NHTSA Complaint #10232399 — 2005 MONACO COACH FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MONACO COACH FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE REAR OF THE TRAILER BEGAN SMOKING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECT THE TRAILER. HE THEN DROVE APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS TO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND ASKED FOR A WELDER TO BE DISPATCHED. THE WELDER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE NEW WELDER MADE THE REPAIRS ON THE SPOT. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER, NOT MONACO. THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY SENT BACK A REPAIR ESTIMATE TOTALING OVER $200. THE CONTACT TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON STATE AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED WHEN HE RETURNED TO UTAH. ON MAY 6, 2008, WHILE IN TEXAS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PREVIOUS WELDING REPAIR WAS BEGINNING TO FRACTURE AGAIN. ANOTHER WELDER ARRIVED TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 50 MPH AFTER THE REPAIR. ON APRIL 8, 2008, THE TIRE FAILED AND WAS CHANGED. HE PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND RETURNED TO UTAH ON MAY 9, 2008. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ORDERED THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR, AND WELDED THEM TO THE VEHICLE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE ALIGNMENT SHOP STATED THAT THE WELDING WAS NO GOOD AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE STATE WELDING ENGINEER. THE ENGINEER STATED THAT THE WELDING NEEDED TO BE REDONE. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT MONACO WILL NOT REWELD THE FRAME. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.