NHTSA Complaint #10324802 — 2008 FLEETWOOD AMERICAN EAGLE

WE TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW AMERICAN EAGLE 42 ' 11. FOOT MOTOR HOME MODEL 42F ON MAY 21, 2008 THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO CARRY 14,600 LB. IF FULLY LOADED THIS WOULD CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF YOU LOADED THIS MOTOR HOME TO FULL CAPACITY OF WATER, FUEL, PASSENGER (2) WEIGHTS THE FRONT AXLE WOULD EXCEED THE RATING ON THE FRONT AXLE. UPON REVIEWING OUR MOTORHOME FOR HE FIRST TIME ON MAY 21, 2008 (WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VIEW MOTORHOME UNTIL CONTRACTS WERE SIGNED) WE NOTICED THAT THE NEW MODELS 2009 AMERICAN EAGLE HAD BIGGER RIMS, TIRES AND AFTER FURTHER INQUIRY THE FRONT AXLE HAD BEEN CHANGED FROM 14600 LB TO 16600 WE CONTACTED FLEETWOOD AND ASKED WHY THESE CHANGES WERE MADE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A OVERWEIGHT PROBLEM IF WE CARRIED FULL CAPATICY ON FUEL, WATER AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE CARRY LESS FUEL & WATERL, CARGO, PROPANE WHEN TRAVELING. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND THAT THE ISSUE WOULD BE CORRECTED. TO DATE AN OFFER HAS BEEN MADE BY SPARTAN CHASSIS THAT THEY WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM IF WE DROVE 2500 MILES TO MICHIGAN ONE WAY, AND PAID $18995.00 TO HAVE THE RIMS, TIRES, AND AXLE UPGRADED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE 2009 MOTORHOMES. FLEETWOOD AND SPARTAN KNOW AND KNEW THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WHICH IS WHY THEY UPGRADED THE 2009 COACHES TO CORRECT THE FRONT AXLE WEIGHT PROBLEM. *TR