NHTSA Complaint #10638727 — 1978 GMC KINGSLEY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1978 GMC KINGSLEY MOTOR HOME (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE MOTOR HOME TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FIRST DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A SECOND DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL THE DISC UPGRADE SYSTEM WITH A DRUM KIT. THE CONTACT WAITED MORE THAN FIFTEEN MONTHS TO GET THE MOTOR HOME REPAIRED. THE MOTOR HOME WAS REPAIRED VARIOUS TIMES BY THE SECOND REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE BRAKE FAILURE RECURRED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM WAS OVERHAULED AND NOT RE-INSTALLED. ON MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS, THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKES AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MOTOR HOME SLID FORWARD UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DID NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP. THE MOTOR HOME WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DEALER AND THE REPAIR SHOP TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.