NHTSA Complaint #703125 — 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER

I HAVE A 1996 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER MOTORHOME MODEL 32H ON A FORD F-SUPER DUTY MOTORHOME CHASSIS WITH A 460 CID ENGINE. WITH 12,200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN I CAME TO TO THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRIDGE, THERE WAS A LEVEL CHANGE BETWEEN THE BRIDGE AND THE HIGHWAY. I FELT A SMALL JAR AND IMMEDIATELY THE FRONT END WENT INTO A VIOLENT BACK AND FORTH VIBRATION WITH LOTS OF AMPLITUDE. I THOUGHT THE MOTORHOME WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE FRAME. THE BACK AND FORTH MOTION DID NOT STOP UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ABOUT 10-20 MILES FURTHER, THE SAME CONDITIONS RESULTED IN THE SAME VIOLENT REACTION. THE MOTORHOME NOW HAS 15,200 MILE ON IT AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER I AM AWARE THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND AM VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN I APPROACH A BRIDGE. HOWEVER, I AM CERTAIN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF A CHUCKHOLE IS ENCOUNTERED. I LIVE IN FEAR THAT I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WILL CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT'S DOUBTFUL SHE COULD HAVE HANDLED IT. I TALKED WITH A FORD REPRESENTATIVE IN ARIZONA, PHONE 1-800-444-3311 EXT 261 AND HE TOLD ME TO HAVE THE WHOLE FRONT END INSPECTED AND TO HAVE THE STEERING STABILIZER REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURED AT 12,200 MILES. WHAT COULD WEAR AT 12,200 MILES TO CAUSE SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM? DOES THIS MEAN I SHOULD HAVE THE STEERING STABILIZER REPLACED EVERY 10,000 MILES? OTHER MOTORHOME OWNERS WITH FORD CHASSIS HAVE HAD THE EXACT EXPERIENCE. TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES IS SCARRY AS IT'S USUALLY SO IDENTICAL TO WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I FEEL WHAT THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IS A SMOKESCREEN. THERE IS AN AFTER-MARKET PRODUCT CALLED A DAVIS TRUTRAC BAR THAT KEEPS THE AXLE FROM SWINGING BACK AND FORTH,THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. IT COSTS $332.10. FORD SHOULD PAY FOR ITS INSTALLATION OR COME UP WITH A FIX OF THEIR OWN. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *AK