NHTSA Complaint #10350355 — 2005 GULF STREAM YELLOWSTONE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GULF STREAM COACH YELLOWSTONE RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGED THE RIM. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE UNTIL HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH DRIVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THREE WHEELS AND HE WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS WHEN HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. HE FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS MISSING AND THE DRUM AND SPINDLE OF THE AXLE WAS DAMAGED. THE SMALLER OF THE TWO BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CURRENT WEIGHT OF THE DAMAGED AXLE WAS RATED AS A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT OF 14,400 LBS. THE STICKER INDICATED THAT EACH AXLE WAS 6,000 LBS, MEETING DOT REGULATIONS, YET THE AXLE WAS ACTUALLY 5,000 LBS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WRONG AXLE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER WAS MISLABELED. THE VEHICLE WAS A SEVEN TON UNIT AND HE FELT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY A 5,000 POUND AXLE INCLUDING THE 2,000 POUNDS THAT THE TRUCK WOULD CARRY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ORDER THE NECESSARY PARTS TO MAKE REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE.