NHTSA Complaint #10224489 — 1999 FLEETWOOD PROWLER

I DISCOVERED A PROBLEM WITH MY DOMETIC RM2852 ON 4/2/08 WHILE PREPARING FOR A TRIP. WHILE IN TRANSIT, ON 4/4, I STOPPED AT A SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT THE RM2852. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED WAS A FAILED COOLING UNIT (YELLOW RESIDUE); RECALL COVERS RM2852. B/C I WAS IN TRANSIT, TO SIMPLY TAKE MY RV TO A LOCAL RV SERVICE CENTER IN MY HOME TOWN AFTER I RETURNED HOME FROM CAMPING. THROUGH NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS AND INFORMATION FOUND WITHIN THE DOMETIC RECALL, I NOW UNDERSTOOD THAT: 1)DOMETIC HAD ROUTINELY REPLACED, FREE OF CHARGE, FAILED COOLING UNITS WHILE ALSO PERFORMING THE RECALL. AS OF 4/1/08, DOMETIC IS NO LONGER REPLACING THEM. 2)THE RECALL CLEARLY MENTIONS SEVERAL POINTS WHICH MATCHED THE FAILURE. 3)SEVERAL RESOURCES INFORMED ME THAT THEY'VE REPLACED MANY COOLING UNITS WHILE PERFORMING THE RECALL AND THAT DOMETIC COVERED THE EXPENSES OF THE COOLING UNIT REPLACEMENT. 4)WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE RECALL CENTER, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER DOMETIC FOLKS AND RV SERVICE CENTERS, IT WAS VERY EVIDENT THAT DOMETIC'S CHOICE TO DISCONTINUE THEIR 'GOODWILL REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLING UNIT' WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE BY ALL AND WAS NOT EXPECTED. MY LAST PHONE CALL WAS JUST TODAY, 4/14/08 FROM DOMETIC INFORMING ME THEY WON'T REPLACE THE COOLING UNIT BECAUSE THE RECALL IS NOT FOR THE COOLING UNIT. WHEN I MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT, HE COMMENTED THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT IN SOME CASES THE HEATING UNIT MAY HAVE RUN HOT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE COOLING UNIT. HE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE COOLING UNIT AT DOMETIC'S EXPENSE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. HAD THIS FAILURE BEEN IDENTIFIED/REPORTED TO DOMETIC JUST LESS THAN DAYS PRIOR, THAT DOMETIC WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE COOLING UNIT AT NO COST TO ME? IS THERE ANY OTHER RECOURSE THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION I'M IN TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE THE EXPENSE TO MY FAMILY? I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU ENGAGE IN THIS SITUATION (PLEASE). *TR