NHTSA Complaint #10743444 — 2013 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL

PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR A TRIP I PLUGGED OUR CARDINAL 3550RL IN TO AN AC OUTLET TO RUN THE FRIDGE. THE MORNING OF OUR DEPARTURE I FOUND THAT THE 2 REAR SLIDE ROOMS HAD DEPLOYED OVERNIGHT ON THEIR OWN AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE SLIDE ROOM PUMP HAD RUN ALL NIGHT AND BURNED THE PUMP OUT SO BADLY THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY RETRACT THE ROOMS OR THE LANDING GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SCORCHED AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE DURING THE NIGHT ACCORDING TO OUR TECH. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC GIVEN THE RIGS LOCATION . I WOULD HAVE LOST 2 TRUCKS A BOAT AND 2 PETS ALONG WITH THE TRAILER.UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT 2 WIRE SPADES IN THE INTERIOR CONTROL PANEL HAD VIBRATED OFF AND WERE VERY LOOSE FITTING CAUSING A SHORT. IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING WHILE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD AND THE ROOMS DEPLOY IN TRAFFIC! THERE WERE NO INLINE FUSES, BREAKERS OR OTHER FAIL-SAFES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. IN OUR OPINION THIS WAS CAUSED BY SLOPPY WORKMANSHIP AND POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS STONEWALLED AND NEVER GOT A CALL BACK THAT WAS REQUESTED FROM A MANAGER. CONTACT - FOREST RIVER, ELKHART IN 573-533-5934 ## VIN FAILED ## 2012 FOREST RIVER CARDINAL 3550 RL ##