2016 FREIGHTLINER X-LINE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The body of our class A diesel motorhome is breaking loose from the chassis. The welds on two of the back brackets that hold the body to the frame have broken loose from the frame. As I round corners, especially in round-a-bouts, there is loud banging and grinding sounds from the back of the motorhome as the body slides from side to side. If this continues it could compromise hydraulic hoses and wiring and at worst the slide far enough to cause major accident.

The contact owns a 2016 Thor Motor Coach Tuscany constructed on a 2017 Freightliner XC-R chassis. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the door to the motorhome detached from the body. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and re-attached the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the door was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 27,000.

WE ARE RECENTLY AWARE OF THE JULY 3, 2019 NHTSA SAFETY RECALL (CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V512000) INVOLVING DOOR LATCHES ON 2018-19 FORZA MODELS. THE PROBLEM OF EXTERIOR STORAGE COMPARTMENT DOORS OPENING WHILE DRIVING ALSO EFFECTS OUR 2016 ITASCA SOLEI. THE SOLEI AND FORZA AT THE TIME WERE ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL MODELS BUILT BY WINNEBAGO. SINCE PURCHASE IN 2015 WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF LOCKED DOORS OPENING WHILE MOVING. SEVERAL TIMES MOTORISTS HAVE ALERTED US TO OPEN DOORS AS WE TRAVELLED. THE PROBLEM BECAME LESS FREQUENT AS WE GAINED PROFICIENCY WITH LATCH ADJUSTMENTS, BUT NEVER THE LESS CONTINUES. WE DON'T TRUST THE SECURITY OF OUR DOOR LATCHES AND OUT OF NECESSITY RELY ON BUNGEE CORDS TO RETAIN CONTENTS IN SEVERAL COMPARTMENTS. *DT*JB *TR 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 40 FT MOTORHOME DOWN HIGHWAY 491 IN NEW MEXICO AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH HEADING SOUTH TOWARD SHIPROCK, NM, WHEN THE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED DAY/NIGHT SHADE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO THE DASH, RIPPING ELECTRICAL WIRING TOTALLY OUT. UNIT PROBABLY WEIGHED 10 - 12 POUNDS. I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SHOCK OF THE INCIDENT AND TO REALIZE WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. ENTIRE SHADE SYSTEM WAS NOW LAYING ON DASHBOARD. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT DRIVING INTO THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER THIS INCIDENT IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL INSTANCES OF ITEMS BEING DETACHED WHILE DRIVING. EACH INCIDENCE ACTS TO DIVERT THE DRIVERS ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD. *DT *DT CONSUMER STATED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE SHADE.*JB CONSUMER STATED ATTACHED ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE SHADE AFTER I DRILLED THROUGH THE RAIL AND THE CLIPS TO REATTACHED IT BECAUSE WE WERE 2000 MILES FROM HOME AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE CLIPS. PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THOR AS AN ORDER THROUGH ONE OF THEIR DEALERS. THOR DOESN'T SELL THEIR PARTS TO OWNERS DIRECTLY. I HAVE INCLUDED SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE CLIPS WHICH FAILED. THESE CLIPS ARE INSTALLED ON THE OVERHEAD JUST REAR OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEY HOLD THE RAIL WHICH THE SHADES ARE ATTACHED TO. THE RAIL IS APPROXIMATELY 96 INCHES LONG AND IS MADE OF EXTRUDED ALUMINUM. END PIECES ARE THEN ATTACHED TO THE RAIE AT 90 DEGREES ANGLE TO HOLD THE 2 SHADE ROLLERS. DRIVE MOTORS ARE INSIDE ROLLERS WHICH MOVE SHADES UP/DOWN.*JB

COMPARTMENT DOORS COME OPEN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.