1997 Coachmen Santara

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES WITH BASEMENT CONVERTERS AND BASEMENT FREEZERS. A GROMMET MAY BE MISSING ALLOWING THE 110-VOLT WIRE TO RUB AGAINST A METAL EDGE.

Risk. IF A DIRECT SHORT WERE TO OCCUR, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTOR HOMES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUBJECT WIRES ARE PROPERLY PROTECTED. IF THEY ARE NOT, PROPER PROTECTION WILL BE ADDED, AND IF NECESSARY, THE WIRING WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

WHILE DRIVING FROM NEVADA TO ILLINOIS, ALL THE WINDOW SEALS (EXCEPT IN BEDROOM) BLEW OUT, THEN THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM WALLS OF UNIT, ALSO THE WALLS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RELEASED FROM THE FLOOR LENGTHWISE ABOUT 20 FEET. YOU CAN SEE ROAD, THE SEPARATION IS SO BIG. THE SEPARATION IS ALSO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT NOT AS LONG. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE SEALS AND WINDOWS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE WE BOUGHT COACH IN 2001. WINDOWS IN UNIT ARE MANUFACTURED BY CREATIVE. AFTER TALKING WITH A COACHMEN DEALER, THEY SUSPECT THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR YEARS BEFORE WE BOUGHT IN 9/01 (WE ARE ALSO THE FIRST TITLED OWNER). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE UNIT. NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED AS OF JULY 2004. SUGGESTIONS? 1997 COACHMEN, SANTARA, 31FT, FORD 460. *AK

A DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS STARTED THE FIRE AS DETERMINED BY THE TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS REQUIRED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE COMPLETELY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN FIRE BROKE OUT. I HAVE MUCH MORE DOCUMENTATION ON THE INCIDENT AVAILABLE TO ANYONE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS WELL AS ALL INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMATION, REPAIR FACILITY INFORMATION, LETTERS TO THE MANUFACTURER, DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIRE EVENT, ETC.*AK

FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P225/75R16 DOT VD1L1XD187 HAVE FAILED 5 TIMES, ALL TIRES HAVE HAD CRACKS FORMING IN THE SIDEWALL, ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE MOTORHOME. *SLC