NHTSA Complaint #10233415 — 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. WHILE HEADING TO A SERVICE STATION APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES FROM HOME, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG AMMONIA ODOR. HE PULLED INTO A DUMP SITE AND CLEANED OUT THE VEHICLE. HE CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE SMELL REMAINED. HE SHUT OFF THE REFRIGERATOR TO GET GASOLINE; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SMELL THE ODOR ANYMORE SINCE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS OFF. HE TURNED THE VALVE BACK ON AND HIS WIFE SMELLED AMMONIA AGAIN. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE SIDE COMPARTMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BURNER HOUSING COMPARTMENT AND ALSO HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND IN THE BURNER TUBE. HE WAITED A MOMENT UNTIL THE CRACKLING STOPPED. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE LOCATED A RECALL ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A NOTICE SENT BY DOMETIC. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING THE HEAT SHIELD ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT NOT FOR ANY OTHER REPAIRS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,225.