NHTSA Complaint #10191949 — 2001 FLEETWOOD TERRY

2001 FLEETWOOD TERRY TRAVEL TRAILER, MODEL NUMBER 28X: I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. I WAS PREPARING MY TRAVEL TRAILER FOR USE DURING THIS PAST MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WHEN I NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR BUMPER WAS LOWER THAN THE LEFT SIDE. I THEN INSPECTED THE FRAME, AXLES AND TIRES. UPON MY INSPECTION, I FOUND THE REAR PORTION OF THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME IS BENT HORIZONTALLY, WHICH IS THE RESULT OF BOTH REAR AXLE SHACKLES THAT HOLD THE SUSPENSION LEAF SPRINGS HAD BROKEN LOOSE OFF THE FRAME. AS A RESULT, THE REAR AXLE IS RESTING ON THE SNUBBERS. THE REAR AXLE IS ALSO BENT. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION OF BOTH BROKEN SHACKLES, I DETERMINED THAT THEY BROKE OFF AT THE POINT OF THE WELD TO THE FRAME. I BELIEVE THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRAME/SHACKLE ASSEMBLY IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT IN THE WELD, WELD MATERIAL AND/OR FRAME MATERIAL. THE TRAVEL TRAILER IS NOW UNTOWABLE. I AM HAVING A NYS LICENSED RV MECHANIC INSPECT THE DAMAGE AND TO WRITE FOR ME AN ESTIMATE ON THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS FRAME AND TO ALSO DETERMINE IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED AT ALL FOR SAFE TOWING. I AM BRINGING THIS DEFECT ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND TO FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES BECAUSE IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THE POSITION OF THE REAR BUMPER, I WOULD HAVE TOWED THIS TRAVEL TRAILER AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN ERRATIC HANDLING OR LOOSING CONTROL, CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND OTHER MOTORISTS. *TR