NHTSA Complaint #10546370 — 2001 R-VISION TRAIL-LITE

THIS VEHICLE IS A MOTORHOME EQUIPPED WITH ONE ENTRY DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WITH NO OTHER ENTRY/EXIT WITHOUT CLIMBING OUT A WINDOW. THANK GOD IT WAS PARKED IN ITS GARAGE WHEN THE LOCKSET BROKE. NO ENTRY WAS POSSIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE OR EXIT FROM THE INSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO BREAK A WINDOW LOCK AND GAIN ENTRY. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, THE DOOR HANDLE JUST FLOPPED. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF CUTTING INTO THE LATCH ASSEMBLY (WITH TOOLS I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD WITH ME ON THE ROAD) I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE FAILURE WAS A BROKEN POT METAL PULL ROD FROM THE HANDLE TO A SPRING LOADED STRIKER. I CONTACTED THE MFG. TRIMARK AND WAS TOLD THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM,AND HAD NO PLANS ON CHANGING DESIGN OF THIS PART, BUT OFFERED NO REMEDY TO ME OTHER THAN SELL ME A NEW LOCK AT LIST PRICE ( THEY SELL NO "PARTS' TO REPAIR). I SHOPPED ON LINE AND REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY WITH THE SAME FAILURE PRONE LATCH/LOCK. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS STORIES ON THE MOTORHOME SITES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE THERE UNITS AND HAD TO CRAWL OUT WINDOWS OR BREAK SOMETHING TO EXIT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD MY WIFE ( BRING HANDICAPPED) WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THRU A WINDOW. THIS IS A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I URGE YOU TO CONDUCT A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY PRODUCT. *TR