NHTSA Complaint #10173551 — 2006 COACHMEN EPIC

WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW COACHMEN MOTOR HOME / WE WERE ON A MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD DRIVING IN REVERSE. SUDDENLY WE HEARD A CRACKING SOUND AND THE FRONT CAP SEPARATED FROM THE BODY . WE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISE US TO CALL OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH WE DID ON SATURDAY MORNING 11-11-06..OUR SON PICKED US UP AND WE RETURNED THE NEXT MORNING 11-11-06. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS OR ANY OBJECT IN THE ROAD, THEIR WAS NOTHING UNDER THE MOTOR HOME. WE EXAMINED THE MOTOR HOME AND FOUND MANY OF THE FASTENERS, RIVETS OR SCREWS THAT HOLD THE FRONT CAP TO THE BODY WERE MISSING. WHEN WE PICKED UP THE MOTOR HOME AND INSPECTED IT AT THE DEALER WE NOTED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WHERE THE FRONT CAP MEETS BODY WAS SEPARATING AT THE BOTTOM. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED MY WIFE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT CAP TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. COACHMEN HAS STATED THAT WE RAN OVER SOMETHING THAT FORCED THE BODY AND FRONT CAP TO SEPARATE. WE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING, THEIR WAS NOTHING IN THE ROADWAY, THEIR WAS NOTHING UNDER THE COACH , THEIR WAS NOTHING CAUGHT UNDER THE COACH. WE FEEL THAT POSSIBLY SOMETHING HAPPENED IN ROUTE FROM THE PLANT IN INDIANA TO CALFORNIA AND THIS MIGHT HAVE WEAKENED THE STRUCTURE AND COUPLED WITH THE BODY MISSING FASTENERS WHICH SHOULD HOLD IT TOGETHER CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE COACH IS NOW AT COACHMEN IN CHINO, CALIFORNIA. THE PHONE NUMBER IN CHINO IS 909 628 5755. THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR UNLESS OUR INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS FOR THE REPAIR. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD MY WIFE WE HAVE 48 HOURS TO TOW THE MOTOR HOME OFF THE PROPERTY OR THEY WILL START CHARGING STORAGE. I DROVE THE MOTOR HOME TO COACHMEN IN CHINO, CA. THEY DISASSEMBLED THE FRONT CAP FROM THE BODY WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL OR AUTHORIZATION AND NOW EXPECT US TO PAY FOR TOWING OR STORAGE IF WE DON'T AUTHORIZE OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. PLEASE HELP. *JB