NHTSA Complaint #10161297 — 1999 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN

I DOWNLOADED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V246111, WHICH REFERS TO A DEFECT IN THE STEERING LINKAGE ON MY 1999 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME WHICH IS BUILT ON A 1999 FORD HEAVY DUTY CHASSIS. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO LOCAL FORD DEALERS, FORD'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, FORD'S TRUCK CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, AND WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY ALL CLAIM THAT NO SUCH PROBLEM EXISTS, AND NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS HAVE EVER BEEN ISSUED. THE PERSON TAKING MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT FILED BY PHONE (NHTSA ODI#10160922) MIS-CHARACTERIZED THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT. FORD AND WINNEBAGO DO NOT CLAIM THAT IT DOESN'T APPLY TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BY YEAR OR VIN, RATHER THAT NO SUCH PROBLEM DOES OR DID EXIST ON FORD'S HEAVY DUTY TRUCK CHASSIS, FOR 1999, 2000, OR ANY OTHER MODEL YEARS. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #00V246111. FAILURE OF THE DESCRIBED PARTS WOULD RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IN A 22,000LB VEHICLE IN WHICH I AND MY FAMILY WERE RIDING, PROBABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE ANY CONSIDERATION TO MY REQUESTS FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION TO THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL CALLS TO NHTSA HAVE RESULTED IN THE ADVICE THAT I FILE THIS COMPLAINT ON-LINE, AND THEN TAKE IT UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *NM