2005 MONACO COACH KNIGHT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

BETWEEN ST. IGNACE AND TAHQUAMENON FALLS STATE PARK THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL RAIL BURST. WE WERE UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR 30+ MINUTES. IT SATURATED THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY. HAD WE DRIVEN 10 MORE MINUTES THE FUEL WOULD HAVE REACHED THE TURBO AND THE COACH WOULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE. CUMMINS HAD PREVIOUSLY ISSUED RECALLS ON BLUEBIRD BUSES WITH 330 ISC ENGINES GOING BACK TO ENGINES PRODUCED IN 2004. MY ESN IS 2004. CUMMINS SUPERSEDED THIS PART SO MANY TIMES WE WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A CURRENT REPLACEMENT PART AFTER OUR CUMMINS PART FAILURE. CUMMINS ISSUED TSB100452, CAREFULLY CRAFTING THE WORDS TO ENSURE THIS IS NOT A RECALL BUT A "PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT" WHEN THE BLUEBIRD RECALL/SERVICE CAMPAIGN C0610 CLEARLY STATES " HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE MAY LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ATOMIZING DIESEL FUEL COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH".CUMMINS HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR MORE THAN 8 YEARS YET DOES NOT NOTIFY 330-ISC OWNERS OF TSB'S. WHEN I ASKED THEY ONLY PROVIDE RECALL OR SERVICE CAMPAIGN INFORMATION. AS A 20 YEAR AF MECHANIC I ALSO SERVED AS A AIRCRAFT MISHAP INVESTIGATOR, THIS ISSUE, THE VERBIAGE CUMMINS USES IN THE TSB LEADS ME TO THE OPINION THEY ARE HIDING A DANGEROUS LETHAL ISSUE FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM ANGRY THAT BUSES WITH CHILDREN - THEY ISSUE A RECALL, A FEW PEOPLE IN A MOTORHOME, THEY DON'T. I WANT A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PART #, FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE INCLUDING NUMBERS ORDERED OVER THE LAST 3 - 8 YEARS INCLUDING ENGINEERING MODIFICATIONS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR CUMMINS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL, A FLAMING MOTORHOME CRASHING INTO A SCHOOL BUS THAT HAD THE RECALL ACCOMPLISHED ? CUMMINS MUST ISSUE A RECALL INSTEAD OF CALLING AN OBVIOUS PART REDESIGN DUE TO KNOWN FAILURES A "PART IMPROVEMENT". THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. 3 MONTHS USE LOST. *TR

FUEL SUPPLY LINE FAILED/RUPTURED. IN FEB OF 2008 CUMMINS ISSUED RECALL FOR BLUEBIRD BUSES WITH THE IDENTICAL ENGINE -ISC-330 RECALL R08MZ ALSO REFERRED TO AS CUMMINS SERVICE CAMPAIGN C0610 (FUEL LINE BRACKET). REFER TO MONACO/RV GROUPS, YOU WILL SEE MANY CUMMINS 330-ISC ENGINES HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF THIS FUEL LINE. CUMMINS HAS BEEN AWARE OF ISSUE FOR YEARS. FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS THIS FUEL LINE FAILURE ISSUE IS OF CONCERN AND CAUSE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE/LOSS OF LIFE AND PART MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. CUMMINS TSB 100452. BY ADDRESSING THIS THROUGH A TSB THEY ARE HIDING THIS PART HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE, KIT REQUIRED TO REPLACE IT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AS A TRP/CAMPAIGN/FULL OF DISCLAIMERS THAT TSB IS NOT A RECALL. THERE IS FAILURE DATA DRIVING CUMMINS ENGINEERS TO CONTINUALLY CHANGE/SUPERSEDE THE PART NUMBER FOR THE FUEL LINE. DONE SO, SO MANY TIMES DEARBORN MI CUMMINS COULDN'T FIND CURRENT PARTS "KIT" REQUIRED.. I'M A 20 YR AF VETERAN, MASTER CREW CHIEF/MECHANIC FOR 16 YEARS/ASSIGNED AS AIRCRAFT MISHAP INVESTIGATOR 6 TIMES. WAS A FAA/FAR CONTRACTOR MAINTENANCE QA INSPECTOR. THEY ARE HIDING THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. 10 MORE MINUTES AND FUEL WOULD HAVE REACHED TURBO AND WE WOULD HAVE LOST THE COACH/OUR LIVES. YOUR INVESTIGATION WILL CONCUR WITH MY ASSESSMENT THAT CUMMINS IS FAILING TO ISSUE A URGENT RECALL ON THIS PART TO ALL ENGINE SERIAL NUMBERS 330-ISC WHO HAVE EVEN SIMILAR FUEL LINES SUBJECT TO VIBRATION W/O ANY MID-POINT INSULATOR AS THE NEW "TSB KIT" PROVIDES. I HAVE CONTACTED CUMMINS TO OFFSET MY LOSSES CAUSED BY THEIR NEGLIGENCE I'M SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL AS THIS RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. I HAVE NO OTHER AVENUE AVAILABLE BUT TO SUE THEM UNTIL THEY PAY FOR MY ALL OF MY LOSSES/OTHER MONIES I AM OWED, DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN FAILING TO NOTIFY ME THAT A DEFECTIVE OR POORLY ENGINEERED PART REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

CAREFREE OF COLORADO MOTORIZED SUNSHADE MOUNTING FLANGE DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE DEPLOYED SUNSHADE TO FALL DOWN BLOCKING THE VIEW OF HALF THE WINDSHIELD ALMOST RESULTED IN A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. CONTACTED CAREFREE OF COLORADO AND THEIR POSITING WAS THAT IF THE SCREWS WHERE TOO TIGHT, OR THAT THE ORIGINAL SCREWS WERE NOT USED THEN WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT. AS A RETIRED AIR FORCE MECHANIC THAT SPENT THREE YEARS AS A AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR I CAN ASSURE YOU THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE/LIVES FROM A CAREFREE OF COLORADO MOTORIZED SUNSCREEN PLASTIC MOUNTING FLANGE FAILING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION IS GREAT/EXTREME AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE INSPECTIONS/REPAIRS BE ACCOMPLISHED BY CAREFREE OF COLORADO. IN ADDITION, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE SCREWS, THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE INSTALLED IN NO WAY CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED PLASTIC MOUNTING FLANGE. THE LACK OF ENGINEERING IN THIS PRODUCT SOLELY CONTRIBUTED TO ITS FAILURE.*CW