2006 COACHMEN EPIC — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

DEALERS RECALL TO REPLACE 16 IN CHROME-PLATED WHEELS. TOOK THE WHEELS TO CLARK'S RV CENTER AT 1824 ALABAMA RIVER PARKWAY,TALK TO FRED BRITT HE CONFIRM THAT THESE WERE THE WHEELS IN QUESTION, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID THAT COACHMAN WOULD SEND BLACK WHEELS TO REPLACE THE CHROME ONES. I TOLD HIM THAT THAT WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT I WANTED CHROME ONE LIKE THE ONES I PURCHASE WITH THE RV. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH COACHMAN AND LET ME KNOW . I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO FRED ABOUT A MONTH ABOUT THESE WHEELS AND I CAN NOT USED THE TRAVEL TRAILER UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. NOW FRED WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS. *TR

THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE MOTOR HOME ONTO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE CABLE WHICH SUPPORTED THE BRACKET SNAPPED AND THE SECOND TIME THE BRACKET BENT OUT OF SHAPE BOTH DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRE. IF SOMEONE WERE BEHIND ME, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THE TIRE BEING THROWN OUT FROM UNDER THE MOTOR HOME. THE DEALER EVEN HAS ADMITTED TO ME THAT THE SETUP IS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE SPARE TIRE. IF YOU WERE LEGALLY TOWING ANOTHER CAR BEHIND YOUR MOTORHOME THE ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DEALER IS RESEARCHING AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF SUPPORTING THE TIRE. CONTACTS TO COACHMEN WERE THAT THE DESIGN WAS ACCEPTABLE AND WITHIN STANDARDS. *JB

THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE MOTOR HOME ONTO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE CABLE WHICH SUPPORTED THE BRACKET SNAPPED AND THE SECOND TIME THE BRACKET BENT OUT OF SHAPE BOTH DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRE. IF SOMEONE WERE BEHIND ME, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THE TIRE BEING THROWN OUT FROM UNDER THE MOTOR HOME. THE DEALER EVEN HAS ADMITTED TO ME THAT THE SETUP IS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE SPARE TIRE. IF YOU WERE LEGALLY TOWING ANOTHER CAR BEHIND YOUR MOTORHOME THE ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DEALER IS RESEARCHING AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF SUPPORTING THE TIRE. CONTACTS TO COACHMEN WERE THAT THE DESIGN WAS ACCEPTABLE AND WITHIN STANDARDS. *JB

WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW COACHMEN MOTOR HOME / WE WERE ON A MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD DRIVING IN REVERSE. SUDDENLY WE HEARD A CRACKING SOUND AND THE FRONT CAP SEPARATED FROM THE BODY . WE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISE US TO CALL OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH WE DID ON SATURDAY MORNING 11-11-06..OUR SON PICKED US UP AND WE RETURNED THE NEXT MORNING 11-11-06. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS OR ANY OBJECT IN THE ROAD, THEIR WAS NOTHING UNDER THE MOTOR HOME. WE EXAMINED THE MOTOR HOME AND FOUND MANY OF THE FASTENERS, RIVETS OR SCREWS THAT HOLD THE FRONT CAP TO THE BODY WERE MISSING. WHEN WE PICKED UP THE MOTOR HOME AND INSPECTED IT AT THE DEALER WE NOTED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WHERE THE FRONT CAP MEETS BODY WAS SEPARATING AT THE BOTTOM. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED MY WIFE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT CAP TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. COACHMEN HAS STATED THAT WE RAN OVER SOMETHING THAT FORCED THE BODY AND FRONT CAP TO SEPARATE. WE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING, THEIR WAS NOTHING IN THE ROADWAY, THEIR WAS NOTHING UNDER THE COACH , THEIR WAS NOTHING CAUGHT UNDER THE COACH. WE FEEL THAT POSSIBLY SOMETHING HAPPENED IN ROUTE FROM THE PLANT IN INDIANA TO CALFORNIA AND THIS MIGHT HAVE WEAKENED THE STRUCTURE AND COUPLED WITH THE BODY MISSING FASTENERS WHICH SHOULD HOLD IT TOGETHER CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE COACH IS NOW AT COACHMEN IN CHINO, CALIFORNIA. THE PHONE NUMBER IN CHINO IS 909 628 5755. THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR UNLESS OUR INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS FOR THE REPAIR. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD MY WIFE WE HAVE 48 HOURS TO TOW THE MOTOR HOME OFF THE PROPERTY OR THEY WILL START CHARGING STORAGE. I DROVE THE MOTOR HOME TO COACHMEN IN CHINO, CA. THEY DISASSEMBLED THE FRONT CAP FROM THE BODY WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL OR AUTHORIZATION AND NOW EXPECT US TO PAY FOR TOWING OR STORAGE IF WE DON'T AUTHORIZE OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. PLEASE HELP. *JB