NHTSA Complaint #10267793 — 2007 WESTERN ALPINE

WE HAVE DISCOVERED A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT PERTAINS TO ALL LATE MODEL ALPINE COACH MOTORHOMES, MANUFACTURED BY WESTERN RV OF YAKIMA WASHINGTON. THE MANUFACTURER IS ONE OF MANY THAT IS NOW OUT OF BUSINESS, SO A RECALL THROUGH ORDINARY CHANNELS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM AFFECTS AN INADEQUATE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE STEERING BOX THAT RESULTS IN SEVERE SWAY AND STRESS ON THE MOUNTING BRACKET. WE HAVE BOTH VIDEO EXAMPLES, AND EMAIL REPORTS FROM MANY ALPINE OWNERS THAT SUBSTANTIATE THE SCOPE AND SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY NO ONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS OF PRESENTING THIS ISSUE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I AM DOING SO WITH THIS SUBMISSION. THIS HAS NOT TO DATE RESULTED, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, OF AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS IS LIKELY TO OCCUR, ABSENT YOUR INTERVENTION INTO THIS SITUATION. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I AM A FORMER CORPORATE ATTORNEY, AND A FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. I'M CERTAIN YOU RECEIVE MANY UNMERITORIOUS REPORTS OF SAFETY ISSUES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE YOU THIS DEFINITELY DESERVES YOU FURTHER CONSIDERATION. IF YOU CAN ADVISE WHERE I CAN SEND DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM (LIKELY AFFECTING SOME HUNDREDS OF MOTORHOMES), I WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE RIGHT ON TARGET WITH YOUR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVING MOTORHOMES. YOUR GUIDANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. TOM GONSER *TR