NHTSA Complaint #10232760 — 2005 FLEETWOOD PROVIDENCE

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2005 FLEETWOOD PROVIDENCE MOTORHOME HAS A LEAK ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE LEAK WITH CAULKING BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY REPAIR, SO I PAID. THE GLASS REPAIRMAN WHO ATTEMPTED THE FIX SAID HE WOULD CREDIT ME THE MONEY SPENT. BUT, HE SAID THE WINDSHIELD WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND TO KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDSHIELD SYSTEM. HE EXPLAINED THAT IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE MOTORHOME. APPARENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD IS INSTALLED IN A METAL FRAME USING AN EXTREMELY STRONG ADHESIVE. THE WINDSHIELD SYSTEM IS DESIGNED IN A MANNER TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN CASE OF ROLLOVER, THAT THE CAB AREA WILL NOT CRUSH IN BECAUSE OF THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN. I HAVE TRACKED DOWN SOME HISTORY OF THE MOTORHOME AND THE UNIT WAS IN THE SHOP TWICE IN 2006 FOR A WINDSHIELD LEAK. CAULKING WAS APPARENTLY USED THEN, INSTEAD OF THE CORRECT METHOD OF REMOVING THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ON A WARRANTY BASIS. I NEED YOUR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER. *TR