2000 NATIONAL RV SURFSIDE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NATIONAL RV SURFSIDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE VERY HOT AFTER THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES WERE LOCKING UP AND OVERHEATING. HE WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V084000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF

ON 1/27/07 WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON MY 2000 NATIONAL RV SURFSIDE WE STARTED SMELLING PROPANE GAS, AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM THE STOVE. WE CHECKED IT AND FOUND NOTHING, WHEN WE MADE IT TO OUR DESTINATION AS I GOT OFF THE RV I SMELL PROPANE GAS IN THE EXTERIOR SO DECIDED TO CHECK THE TANK. WHEN I OPENED THE PROPANE DEPARTMENT I HEARD THE TANK HISSING, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE A FITTING HAD COME LOOSE, BUT AFTER CHECKING THE TANK WITH SOAP AND WATER I FOUND THAT IT WAS LEAKING FROM A BRACKET WELDED TO THE TANK FOR MOUNTING. ON 01/29/07 CONTACTED NATIONAL RV TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND BASICALLY THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW TANK SINCE IT WAS NOT COVERED ANYMORE. I TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THE REASON THE TANK CRACKED WAS BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS MOUNTED (RIGID) TO THE BRACKETS AND FRAME. THEN THE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED ME TO CALL THE LP TANK MANUFACTURE IN CHICAGO, WITCH I DID TODAY (01/30/07) AND I TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM TANK MANUFACTURE ADVISED ME THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE WAY NATIONAL RV MOUNTED THE TANK (RIGID) WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT ALL ALONG. SHE ALSO SUGGESTED I CALL NATIONAL RV BACK AND TRY TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE TANK AND MOUNTED IN A SAFER WAY, SO I DID. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE OWNER SERVICE SUPERVISOR, HE TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK AND WOULD BE GLAD TO SELL ME A TANK FOR $678.33 + SHIPPING. MY REASON FOR FILING THIS COMPLAINT IS TO HOPEFULLY THIS GETS LOOKED INTO BY NHTSA AND HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND NO LIVES WILL BE LOST. *NM

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BIN ABOVE THE TAIL PIPE WAS MELTED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A HEAT SHIELD BETWEEN THE TAIL PIPE AND THE PLASTIC BIN. THE GENERATOR TAIL PIPE IS ALSO LOCATED UNDER A PLASTIC BIN WITHOUT A HEAT SHIELD *SCC *NLM