NHTSA Complaint #10267000 — 2007 ITASCA HORIZON

WHILE ON A TRIP IN OUR MOTOR HOME, WE HEARD AN INTERMITTENT GRINDING SOUND. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE UNIT TO AN RV DEALER, WHO AFTER DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE, ADVISED US TO TAKE IT TO A FREIGHTLINER DEALER. FREIGHTLINER DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR AXLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD SHIFTED BACKWARDS, AND WAS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO GRIND AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL. THEY ALSO DISCOVERED TWO BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND A THIRD BOLT WAS MISSING ENTIRELY. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS COULD ONLY HAVE EMANATED FROM THE FACTORY. THEY ALSO STATED THAT HAD THIS ISSUE BEEN LEFT UNATTENDED, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND/OR AN ACCIDENT. FREIGHTLINER AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR TO THE AXLE AND CHASSIS, AND EVENTUALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAINTING OF THE WHEEL WELL. ALTHOUGH THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN EARLY OCTOBER 2008, WE HAVE ONLY BEEN ADVISED TODAY (4/27/09) THAT OUR UNIT IS READY FOR PICKUP, DENYING US THE USE OF OUR MOTOR HOME FOR SEVEN MONTHS. *TR