NHTSA Complaint #10438096 — 2008 FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF

PURCHASED NEW 2008 FORESTRIVER FLAGSTAFF HW CAMPER JUNE 20, 2008 FROM TOM JOHNSON'S RV IN MARION, NC. I LEFT HOME WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN FOR A 3 WEEK ROADTRIP ON JUNE 23, 2008 PULLING THIS CAMPER. ON OUR ROUTE HOME ON I-29, JUST OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, MY CAR AND CAMPER SWERVED VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL THINKING IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WIND. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN LEAVING THE MOTEL WE STAYED IN - I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. I DROVE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT INTO THE CAMPING WORLD LOT. THERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE ON THE CAMPER HAD "BURNED UP" AND WAS MELTED TO THE AXLE. I ATTEMPTED, AS DID THEY, TO CONTACT TOM JOHNSON'S IN MARION, NC. MY 4 GRANDCHILDREN AND I WAITED IN THE LOBBY ALL DAY WHILE THEY REPAIRED THE CAMPER. WHEN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE WE AGAIN TRIED TO REACH TOM JOHNSON'S BUT RECEIVED A RECORDING THAT THEY WERE CLOSED. WE ALSO CONTACTED FOREST RIVER. NEITHER OF THE TWO COMPANIES OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA EXPENSES I INCURRED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET - MONEY I NEEDED TO COVER EXPENSES ON THE WAY HOME. LATER I DID RECEIVE A CHECK FOR PART OF THE COST FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BRAKES OR WHEEL. THE REPAIRMEN AT CAMPING WORLD SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH TRAILORS LIKE THE ONE THAT MY CAMPER WAS BUILT ON. THEY SAID IT WAS A BOAT TYPE AND THAT FREQUENTLY MECHANICS WILL PUT TOO MUCH AXLE GREASE IN THE AXLE. TOM JOHNSON'S ADDED AXLE GREASE JUST BEFORE I LEFT THEIR DEALERSHIP. *TR