NHTSA Complaint #10269873 — 2004 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND

ON 2/2/06 HAD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME IN TO SHOP WITH COMPLAINT OF STRANGE BRAKE NOISE AND ABS LIGHT BEING ON. OTHER ISSUES ALSO. ON 09/18/08 HAD MOTORHOME IN TO SHOP WITH COMPLAINT OF ABS LIGHT BEING ON. HAD OTHER ISSUES ALSO. ABS LIGHT CAME BACK ON AS SOON AS WE LEFT THE REPAIR SHOP. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BARD AND WAS TOO COSTLY AND NOT NEEDED. ON 2/17 /09 MOTORHOME SMELLED OF OVERHEATED BRAKES ON NARROW WINDING FLAT ROAD. WE PULLED OFF IN ONLY SPOT AVAILABLE AND WAITED FOR IT TO COOL DOWN ABOUT 3 MILES FROM OUR INTENDED CAMPING SPOT. 1/4 MILE FROM CAMP GROUND LOST MOST OF BRAKES. DROVE ON INTO CAMPGROUND AT ABOUT 5 MPH IN LOW GEAR. NOTED FLUID ON FRONT LEFT WHEEL. CALLED OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFICE, UNITED STATES WARRANTY CORP. POLICY HAD BEEN PURCHASED AT TIME OF VEHICLE PURCHASE. THEY DIRECTED US TO LOCAL REPAIRMAN. HE SAID THE BRAKES HAD STUCK AND THE BRAKE FLUID HAD BOILED. HE COULD NOT HANDLE THE REPAIR WORK. WARRANTY COMPANY THEN AGREED TO USE LTM TRUCK AND RV REPAIR SHOP ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY IN COOS BAY OREGON. MOTOR HOME WAS TOWED. DRIVER NOTED BURNT SENSORS AND TOLD ME MY ABS LIGHT MUST BE ON. REPAIRS WERE MADE AND TOTAL COST WAS $2414.75. REPLACED FRONT PADS, CALIPERS, HUB CAP, BEARINGS RACES, WHEEL SEALS, COUNTER SHAFT BEARING, REAR BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, WHEEL SEALS, SCOTSEAL, TURNED ROTORS, ABS SENSORS. DRILLED BELL CRANK FOR GREASE FITTING. EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY ANY OF COSTS, STATING THEY HAD DETERMINED A STUCK BELL CRANK HAD CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO STICK AND THEY DO NOT COVER THAT PART OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BELL CRANK. ON 05/22/09 RECEIVED "INTERIM NOTICE" FROM WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASIS THAT SOME OF THEIR PRODUCTS MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPER STICKING. THEY STATE THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHAT THE FINAL REMEDY WILL BE. WORKHORSE ADVISED US TO WATCH FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS AND IF THEY DETERMINE OUR MOTOR HOME WAS AFFECTED BY THE FUTURE RECALL WE WILL RECEIVE NOTICE WHEN IT HAPPENS. *TR