2001 FLEETWOOD EXPEDITION — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

FRONT ENTRY DOOR PULLS OPEN AT TOP, AND CAUSES LATCH TO BE STRESSED AND MOVED, REQUIRING CONTINUOUS ADJUSTMENT. DOORS PULLS OPEN ENOUGH AT TOP THAT LIGHT CAN BE SEEN OUTSIDE, WHEN RAINING WATER COMES IN, ALSO CAUSING EXTREEMLY LOUD WIND/AIR NOISE INSIDE VEHICLE. WE FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT MAY CAUSE PRE-MATURE FAILURE ON THE DOOR LATCHING/LOCKING MECHNISM CAUSING THE DOOR TO SWING OPEN DURING OPERATION OF THE UNIT, AS WELL A INTEGRITY OF THE MOTORHOME. WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE MOTORHOME, AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX/REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT FLEETWOOD HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM IN OTHER/NEWER MODELS BY REPLACING THE DOOR WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN. FLEETWOOD REFUSES TO OFFER ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS ON THE GROUND THAT NO RECALL AND OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUES, ALSO OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE ON ANY PAST REPAIRS OF THE UNIT PRIOR TO OUR OWNERSHIP. WE FEEL THAT AS CUSTOMERS WE SHOULD NOT BE CAUGHT BETWEEN THE MANUFACTURER AND WARRANTY COMPANY LOGISTICS...

I DRIVE A 2001 FLEETWOOD 36' EXPEDITION, IT HAD ABOUT 21,00 MILES AT THIS TIME. ON OCTOBER 20, 2003 I HAD A R/F STEERING TIRE BLOWOUT S/E OF ST. LOUIS MO. AROUND 5PM. HAD ROAD SERVICE PUT ON A USED TIRE. SPENT THE NIGHT IN SULLIVAN MO. AT A FLYING-J ABOUT 75 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. THE MORNING OF THE 21ST. I CHECKED ALL TIRES FOR CORRECT PRESSURE. NONE WERE FOUND TO BE LOW (100PSI). CONTINUED TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD, MO. WHERE AFTER ABOUT 130 MILES A L/R INSIDE DUAL BLEW.THESE ARE MICHELIN TIRES SIZE XRV 235-80R-22.5. THE FRONT TIRE WAS IN SHREDS AND I HAD NO WAY OF HAULING IT. I LIKE MICHELIN TIRES AND SO ORDER 6 NEW XZE TIRES. THEY WERE JUST PUT ON TODAY. SO AT THIS TIME THE DEALER HAS THE INSIDE TIRE WATING FOR THE MICHELIN REP. TO LOOK AT IT. THE DEALER SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE A TEXT BOOK CASE FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I'M METICULOUS ABOUT PROTECTING AND SAFE GUARDING MY M.H.. I KEEP IT CLEAN, TIRE COVERS ON, PROTECTED ON THE TIRES, TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED BEFOR TRIP,DURING,AND HEADED HOME. DURING ANY LONG STORAGE SOME WEIGHT IS KEEP ON THE JACKS. I HAVE A FRIEND IN FLORIDA THAT HAS A M.H. LIKE MINE AND HE HAS BLOWN 3 OF THESE TIRES THIS YEAR ALSO. ACORDING TO THE DEALER, MICHELIN WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS TIRE, BUT HE WILL TRY. MOST THINGS I'M READING ON THE INTERNET ARE THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE THAT I HAVE HAD. SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THEM AND MICHELIN IS NOT RESPONDING TO ITS CUSTERMERS WITH ANY KIND OF SATISFACTION. ALSO MICHELIN CHANGE THERE CHART ON THIS TIRE FROM THE OLD (100PSI.) WHICH IS STAMPED ON THE OLD ONES, TO (110PSI.) WHICH IS STAMPED ON THE NEW ONES. I CALLED MICHELIN ABOUT THE TIME THEY MADE THIS CHANGE AND THE LADY I TALKED TO TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY MADE THE CHANGE TO MEET STANDARDS WITH THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY. SHE ALSO SAID IT WAS OK TO PUT THIS PRESSURE IN THE OLD (100PSI.) TIRES. THANKS GARRY WILLIAMS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEAF SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP LOW TO THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION, SOMETIME IT UNEXPECTEDLY BUCK IN AN UP AND DOWNWARD MOTION WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY, SO DRIVER IS COMPELLED TO REDUCE THEIR SPEED IMMEDIATELY AND ALMOST STOP BEFORE BEING ABLE TO COMMENCE MOVING AGAIN SAFELY. DEALER AND MYSELF AGREE THAT LARGER SHOCKS SHOULD BE DESIGN TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD, IT WILL DRIFT TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, CONSUMER STATES IN ORDER TO INITIATE A TURN, HE HAS TO TURN THE WHEEL, THEN AFTER A SECOND OR TWO IT STARTS TO TURN, CONSUMER STATES IF HE DOES NOT WAIT FOR A FEW SECONDS HE WILL THEN OVER STEER AND HAVE TO JERK THE VEHICLE BACK, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE IS IN THE BACK, THAT FORCES THE REAR END OUT.**JB