NHTSA Complaint #10438103 — 2008 FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF

PURCHASED NEW FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF 2008 MODEL ON JUNE 20, 2008. I WAS NOT TOLD OF A RECALL ON THE WINCH AND DID NOT KNOW OF IT UNTIL 12/01/2011. THE RECALL WAS 11/2007. ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF MY FIRST TRIP JUNE 24, 2008 I HAD TO HAVE ASSIST FROM THE CAMPGROUND HOST TO RAISE MY CAMPER - THE ELECTRIC LIFT WOULD NOT WORK. ALMOST EVERYTIME I HAVE USED THE CAMPER SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFT. I INFORMED THE DEALER (TOM JOHNSON'S RV, MARION, NC) OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIFT (WINCH) IN 2009, WHEN I TOOK THE CAMPER BACK FOR SERVICE FOLLOWING ANOTHER PROBLEM (SEE COMPLAINT ODI # 10438096). THEY DID NOT TELL ME THEN THAT THE WINCH HAD BEEN RECALLED. ON JUNE 13, 2011 @ 1:30AM WHILE CAMPING AT CADES COVE IN THE GREAT SMOKIES THIS CAMPER STARTED SETTING ITSELF DOWN WITH ME AND THREE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN SLEEPING INSIDE. WE WERE AWAKENED BY THE NOISE AND WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAD THE EMERGENCY BRACES IN PLACE. IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC TO US ALL. I SPENT 2 DAYS ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT FOREST RIVER SEVERAL TIMES ASKING FOR REPAIR REFERENCES. THAT REPRESENTATIVE NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE WINCH ON THIS CAMPER MAY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FINALLY ON DAY 3, 2 REPAIRMEN CAME FROM KNOXVILLE AND LOWERED THE CAMPER SO I COULD TAKE IT HOME. THE COST OVER $500.00 + LODGING AND FOOD FOR 3 DAYS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE (PROBABLE) RECALL OF THE WINCH ON THIS CAMPER AT ANYTIME BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. I DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL 12/01/2011. *TR