2008 Coachmen Chaparral

Defect. COACHMEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 CHAPARRAL, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 SOMERSET, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 WYOMING, MODEL YEAR 2004-2005 SANTARA, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 SPORTSCOACH ELITE MOTOR HOMES AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2003, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.

Risk. AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy. COACHMEN IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539 OR COACHMEN MOTOR WORKS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-953-5555.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 COACHMEN CHAPARRAL. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRAILER AND NOTICED THAT IT BEGAN TO SWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE U-BOLTS ON THE AXLE WERE LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE EQUALIZERS TO BEND AND POP. THE PRESSURE OF THE U-BOLTS SHIFTED INSIDE THE AXLE, WHICH CAUSED THE TRAILER TO SWAY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST BETWEEN $3,500 TO $4,500. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE DUE TO THE NUMBER NO LONGER BEING IN SERVICE. THERE WAS NO ODOMETER INSIDE THE TRAILER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 COACHMEN CHAPARRAL. THE REAR AXLE ON THE TRAILER WAS MISALIGNED WITH THE FRONT AXLE. THIS CONDITION CAUSED ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR ON ONE OF THE REAR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AXLES WERE WITHIN THEIR TOLERANCE LIMIT, SO THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.