2014 Coachmen Pursuit

THE RIGHT TRAVEL LOCK BRACKET (INTO WHICH A SAFETY PIN IS INSERTED) OF THE ELECTRIC BED, WHICH IS ABOVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS, BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING ( ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH). THE BED WAS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. THIS BED IS APPROX 7.5 FT BY 4.5 FT, AND WITH ATTACHED CABINETS, WEIGHS OVER 100 LBS. IT APPEARS THAT WHAT KEPT THE FRAME FROM FALLING MORE WAS THE WIRE TO THE PIN WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE BED FRAME. HAD THE LEFT SIDE FALLEN, THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN ANY CASE, THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION OF THIS BED, AND ITS LOCATION, IS UNSAFE, GIVEN THE DEFECTIVE BRACKET/TRAVEL LOCK DESIGN. WE HAVE NOT OPERATED THIS BED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE RV IN JAN. HOWEVER, WE HAVE TRAVELED OVER 7000 MILES SINCE MAY, AND THE ENTIRE BED HAS SHAKEN/ RATTLED CONTINUOUSLY WHILE IN MOTION. PERHAPS THE FATIGUE LIFE OF THE METAL BRACKET WAS EXCEEDED- POINTING TO A PART THAT IS INSUFFICIENT FOR ITS PURPOSE. I HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN MAKE THIS PROBLEM KNOWN TO ALL RV OWNERS WITH THIS TYPE OF BED, AND/OR ENSURE RV MANUFACTURERS TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO FIX THIS. EVEN ONE MORE INCIDENT LIKE THIS MIGHT CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, OR WORSE. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON 7/16/15 I WAS TRAVELING FROM NY CITY TO AUBURN NY. AFTER PULLING INTO A CAMP GROUND IN AUBURN NY IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE EXTERNAL COMPONENTS [QUICK RELEASE PINS] OF MY RECENTLY PURCHASED BLUE OX TOWING SYSTEM WERE GONE. UPON REALIZING THIS CONDITION I KNEW THE SAFETY HAZARD HAD OCCURRED AT AN EARLIER POINT WHILE IN ROUTE. MY FIRST ACTION WAS TO CALL THE MANUFACTURE TO ADVISE THEM OF THE SITUATION. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION RELATING TO THE TRUTHFULNESS OF MY CLAIM THEY STATED THEY WOULD OVERNIGHT THE APPROPRIATE PARTS TO REPAIR THE SITUATION. AFTER 48 HOURS WITH NO DELIVERY I DROVE MY RV HOME AND MY WIFE DROVE OUR CAR. A SUBSEQUENT DELIVERY WAS MADE TO THE ADDRESS I PROVIDED THEM 2 DAYS AFTER MY DEPARTURE. I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED TODAY [7/28/15] PARTS THAT DO NOT CORRESPOND TO THE PARTS OF MY ORIGINAL PURCHASE THAT WERE SAID TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. IT IS MY SINCERE BELIEF THAT THE ENTIRE UNIT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO OTHER ENTHUSIASTIC CAMPERS WHO SHARE MY OPINION OF THE UNIT AS A WHOLE. ALTHOUGH I ASSUMED THE BELATED PARTS I HAVE RECEIVED IS THEORETICALLY AN OFFER OF INDENTIFICATION BY THE BLUE OX CORPORATION I DESIRE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE OVERALL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE UNIT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT SOME SORT OF INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE MADE AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS SITUATION IS A DANGER TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING INTEGRITY PROBLEM WITH THIS UNIT AND THAT THE CORPORATION IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE PROPER DEGREE OF ALACRITY OR GENUINE SINCERITY. I FIND IT DIFFICULT [AT BEST] TO BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO. THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS ENTIRE EPISODE HAS BEEN CAVALIER AND UNCARING OF A POTENTIAL DESIGN ISSUE THAT PUTS LIFE AND LIMB IN EXTREME DANGER. THANK YOU *TR

(1) ALL CABINET DRAWERS FAIL TO LOCK PROPERTY. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, DRAWERS POP OPEN AND SLAM SHUT. THIS LOUD, ABRUPT SOUND CAUSES MAJOR DISTRACTIONS FOR THE DRIVER, AVERTS ATTENTION FROM THE TASK OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE SAFELY, IN TURN, POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND INJURY. (2) PANTRY DRAWERS FAIL TO LOCK PROPERTY. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, DRAWER PRODUCES A LOUD BAND, SIMILAR TO A BLOWN TIRE OR HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS LOUD, ABRUPT SOUND CAUSES MAJOR DISTRACTIONS FOR THE DRIVER, AVERTS ATTENTION FROM THE TASK OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE SAFELY, IN TURN, POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND INJURY. (3) DRAIN HOSE FROM THE REFRIGERATOR IS POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE OUTSIDE ELECTRICAL OUTLET. WHEN THE OUTSIDE ELECTRICAL OUTLET IS NOT BEING USED, A CAP COVERS AND SEALS THE PLUGIN FROM RAIN AND DRAIN WATER. THE PROBLEM DEVELOPS WHEN THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET IS IN USE, THE PROTECTIVE COVER IS OPENED AND AN ELECTRIC PLUG IS BEING UTILIZED. DRAIN WATER SPILLS ONTO AND INTO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET. *TR