NHTSA Complaint #10025581 — 1995 DUTCHMAN 1203

RE: ODI # 10025422 (DEFECT WITH DUTCHMEN LIFT SYSTEM CABLE). ON 7/07/03, MY WIFE CONTACTED DUTCHMEN CORP IN ELKHART, IN REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE CABLE. DUTCHMEN CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMED HER THAT THE CABLE FAILURE WAS NOT THIER CONCERN/ INFORMED MY WIFE THAT DAMAGED CABLE AND DAMAGE BY CABLE SNAPPING WAS NOT COVERED BY DUTCHMEN. MY WIFE CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT RV AMERICA, THE SERVICE REP (WHO HAS NEVER LOOKED AT MY DUTCHMEN) STATED THE REASON THE CABLE HAD SNAPPED WAS BECAUSE OF LACK OF MATIENCE. REP TOLD HER THAT THE CABLES BREAK ON THE DUTCHMEN CABLES 'ALL THE TIME...I WORK ON THEM ALL THE TIME." WHEN MY WIFE ASKED IF HE WAS CONCERNED AS SHE WAS ABOUT THE CABLE BREAKING, THE REP REPLIED, "I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE CABLE BREAK ON ME AND IT WAS DUE TO LACK OF MATIENCE". WHEN MY WIFE ASKED WHY HE KNEW THAT OUR CABLE HAD BROKEN BECAUSE OF LACK OF MATIENCE WHEN HE HAD ONLY WORKED ON ONE BEFORE, AND HAD YET TO SEE OURS, THE REP REPLIED, "THEY BREAK ALL THE TIME AND WHEN THEY DO IT IS ALWAYS BECAUSE OF LACK OF MATIENCE". THE REP AT RV AMERICA THEN EXPLAINED TO MY WIFE THAT NEITHER THE CABLE NOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CABLE BREAKING WERE UNDER WARRANTY. WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM DUTCHMEN CORP IN GOSHEN IN, UPON BEING INFORMED THAT WE HAD FILED A COMPLAINT WITH D.O.T., THE DUTCHMEN CORP SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR US TO BRING THE DUTCHMEN IN TO BE INSPECTED...NOW CLAIMING THAT THE SNAPPED CABLE AND DAMAGE WERE UNDER WARRANTY...AND ALSO CLAIMED THAT RV AMERICA WAS WRONG IN STATING THAT THE CABLE ON THE DUTCHMEN WAS KNOWN TO BREAK. SHOULD I TAKE THE DUTCHMEN CAMPER INTO DUTCHMEN TO BE INSPECTED...WHEN I FEEL THAT THIS CABLE SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY D.O.T. BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS?