FORETRAVEL MOTOR COACHES FROM THE EARLY 90'S HAVE A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHASSIS THAT CONNECTS THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME TO THE CENTER CHASSIS ARE SEPARATING. THIS IS KNOW AS "BULKHEAD SEPARATION" THE BOLTS USED ARE A SELF TAPPING BOLT AND THEY ARE CORRODING AND BREAKING. ESPECIALLY WHERE THE ON BOARD WATERTANK OVERFLOW CASCADES DOWN INTO THE BOLTED ASSEMBLY OPEN SEAM CAUSING INTERNAL CORROSION. THE FACTORY DRILLS AND PUTS A BOLT AND NUT ASSEMBLY IN PLACE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. AFTER RE-ALIGNING THE SUB ASSEMBLIES IF NEEDED. THE COACH COULD COMPLETELY BREAK IN HALF AS THE ORIGINAL BOLTS CORRODE AND BREAK. THE FACTORY DOES NOT DO THE FIX FREELY AND CONSIDERS IT AN "OPTIONAL" SAFETY ISSUE. MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WORK DONE TO PREVENT FURTHER CRACKING OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE AND TO MAINTAIN A SAFE VEHICLE. AS THESE ARE RV'S (MOTORHOME) MOST HAVE VERY FEW MILES ON THEM, JUST AGE. WILL IT TAKE A MAJOR INCIDENT COSTING LIVES TO GET THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION CORRECTED. THE FACTORY DOES THE REPAIR, BUT HAVE NOT SHARED A FIX THAT CAN BE USED AT OTHER FACILITIES. THE YAHOO NEWS GROUP "FORETRAVEL" IS LOADED WITH THE DESCRIBED ISSUE. IF THESE WERE DOT INSPECTED COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, I BELIEVE THE FACTORY WOULD HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THIS DESIGN ISSUE LONG AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291069

Official recalls

98V167001 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer:lpg Systems:furnace

Jul 20, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH AQUA-HOT HEATING SYSTEMS, MODEL 431-3 ZONE WITH ENGINE LOOP. FIBERGLASS INSULATING MATERIAL LOCATED UNDER THE BURNER HEAD ON THE FLOOR OF THE HEATER ENCLOSURE, CAN BECOME SOAKED WITH FLUIDS (ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND/OR DIESEL FUEL).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: VEHICLE SYSTEMS INC. WILL CONDUCT THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSULATION FROM BENEATH THE DIESEL HEATING UNIT AS WELL AS FROM BEHIND THE CONTROL THERMOSTAT AND AIR-CONDITIONING HEATING ELEMENT ACCESS COVERS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.