NHTSA Complaint #10354812 — 2006 JAYCO SENECA

WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, OVERDRIVE OFF, JAKE BRAKE ON, BRAKE APPLIED, WHEN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED, HEARD LOUD BANG AND SAW BLACK PIECES BOUNCE OFF THE ROAD AND UP PAST DRIVER'S WINDOW. STOPPED VEHICLE AND FOUND HOLES IN FAN SHROUD, COOLANT DRAINING ON ROAD, HOLE IN FIBERGLASS HOOD, AND BLACK PLASTIC OBJECT LODGE INTO WIRE BUNDLE ON RIGHT SIDE. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE FAN WAS FOUND TO HAVE SHED PLASTIC OUTER RING AND TOP SECTIONS OF BLADES. PLASTIC PIECES WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND EMBEDDED IN RADIATOR, MULTIPLE HOLES IN FAN SHROUD, HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLE AND HAND SIZE WEB OF FRACTURES IN THE HOOD FIBERGLASS. REPAIRS TO DATE INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR, FAN AND FAN SHROUD, A RADIATOR HOSE, WIRES INSPECTED AND REPAIRED, THE HOOD IS STILL IN DISPUTE. GM HAS PAID FOR PARTS BUT INSISTS I PAY THE LABOR. I SUSPECT THE FAN WAS DEFECTIVE AND/OR THE JAKE BRAKE SYSTEM/TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED IMPROPERLY CAUSING THE FAN TO OVERSPEED AND DISINTEGRATE. I READ THE PREVIOUS POSTED INCIDENT FROM MAY 2009 AND RECOGNIZE THIS IS A RELATED EVENT. GM MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY BUT IT IS RARE. WHILE THIS MAYBE THE CASE THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS DAMAGE/DEATH AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE IS HIGH CONSIDERING THE PENETRATION OF METALS, FIBERGLASS AND HOSES IF ONE OF THE PROJECTILES RELEASED HAD HIT A BRAKE LINE. REPAIR SHOP KEPT PARTS. *TR