2014 Ford F-53

AN ALMOST NEW 2014 NEWMAR BAY STAR 3303 MOTORHOME WITH A FORD V10 GASOLINE ENGINE ON A FORD CHASSIS. MY FAMILY AND I WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE ON OUR FIRST BIG FAMILY OUTING IN OUR NEW RV. AT THE LAST MINUTE WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE A GASOLINE ODOR WAS NOTICED. UPON VACATING THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE WAS SEEN DRIPPING FROM THE HOT EXHAUST PIPES UNDER THE RV. THE RV WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO A FORD TRUCK GARAGE. FORD TECHS DISCOVERED GASOLINE UNDER PRESSURE WAS SQUIRTING ONTO THE ENGINE EXHAUST AND WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING ON OUR VACATION THE GAS FUMES WOULD HAVE IGNITED AND EXPLODED. THE FIRE WOULD NOW HAVE BE FUELED BY GAS FROM A MELTED HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC GASOLINE LINE. THEN, AS A RV WITH THE ENGINE LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS, THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ANYONE FROM EXITING THROUGH THE DOOR. THE GASOLINE FUELED FIRE AND EXPLOSION WOULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY. FORD HAS NO REPAIR FOR THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THEIR HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS FORD'S NYLON/PLASTIC FUEL LINE IS INSULATED WITH A SOY BASED FOAM AND/OR OTHER INGREDIENTS THAT ARE NATURALLY GOOD TASTING FOOD PRODUCTS FOR RODENTS/CRITTERS. AS A FOOD BASED PRODUCT, THE FOAM INSULATION AND PLASTIC LINES ATTRACT RODENTS/CRITTERS TO EAT THE FOAM AND FUEL LINE THUS DAMAGING THE PLASTIC LINE CREATING A DANGEROUS GASOLINE LEAK. ON DISCUSSIONS WITH FORD THEY HAVE NO CORRECTION FOR THE PROBLEM. FORD RECOMMENDS PLACING MOTHBALLS UNDER THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID PARKING IN WOODED AREAS. THE DANGER IS THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE COATED WITH A FOOD BASED FOAM INSULATION IS LOCATED NEAR THE ENGINE CAUSING THE GASOLINE TO LEAK DIRECTLY ONTO THE HOT ENGINE MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST. THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT RISK EVERY TIME WE USE THE RV DUE TO A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING DEFECT BY FORD AND THE LOCATION OF THE ENGINE AND EXIT DOOR ON THE NEWMAR.

THIS VEHICLE IS AN RV. THE LATCH TO THE ONLY REGULAR EXIT DOOR IS ATTACHED BY A VERY SMALL PIECE OF CAST METAL. THE SPRING IS QUITE STRONG AND WHILE OPENING THE EXIT DOOR, THE HANDLE BROKE OFF. THIS MADE EXIT FROM THE DOOR IMPOSSIBLE. THE ONLY EXIT WAS OUT THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME AND I AM FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO CLIMB THROUGH THE WINDOW, SO THIS WAS NOT A HUGE ISSUE. HAD THERE BEEN AN ISSUE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, A WINDOW WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE SMASHED TO EXIT.

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AT 1800 MILES WHILE MERGING ONTO I65 AT 60MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON I65 NEAR THE INDIANA / KENTUCKY BORDER. THIS OCCURRED ON 03APRIL2016. DAMAGE REQUIRED NEW WHEEL BEARING, SPINDLE, KING PIN, BRAKE PADS, HUB ASSEMBLY AND ROTOR. DELIVERED TO ANDY MOHR TRUCK CENTER IN INDIANAPOLIS WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD F-53. WHILE THE MOTOR COACH WAS PARKED, TWO OF THE SLIDES, AWNINGS, STAIRS, AND THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEATS FAILED TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURES RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE AWNING AND STAIRS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT AND SLIDES WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURES WERE UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO RUN A HOT WIRE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE SLIDE CONTROLLER. THE SLIDES BECAME OPERABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES ARE INSTALLED BY THOR MOTOR COACH CO. NOT FORD. THE FAILURE WASS BROKEN HOT WIRING WITHIN THE COACH BODY. THOR MOTOR COACH COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE THE HOT WIRES GO. THERE WERE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF 12 VOLTS LEAVING THE POWER SOURCE AND NOT GETTING TO THE INTENDED COMPONENT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED A SHORT FIRE WOULD OCCUR. UPDATED 12/7/2015 *JS

TRAVELING ON I-10 WHEN TRUCKS PASSED ME, I WOULD A LOT OF TIMES BE PUSHED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ALSO ON CURVES STILL UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE FRONT END WAS FLOATING OR LOOSE STEERING. ALL THIS WAS TRAVELING ANY WHERE FROM 55 TO 65 MPH. GOING ON STRAIGHT AWAYS WITH NO TRUCKS PASSING IT DROVE FINE. *TR