NHTSA Complaint #10270112 — 1999 COACHMEN MIRADA

WE OWN A 1999 COACHMEN MIRADA MOTORHOME WITH A LARGE SLIDEOUT FOR A DINETTE AND SOFA. WE WERE DRIVING UP A NARROW WINDING ROAD IN A REMOTE AREA ON THE WAY TO KERNVILLE, CA WHEN, FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE SLIDEOUT EXTENDED FULLY (ABOUT 2 FEET FROM THE MAIN CHASSIS.) WE WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AT THE TIME AND HAD JUST GONE AROUND A RIGHT BEND IN THE ROAD (THE SLIDEOUT IS ON THE LEFT OF THE COACH.) IF THERE HAD BEEN A VEHICLE PASSING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. WE HAD TO STOP THE COACH, PUSH THE SLIDE OUT IN MANUALLY AND BLOCK IT WITH WOOD TO PREVENT IT SLIDING OUT AGAIN BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO BE FREE FLOATING. WE CURRENTLY HAVE STIERS RV REPAIRS IN BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA EVALUATING THE COACH. WE CALLED COACHMEN SERVICE TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, JASON TOLD US THAT FAILURES HAPPEN! WE UNDERSTAND US TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD IS ORDERING A FULL REVIEW OF MOTORCOACH SAFETY. WE FEEL HE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND FIND OUT IF COACHMEN HAS A HISTORY OF SLIDEOUT FAILURES UNDER WARRANTY OR ON LATER MODELS. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO ANY OTHER AGENCY. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO WRITE TO COACHMEN AND OFFICIALLY REPORT THE PROBLEM. WE WILL CONTACT YOU AS SOON AS WE HEAR WITH AN UPDATE. WE JUST WANT TO NOTIFY YOU SO OTHERS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR JEAN AND KEN DICKEY