1999 FLEETWOOD TIOGA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSOR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, RESULTING IN A BLOW OUT OF THE OUTER TIRE. THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S, LT225/75R16. THE SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRES WERE ALSO SHOWING WEAR ON THE TREAD. THERE WAS 6,000 MILES OF WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE CRACKS IN THE TIRES WERE PRESENT ON THE INSIDE, NOT ON THE OUTSIDE FACING THE SUN. ALL FOUR REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE WEAR PATTERN. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAS A PICTURE OF THE TIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 14,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,335.

1999, TIOGA 26F, FLEETWOOD, CLASS C, MOTOR HOME, APPROX 45000 MILES, PURCHASED NEW. THE PORTION OF THE MOTORHOME OVER THE FORD CAB WAS ATTACHED USING ABOUT 24 #10 SELF TAPPING SHEET METAL SCREWS, DRIVEN UPWARDS, THROUGH HOLES IN THE FORD SHEET METAL, THROUGH A SPONGE RUBBER GASKET, AND INTO THE PLYWOOD FLOOR OF THE "CAB-OVER" PORTION OF THE MOTORHOME. MANY OF THOSE SCREWS FELL COMPLETELY OUT AND THE REMAINDER HAD ALL BACKED OUT AT LEAST 1/4 INCH AND WERE LESS THAN FINGER TIGHT. AS A MINIMUM, RAIN WATER OR WASH WATER COULD EASILY ENTER THE CAB AREA. I AM CONCERNED THAT A STRONG WIND, OR THE BLAST OF AIR CAUSED BY PASSING HEAVY TRUCKS, ETC, COULD TEAR THE OVERHANG OF THE COACH OFF IN TRAFFIC. I DID CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FLEETWOOD AND WAS TOLD THEY STILL BUILD THE ASSEMBLY THE SAME WAY. FURTHER I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD FIX THE PROBLEM WITH POP-RIVETS - - I KNOW IF NO POP-RIVETS LONG ENOUGH OR STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THE JOB. I AM CURRENTLY REBUILDING USING APPROX. 50 #10 X32 ROUND HEAD MACHINE SCREWS, WASHERS, LOCK WASHERS, AND LOCK TIGHT IN A "THROUGH-BOLT" MANNER TO ENSURE A SECURE SEAM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH REAR TIRES BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX, LT225/75R16MS, DOT#22052URBD99805-7. *AK

PASSENGER REAR INNER DUAL TIRE SIDEWALL BLEWOUT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT OR EVER HAS BEEN OVERLOADED AND INFLATION CHECKED ON EACH TRIP. VEHICLE HAD TRAVELED LESS THEN 30 MILES BELOW HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN BLOWOUT OCCURRED. AIR TEMP WAS 70. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 24K MILES. TIRES LOOKED NEW AND WERE INSPECTED OFTEN. *TT

PASSENGER REAR INNER DUAL TIRE SIDEWALL BLEWOUT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT OR EVER HAS BEEN OVERLOADED AND INFLATION CHECKED ON EACH TRIP. VEHICLE HAD TRAVELED LESS THEN 30 MILES BELOW HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN BLOWOUT OCCURRED. AIR TEMP WAS 70. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 24K MILES. TIRES LOOKED NEW AND WERE INSPECTED OFTEN. *TT