NHTSA Complaint #10178709 — 2005 FLEETWOOD PACE ARROW

WHILE IN TRANSIT THE DINING ROOM SLIDE FAILS AND THE SLIDE WILL SLIDE OUT DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL BRAKE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE SLIDE IS PULLED OUT DURING TRANSIT WHEN HIT BY CROSS WINDS. THE SLIDE WILL THEN SLIDE OUT FROM THE BODY OF THE COACH ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO EIGHT INCHES. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2006 AND MOST RECENTLY IN JANUARY 2007. THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF FOUR FAILURES AND THREE MOTORS REPLACED IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. THE COACH HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR THE ABOVE RELATED PROBLEMS FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS WHEREBY THE DEFECT STILL EXISTS. THIS ULTIMATELY RESULTS IN A MAJOR MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL FAILURE. IT IS ALSO THE ONLY PLACE IN WHICH SAFETY RESTRAINTS ARE INSTALLED. THEREBY POSING A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK TO THE PASSENGERS OF THE VEHICLE AND OTHER DRIVERS AND VEHICLES ON THE COUNTRY'S HIGHWAYS. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILURES AND IN TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED. DURING MY INVESTIGATION OF OTHER FLEETWOOD PRODUCTS, FLEETWOOD HAS INSTALLED SLIDE LOCKS ON OTHER MODELS TO PREVENT THE SLIDE FROM RELEASING DURING TRANSIT OR UNEXPECTEDLY. *NM