2000 ROADTREK MOTOR HOME — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE BATTERY BOX THAT HOLDS THE AUXILIARY BATTERY IS MADE OUT OF A THIN GALVANIZED METAL, WHICH WASN'T UNDER COATED OR TREATED AT THE FACTORY. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE BATTERY FELL OUT OF THE MOTOR HOME ONTO THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT BEING DETECTED. THE MOTOR HOME WAS BUILT ON A DODGE 3500 CHASSIS. *AK

RE: FIRESTONE LT245/75R16; LOAD RATED 'E'; MOUNTED ON A 2000 ROADTREK CAMPER, CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500 CHASSIS. WHILE TRAVELING ON I-95 @ 70MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE REST OF THE TIRE SIMPLY SHREADED. THE IMPACT OF THE TREAD ON THE WHEELWELL PUNCHED A HOLE (APPROX.14" X 20") IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT ALSO BENT THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE STORAGE ACCESS DOOR FLINGING IT OPEN AND ALLOWING THE CONTENTS OF THE BIN TO BE PROPELLED OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE ONLY PROPERTY DAMAGE SUSTAINED WAS TO OUR VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC AROUND US THEY ALL WERE ABLE TO MANUEVER AROUND THE FLYING DEBRIS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS WAS A VERY HARROWING EXPERIENCE. *AK

BOTH REAR TIRES INTERNAL BELTS ARE SEPARATING AND FORMING A KNOT, THAT CAUSES A VIBRATION IN THE REAR END WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *AK

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. THE CAUSE OF THE BLOWOUT IS UNDETERMINED. *AK *TS

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BELT SEPARATION WITH THE FIRESTONE 245/75R16 TIRE WHICH ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INSTRUCTED TO SEND IN THE TIRE TO BE INSPECTED, HOWEVER CONSUMER RECEIVED A DENIAL LETTER FROM FIRESTONE STATING THAT THE TIRE WAS BEING OPERATED IN AN OVERLOADED CONDITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THERE WERE SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AND EXTREME DEFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE TIRE.*JB