NHTSA Complaint #10335303 — 2001 FLEETWOOD STORM

VEHICLE: 2001 FLEETWOOD STORM MODEL 30H MOTORHOME CHASSIS: 2000 WORKHORSE P32 INCIDENT:BRAKES OVERHEATED FOR NO REASON AND I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING FROM YOSEMITE VALLEY TO FRESNO CA., ON A COLD MORNING, WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND, I STARTED TO SMELL WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE OVERHEATING BRAKES. SINCE WE WERE GOING MOSTLY DOWNHILL, I WAS ALREADY DRIVING CAUTIOUSLY IN SECOND GEAR. I THEN SHIFTED DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR AND WAS GOING SO SLOW THAT THE BRAKES WERE HARDLY NEEDED AT ALL. THAT SEEMED TO MAKE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL, AND THE BRAKES SOON LOST ALL STOPPING POWER AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND COULD NOT BE PUMPED UP AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A LEVEL TURN OUT AND STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE.. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED INTO FRESNO CA. FOR REPAIRS. REPAIRS: BUD EBERWEIN AUTOMOTIVE (ALSO AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE REPAIR SHOP, SAID ALL 4 CALIPERS, BRAKE PAD SETS AND SEALS WERE BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON A WORKHORSE RECALL AND THAT THE DAMAGED PARTS MET THE CRITERIA TO BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY WORKHORSE.THE REPAIR SHOP FURTHER STATED THAT PISTON IN THE BOSCH BRAKE CALIPER ABSORBED MOISTURE, WOULD SWELL, AND WOULD NOT LET THE BRAKES RELEASE. WHEN CONTACTED, WORKHORSE STATED TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT WHILE THE PARTS ARE KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE, AND BEING RECALLED ON OTHER CHASSIS' , OURS IS NOT COVERED ON THE RECALL. COST OF REPAIRS TO US: $3,107.26 EXPERIENCE: I AM EXPERIENCED IN MOUNTAIN DRIVING AND HAVE DRIVEN THIS COACH FOR 9 YEARS, MUCH OF THAT IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. MAINTENANCE: THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH 32,604 MILES ON THE COACH. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY SERVICED BY A AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE SERVICE SHOP LESS THAT 1 YEAR AND 2,213 MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. ON MAY 15TH, 2009, PAUL EVERT'S RV COUNTRY REPLACED ALL 4 WHEEL BRAKE PADS, RESURFACED ALL 4 ROTORS, AND PERFORMED A BRAKE FLUID EXCHANGE. *TR