NHTSA Complaint #10136616 — 2004 FLEETWOOD PROWLER

DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 75-80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE A FRAME FAILED ON THE FIFTH WHEEL FLEETWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER. THE TRAILERS INSTABILITY CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF FROM THE INTERSTATE. THE FRAME BROKE APART WHILE STILL ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. FLEETWOOD SENT A WELDER TO WELD THE FRAME ENOUGH SO THE TRAILER COULD BE MOVED TO THE FLEETWOOD PLANT FOR FURTHER REPAIRS, FROM THERE IT WAS SENT TO LIPPERT FRAME MANUFACTURER FOR REPAIRS. THE TRAILER WAS TO BE GIVEN BACK TO THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER BROUGHT A FRAME SPECIALIST WITH HIM TO INSPECT THE TRAILER AND WAS WARNED NOT TO ACCEPT THE TRAILER. THE CONSUMER SAID THE TRAILER HAD BEEN BACK AND FORTH FOR FURTHER REPAIRS UP TO FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, WHO ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HE REFUSED TO TAKE THE TRAILER AS WELL. THE DEALER CALLED FLEETWOOD, AND THEY REFUSED A TRADE IN OR OFFER FOR A NEW ONE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE SENT ON FAILURE OF THE WELDING ON THIS PARTICULAR FRAME. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER REPAIR WORK PERFORMED AS ADVISED BY THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER LEFT THE TRAILER AT THE FACTORY AND WISHED TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME. *AK *JB