2008 Forest River Flagstaff

Defect. ON CERTAIN FOLDING CAMPING TRAILERS (FCT) EQUIPPED WITH A POWER WINCH UNIT, MODEL P55000, BUILT BY CAREFREE OF COLORADO, AN INCORRECT MATERIAL WAS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CABLE SHAFTS ON SOME OF THESE POWER WINCH UNITS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHILE THE FOLDING CAMPING TRAILER TOP IS BEING LIFTED, IF THE WINCH IS PLACED INTO A STALL CONDITION, THE CABLE SHAFT MAY BREAK PRIOR TO THE FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPPING.

Risk. SHOULD THE CABLE SHAFT BREAK, THE FCT TOP COULD THEN FREE-FALL INTO THE LOWER POSITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.

Remedy. FOREST RIVER IS WORKING WITH CAREFREE OF COLORADO AND WILL INSTALL NEW CABLE SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CAREFREE OF COLORADO AT 1-800-621-2617 OR FOREST RIVER AT 574-389-4615.

PURCHASED NEW 2008 FORESTRIVER FLAGSTAFF HW CAMPER JUNE 20, 2008 FROM TOM JOHNSON'S RV IN MARION, NC. I LEFT HOME WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN FOR A 3 WEEK ROADTRIP ON JUNE 23, 2008 PULLING THIS CAMPER. ON OUR ROUTE HOME ON I-29, JUST OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, MY CAR AND CAMPER SWERVED VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL THINKING IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WIND. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN LEAVING THE MOTEL WE STAYED IN - I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. I DROVE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT INTO THE CAMPING WORLD LOT. THERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE ON THE CAMPER HAD "BURNED UP" AND WAS MELTED TO THE AXLE. I ATTEMPTED, AS DID THEY, TO CONTACT TOM JOHNSON'S IN MARION, NC. MY 4 GRANDCHILDREN AND I WAITED IN THE LOBBY ALL DAY WHILE THEY REPAIRED THE CAMPER. WHEN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE WE AGAIN TRIED TO REACH TOM JOHNSON'S BUT RECEIVED A RECORDING THAT THEY WERE CLOSED. WE ALSO CONTACTED FOREST RIVER. NEITHER OF THE TWO COMPANIES OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA EXPENSES I INCURRED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET - MONEY I NEEDED TO COVER EXPENSES ON THE WAY HOME. LATER I DID RECEIVE A CHECK FOR PART OF THE COST FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BRAKES OR WHEEL. THE REPAIRMEN AT CAMPING WORLD SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH TRAILORS LIKE THE ONE THAT MY CAMPER WAS BUILT ON. THEY SAID IT WAS A BOAT TYPE AND THAT FREQUENTLY MECHANICS WILL PUT TOO MUCH AXLE GREASE IN THE AXLE. TOM JOHNSON'S ADDED AXLE GREASE JUST BEFORE I LEFT THEIR DEALERSHIP. *TR

PURCHASED NEW FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF 2008 MODEL ON JUNE 20, 2008. I WAS NOT TOLD OF A RECALL ON THE WINCH AND DID NOT KNOW OF IT UNTIL 12/01/2011. THE RECALL WAS 11/2007. ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF MY FIRST TRIP JUNE 24, 2008 I HAD TO HAVE ASSIST FROM THE CAMPGROUND HOST TO RAISE MY CAMPER - THE ELECTRIC LIFT WOULD NOT WORK. ALMOST EVERYTIME I HAVE USED THE CAMPER SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFT. I INFORMED THE DEALER (TOM JOHNSON'S RV, MARION, NC) OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIFT (WINCH) IN 2009, WHEN I TOOK THE CAMPER BACK FOR SERVICE FOLLOWING ANOTHER PROBLEM (SEE COMPLAINT ODI # 10438096). THEY DID NOT TELL ME THEN THAT THE WINCH HAD BEEN RECALLED. ON JUNE 13, 2011 @ 1:30AM WHILE CAMPING AT CADES COVE IN THE GREAT SMOKIES THIS CAMPER STARTED SETTING ITSELF DOWN WITH ME AND THREE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN SLEEPING INSIDE. WE WERE AWAKENED BY THE NOISE AND WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAD THE EMERGENCY BRACES IN PLACE. IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC TO US ALL. I SPENT 2 DAYS ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT FOREST RIVER SEVERAL TIMES ASKING FOR REPAIR REFERENCES. THAT REPRESENTATIVE NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE WINCH ON THIS CAMPER MAY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FINALLY ON DAY 3, 2 REPAIRMEN CAME FROM KNOXVILLE AND LOWERED THE CAMPER SO I COULD TAKE IT HOME. THE COST OVER $500.00 + LODGING AND FOOD FOR 3 DAYS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE (PROBABLE) RECALL OF THE WINCH ON THIS CAMPER AT ANYTIME BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. I DID N