NHTSA Complaint #10655310 — 2012 FOREST RIVER BLUE RIDGE

THE SLIDES ON MY FOREST RIVER BLUE RIDGE FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER STARTED OPERATING ON THEIR OWN. IF THE SLIDES EXTEND WHILE TRAVELING THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IF THE SLIDES RETRACT WHILE CAMPING, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT. MY CAMPER WAS STATIONARY BOTH TIMES THE HYDRAULIC MOTOR ENERGIZED. THE FIRST TIME IN MY DRIVEWAY THE SLIDES EXTENDED. THE SECOND TIME WAS WHILE I WAS CAMPING. THE SLIDES WERE EXTENDED AND THE MOTOR ENERGIZED TWO DAYS LATER. WHEN I NOTICED THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING AND I OPENED THE DOOR TO THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT THE MOTOR WAS SMOKING AND OOZING FLUID. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE POWER TO THE MOTOR AND THE WIRES TO THE SOLENOID. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID, MOTOR AND COMPLETE CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTROL PANEL OPERATED FINE AFTER A NEW MOTOR AND SOLENOID WERE INSTALLED, BUT I DID NOT TRUST IT. FOREST RIVER NEEDS TO INSTALL A SHUTOFF SWITCH TO COMPLETELY SHUTOFF THE SLIDE SYSTEM TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IN THE INTERIM, I DISCONNECT THE POWER AND THE SOLENOID. THIS IS NOT EASY TO DO. *TR