2004 Safari Coach Cheetah

THE MOTORHOME (MH) WAS BROUGHT IN TO TRUCK REPAIR FACILITY FOR ALIGNMENT OF REAR AXLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ATTRIBUTED TO REAR AXLE MISALIGNMENT. WHEN TECH'S GOT UNDER THE MH IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH TRAILING ARMS WERE CRACKED WHERE THE AXLE MOUNTS TO THE ARMS. ONE WAS SLIGHTLY CRACKED, THE OTHER WAS CRACKED APPROX 75% THROUGH. HAD EITHER ARM BROKEN COMPLETELY THROUGH THE MH BODY WOULD HAVE DROPPED DOWN WITH POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. MILEAGE AT THIS TIME WAS APPROX 52,000. BOTH OF THESE ARMS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY MONACO AT APPROX 17,000 MILE UNDER RECALL IN JULY OF 2005. BOTH ARMS REPLACED AT THIS TIME WITH THE SAME TYPE OF ARMS THAT CRACKED AS THERE WERE NO ALTERNATIVE ARMS AVAILABLE. EXPERIENCE BY OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM HAS SHOWN THAT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD THESE REPLACEMENT ARMS WILL ALSO BREAK. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO A SAFARI TREK 31 MOTORHOME MANUFACTURED BY MONACO COACH CORP VIN # [XXX]. THE COACH IS ON A WORKHORSE 22 CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BY WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS LLC. THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROVIDE UNSAFE HANDLING. THE COACH "RABBIT HUNTS", BOUNDS, SWAYS, AND ROCKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLE. TO DATE I HAVE ADDED A TRUE CENTER STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM MADE BY BLUE OX. THIS HELPED THE STEERING PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT CORRECT IT OR THE OTHER UNSAFE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE UNIT INDICATED THAT WORKHORSE HAD A "FIX" THAT INVOLVED REPLACING THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WITH HEAVY DUTY SHOCK ABSORBERS AND ADDING A ANTI-SWAY BAR. THESE I WAS INFORMED MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE OWNER. WORKHORSE AND SAFARI DID NOT AGREE TO FIX THIS KNOWN HANDLING SAFETY PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF IT AND KNOW THE "FIX". *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

RECALL REGARDING 2004 SAFARI CHEETAH'S FRONT SUSPENSION.*MR THE DEALER NEVER DISCLOSED THE RECALL AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE I-BEAM LEAF IMITATOR IN THE FRONT AXLE SUSPENSION AND THE REAR AXLE PANARD BAR. THE RECALL STATED THAT THEY HAD FAULTY WELDS THAT COULD CRACK AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE BUT THE FRONT HAD NOT. THE MECHANIC ASSURED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WELDS WERE HOLDING AND NO CRACKS WERE VISUALLY EVIDENT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ORDERED THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY REPAIRED. *NM