NHTSA Complaint #10341832 — 2004 MONACO COACH MONARCH SE

THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 MONACO MONARCH MOTORHOME EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE. ON FRIDAY JULY 2, 2010, THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE 4TH, WE WERE STUCK IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. AS WE INCHED ALONG I STARTED TO HEAR A SQUEAK, I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM MY MOTORHOME BUT COULDN'T TELL FOR SURE. TRAFFIC FINALLY STARTED TO MOVE BUT I NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE COULDN'T GAIN SPEED. WE FINALLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I NOTICED TRAFFIC BEGINNING TO STOP AGAIN, AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN AT ALL. I RELEASED THE BRAKES AND APPLIED THEM AGAIN AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SO I STARTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES RAPIDLY. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE MOTORHOME WITHIN INCHES OF THE TRUCK. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. WHEN I GOT OUT AND INSPECTED THE WHEEL IN QUESTION THERE WAS A DISTINCT BURNING ODOR AND YOU COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE WHEEL AREA. THERE WAS AIR LEAKING FROM THE TIRE BECAUSE THE BRAKES HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THEY MELTED THE AIR PRESSURE SENSOR AND LET THE AIR OUT. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THERE IT SITS. *TR