NHTSA Complaint #10871076 — 2012 FOREST RIVER ROCKWOOD

ON DECEMBER 31 WE WERE RETURNING FROM A TRIP AND WERE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES FROM OUR HOME WE WERE FLAGGED DOWN BY A MOTORIST AT AN INTERSECTION HE INDICATED THAT SMOKE AND OIL WERE BLOWING OUT OF OUR DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE ON OUR 5TH WHEEL. WE FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND SAW THE WHEEL HUB CAP WAS MISSING AND GREASE WAS COMING OUT OF THE WHEEL HUB CREATING A LOT OF SMOKE AND HEAT. YOU COULD SMELL THE GREASE BURNING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE RV. DUE TO THE TIME OF DAY, APPROXIMATELY 5:00 P.M. ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WE COULD NOT FIND A SERVICE CENTER OPEN. WE PROCEEDED AT A VERY SLOW PACE, APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, STOPPING PERIODICALLY TO CHECK WHEEL, UNTIL WE REACHED OUR HOME. THIS IS OUR FIFTH AND FINAL MECHANICAL FAILURE FOR THIS RV UNIT. IT IS A LEMON AND WE ARE ASKING FOR A FULL REFUND FOR THIS ROCKWOOD FROM FOREST RIVER. WE HAVE NO DESIRE TO EVER TAKE THIS RV AGAIN. IT IS UNSAFE AND WE WILL NOT PUT OUR LIVES IN JEOPARDY. WE ARE ONLY ASKING FOR FOREST RIVER TO TAKE THIS RV IN RETURN AND SETTLE WITH THE BANK. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD ROUTINE SERVICE COMPLETED. WE FIND THAT WE CAN'T ENDURE THE UNCERTAINTY OF TRAVEL AND GREAT PERIL IF SOMETHING ELSE SHOULD GO MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THIS 5TH WHEEL. FOREST RIVER HAD THIS UNIT TOWED TO LIBERTY RV TO DO REPAIRS "AGAIN". THIS IS NOT A TRUSTWORTHY UNIT EVEN WITH "THEIR REPAIRS". THEY HAD SAID, ON THE PRIOR INCIDENT, THAT THEY REPAIRED THESE AXLES BUT THEY FAILED US AGAIN. THIS UNIT IS NOT SAFE ON THE ROAD FOR US OR FOR OTHER MOTORIST. WE HAVE INDICATED TO FOREST RIVER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE TOWING THIS VEHICLE AFTER LOSING THE BRAKES AND THE AXLES TWICE! INCIDENT #5 OF 5. SERIAL#: RL1844723 UNIT MODEL#: 8289WS