1999 Coachmen Santara

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A AND C MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES BUILT BY AM-SAFE. ON SOME SEAT BELTS, THE BUCKLE AND CONNECTOR MAY UNLATCH DURING A COLLISION.

Risk. SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy. AM-SAFE IN NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS THAT THEY WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE.

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 COACHMEN SANTARA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART SHOULD ARRIVE WITHIN A WEEK AND THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. IT IS CURRENTLY MARCH OF 2008 AND THE PARTS ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS 05S28. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 03-18-08 *BF

BRAKE LINE CHAFFING AGAINST CAB HOOD HINGE CAUSED BRAKE LINE FAILURE, ALL BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF MASTER CYLINDER RESULTING IN NO BRAKES

UPON PULLING OUT OF THE CAMP GROUND AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE MOTOR HOME. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO STOP THE MOTOR HOME. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE MOTOR HOME WERE RUSTED, AND HAD A PIN SIZE HOLE IN IT. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE MOTOR HOME WAS MOUNTED ON A FORD, E450 SUPER DUTY CHASSIS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE REAR RIGHT INSIDE TIRE. ON BOTH TIRES THE SIDEWALL RUPTURED, CAUSING THE BLOW OUT. *AK *JB

MOTORHOME ON FORD E450 CHASSIS FORD VIN # [XXX]. POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE INSTALLED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE EDGE OF THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE STEERING DAMPENER TO THE STEERING CONTROL ARM RUBBED THE HOSE CAUSING IT TO SUDDENLY RUPTURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND HYDRA BOOST TO BRAKING SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AS I BACKED THE MOTORHOME OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY RATHER THAN ON THE INTERSTATE OR A MOUNTAIN ROAD. IF THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE INSTALLED IN THIS MANNER THEN FORD MAY HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BREWING. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I FEEL THAT RUNNING POWERSTEERING AND BRAKE BOOST OFF THE SAME HYDRAULIC PUMP IS DANGEROUS. A HOSE , BELT OR PUMP FAILURE CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR