NHTSA Complaint #10294213 — 2008 MONACO COACH CAYMAN

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2008 MONACO MOTOR HOME IN JUNE OF 2009. ON A TRIP TO NEWBURGH NY WE ENCOUNTERED RAIN. UPON ARRIVING AT OUR DESTINATION THE AUTOMATIC STEP DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE COACH DOOR WAS OPENED TO EXIT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE STEP IS DESIGNED TO OPERATE AUTOMATICALLY WHENEVER THE DOOR IS OPENED AND THERE ARE NO WARNINGS SIGNALING OPERATIONAL FAILURE.THE COACH IS APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES FROM THE GROUND AND A FALL FROM THIS HEIGHT WOULD BE LIFE THREATENING. I FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURER'S TROUBLE SHOOTING CHECK LIST TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER PLATFORM OF THE STEP HAD RETAINED WATER WHICH LEAKED DOWN INTO THE LIGHT AND THE CONTROL MODULE MOUNTED UNDER THE STEP. THE LIGHT LENS WAS COMPLETELY FULL OF WATER. I REMOVED THE LENS AND DRAINED IT OUT. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE MODULE DRIED OUT SUFFICIENTLY FOR IT TO WORK. INITIALLY, I E-MAILED THE MANUFACTURER FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE DENIED THAT THEY HAD EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ,OFFERED NO HELP WHATSOEVER AND REFUSED TO ADMIT TO ANY WARRANTY CULPABILITY. SUBSEQUENTLY I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER TO MR. JASON LIPPERT THE PRESIDENT/CEO OF DREW INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURER OF THE PRODUCT. A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS REQUESTED PLUS A TUBE OF SILICONE SEALANT. THERE WERE NO INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY THE SEALANT OR REPLACE THE PARTS OR HOW TO REMEDIATE THE WATER RETAINAGE PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE NEW CONTROL MODULE HAS A SEALANT THROUGHOUT THE AREA WHERE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING ENTERS THE MODULE INDICATING TO ME THAT SOME EFFORT WAS BEING MADE TO SEAL NEWER UNITS FROM WATER INTRUSION. I'M CONVINCED THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS CHOOSING TO IGNORE IT AND DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AND COULD LEAD TO BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THE MANUFACTURER IS DREW INDUSTRIES 2730 COLLEGE AVE GOSHEN IND. 46528. *TR