NHTSA Complaint #10822044 — 2012 COACHMEN MIRADA

I OWN AN RV WITH LIPPERT COMPONENT STAIRS MODEL # 128980 THAT ARE SUBJECT TO YOUR RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBERS FOR FOREST RIVER ARE # 15V798 AND LIPPERT # 15E078. PER THE NOTIFICATION LETTER I RECEIVED THE RECALL IS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE CENTER BOLT OF THE FAN GEAR ASSEMBLY. THIS FAILURE WILL CAUSE THE STEPS TO BE 'UNSTABLE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A PERSON TO FALL RESULTING IN INJURY.' I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WITH THESE STEPS THAT MAY NOT BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE DUAL BALL JOINT LCI PART # 182119 IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC WITH THESE STEPS. THE BALL JOINT CONNECTS THE FAN GEAR ASSEMBLY TO THE STEP LEVER THAT LOWERS AND RAISES THE STEPS. IN ADDITION THIS BOLT KEEPS THE STEPS IN A RAISED POSITION WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS BOLT IS THE ONLY CONNECTION TO THE FAN GEAR AND WHEN IT BREAKS THE STEPS COLLAPSE AND CAN LEAD TO A FALL AND INJURY. MINE RECENTLY SHEARED OFF AND I LUCKILY ONLY STUMBLED AND HAD A BRUISED SHIN. SOMEONE LESS AGILE OR LUCKY COULD EASILY FALL AND SUFFER MORE SERIOUS INJURY. THE PART BROKE WHILE WE WERE STATIONARY AND CAMPED AT THE NATIONAL SEASHORE IN CORPUS CHRISTIE. IF IT HAD BROKEN WHEN WE WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH A LIPPERT CUSTOMER SERVICE REP THAT THIS IS NOT A COVERED REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL WHEN I STARTED TO REVIEW THE WEB FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN BE EASILY IDENTIFIED WITH A GOOGLE SEARCH TITLED 'LIPPERT STEP PROBLEMS' SINCE THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF FALL AND INJURY ARE THE SAME AS THE CURRENT RECALL I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND COVERED UNDER THE RECALL I HAVE ATTACHED TWO PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PART THANKS FOR THE HELP