1998 FLEETWOOD STORM — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

AUTO PARK SYSTEM ON CHEVROLET P30 CHASSIS , YEAR MODEL 1998, FLEETWOOD STORM MOTORHOME FAILED WHILE PARKED. ABOUT $1,200 DAMAGE TO A NEARBY PARKED VEHICLE. SYSTEM FAILED SECOND TIME WHILE IN MOTION LEAVING VEHICLE WITH NO PARKING BRAKE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 24, 2004 WITH SYSTEM LOCKED IN PARK. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RM, 71703748 IN THE 1998 FLEETWOOD STORM WITH 89000 CURRENT MILEAGE WAS PART OF RECALL 06E076000. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH DOMETIC TO ORDER THE PART. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE BRAKES BECAME HOT AND FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD UNTIL THE BRAKES COOLED OFF. *AK THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THE PHENOLIC PISTON CAUSED THE BRAKE TO LOCK AND OVERHEAT. THE FAILURE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE AND NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. *SCC *JB

AUTOMATIC PARKING BRAKE FAILURE--BRAKE ENGAGED WHILE MOTORHOME IN MOTION, CAUSING BRAKE PADS AND DRUM TO SEVERLY OVERHEAT, RUINING COMPONENTS AND MAKING PARKING BRAKE INOPERATIVE. APPARENTLY, A PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH BEGAN LEAKING FLUID, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE GM DEALERSHIP, THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILED PRESSURE SWITCH, BUT WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE IT. THEY DISCONNECTED THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, BUT TOLD MY WIFE THAT THE UNIT WAS SAFE TO OPERATE, THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HOLD THE VEHICLE WHEN PLACED IN PARK. SHE FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS FALSE WHEN SHE STOPPED THE MOTORHOME AND AS SHE WAS LEAVING IT, IT BEGAN TO ROLL. PLEASE RE-OPEN PE99-006. MY DEALER TOLD ME THAT GMC HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS "NEW" PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND QUICKLY DISCONTINUED USING IT AND REVERTED TO THEIR "OLD" SYSTEM.

EXPERIENCED TIRE FAILURE OPERATING WITH NORMAL TIRE PRESSURE, NOT OVERWEIGHT AT 62MPH. THIS TIRE DID HAVE GOOD TREAD. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE TIRE UPON FAILURE. THERE IS ON THIS (AND APPARENTLY MANY) MOTERHOME A LARGE WIRING BUNDLE LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TIRE JUST ABOVE AXLE LEVEL, THAT PROVIDES MAJOR POWER TO THE ACCESSORIES INCLUDING GAS APPLIANCES AND RELATED SAFETY EQUIPMENT. WHEN THE TIRE FAILED, WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT AN UNKNOWN OCCURRANCE IN ANY VEHICLE, THE TIRE TREAD SEVERED AND SHREDED THIS ENTIRE WIRING BUNDLE INCLUDING RIPPING WIRES THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE MOTORHOME. I FEEL THE LOCATION OF THESE WIRING BUNDLES IS A SAFETY HAZARD, NOT TO MENTION A NEEDLESS EXPENSE TO REPAIR WERE THE WIRES IN EITHER A SAFER LOCATION OR PROPERLY SHIELDED TO WITHSTAND A TIRE FAILURE.