NHTSA Complaint #10220218 — 2004 KEYSTONE SPRINTER

THE WEAKEST LINK I OWN A 2004 KEYSTONE SPRINTER. THIS RV UNIT HAS 30,000 TOWED MILES. THIS RV HAS THE DOUBLE EYE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. DURING MY TRAVELS IN 2007 A SET OF SHACKLE PLATES BROKE. THIS PART FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN A $1500.00 LOSS INCLUDING A BENT AXLE, SUSPENSION PARTS AND DAMAGED TIRES. YES, I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. KEYSTONE SPRINTER PROVIDED AN $800.00 COMPENSATION. THIS SUSPENSION FAILURE COULD CAUSE FATAL BODILY DAMAGE. WHEN A SHACKLE PLATE BREAKS THE AXLE CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE RV HOME FRAME. THE KEYSTONE SPRINTER ORGANIZATION REFERS TO THE FAILED PART AS A 'WEAR PART'. THIS ISSUE THAN BELONGS TO THE RV HOME OWNER. KEYSTONE SPRINTER AND AL-KO KOBER, SUSPENSION MANUFACTURE, OWNER'S MANUAL STATES ONLY 'INSPECT THE SUSPENSION EVERY 6000 MILES'. A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE SHACKLE PLATE AREA OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAN NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SHACKLE PLATE. ONE OF THE FAILURE FEATURES IS THE ELONGATION OF THE MOUNTING HOLE IN THE SHACKLE PLATE. WWW.CERKA.CA IS A WEB SITE THAT ADDRESS SUSPENSION SYSTEM MAINTENANCE CLEARLY READS 'IF THE SHACKLE MOUNT HOLES ARE ELONGATED THAT PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED'. I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE A RESPONSIBLE ACTION TO REQUIRE RV MANUFACTURES TO NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS OF POTENTIAL SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SHACKLE PLATE PART. THE 'BUYER BEWARE' SHOULD BE FURTHER CLARIFIED. 1-RV MANUFACTURES SHOULD CLEARLY POINT OUT IN OWNERS MANUAL THAT THE SHACKLE PLATES WHEN FOUND TO HAVE ELONGATED MOUNTING HOLES SHOULD BE REPLACED. 2-SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BRING FOCUS TO OWNERS THAT SUSPENSIONS SYSTEMS SHOULD BE INSPECTED. THEN LET THE CUSTOMER SIGN OFF THAT 'INSPECTION SERVICE ON THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM' WAS RECOMMENDED AND DECLINED' THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ISSUES COULD BE ADDRESSED SIMILAR TO THE 2007 KEYSTONE PROVIDED INFORMATIONAL DVD ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR TIGHTENING WHEEL LUG NUTS SO THAT TIRES WOULD NOT FALL OFF THE RV COACH. *TR