND ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET AND THE FRAME, BUT IT IS COSTLY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM IF THIS BRACKET BREAKS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I THINK THE BRACKET METAL IS TOO THIN AND IT'S NOT BRACED WELL ENOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268446
Incident
May 11, 2009
Mileage
31,000 mi
Body & structureSteering
Filed May 11, 2009

DEFECTIVE STEERING BOX SUPPORT WITH INADEQUATE WELDS THAT PRODUCED EXCESSIVE MOTION OF THE BRACKET. BRACKET MADE OF MATERIAL NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PROHIBIT MOTION. EXCESSIVE MOTION OF SUPPORT WILL LEAD TO CRACKING OF BRACKET RESULTING IN POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268423
Incident
May 11, 2009
Mileage
12,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

1056

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DETERMINED BY VANSCO-ELECTRONIC LP, THAT THE VMM 2820 MODULE USED IN CERTAIN 2005 AND 2006 ALPINE COACH LIMITED AND AVALANCHE MAY EXPERIENCE FAILURE OF OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS. *SC

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

Western Alpine Coach by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006Viewing610—
2005163045.1
2004810—
2003010—
2002010—
2001240—
2000750—
1999230—
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.