NHTSA Complaint #10334558 — 2001 NATIONAL RV SURFSIDE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NATIONAL SURFSIDE RV. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WORKHORSE CHASSIS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THERE WAS FAILURE WITH THE REAR BRAKE LINE THAT RESULTED TO COMPLETE LOSS OF THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE SPEED REDUCED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH CAUTION TO A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2004. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 03V059000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: SWITCHES: BRAKE WARNING). THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,500. UPDATED 11/15/10 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE, THE MECHANIC DID NOT CONNECT THE WIRES TO THE BULB CORRECTLY. THERE WAS A GAP IN THE CONNECTOR THAT GROUNDED AND BLEW OUT THE BULB. THUS, THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE FLUID LEAKED OUT. THE MASTER CYLINDER ON THE FORD CHASSIS WAS BOLTED TO THE FIRE WALL AT AN ANGLE. WHEN THE REAR LINE RUSTED OUT AND BLEW, THE FLUID LEAKED OUT THE FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. IN AUGUST 2007, A REAR BRAKE PAD HAD RUSTED AND FALLEN OFF WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. ALL THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/24/10