Complaint 1033740

Complaint Summary

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

Owner Narrative

IN EARLY NOVEMBER WE RETURNED FROM AN RV TRIP AND NOTICED UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR ON OUR 2011 OPEN RANGE ROAMER. THINKING THAT WE NEEDED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COLFAX TRAILER & REPAIR. THEIR EXAMINATION LED TO THE DISCOVERY THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RV AND THERE WERE ALSO WORN OUT SUSPENSION PARTS. WE CONTACTED OUR DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT LIPPERT HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON ANOTHER MODEL, BUT NOT OURS. THE DEALER CONTACTED OPEN RANGE, WHO REFUSED TO BE INVOLVED AND REFERRED THE PROBLEM TO LIPPERT. INITIALLY LIPPERT REFUSED TO FIX ANYTHING, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (THE 2 YEAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 7 MONTHS PRIOR). UPON FURTHER URGING FROM THE DEALER, THEY AGREED TO SEND PARTS TO WELD THE FRAME BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE LABOR COST. THE PARTS THEY SENT DID NOT EVEN BEGIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CRACKED FRAME COMPROMISED THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS LEADING TO PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. SO IN ADDITION TO THE CRACKED FRAME REPAIR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WORN SUSPENSION AND TIRES. NONE OF THESE THINGS SHOULD HAVE FAILED OR SHOWN SUCH WEAR ON A 2 1/2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 13,500 MILES OF TRAVEL. THE WELDER ADVISED US THAT REPAIR WOULD HELP BUT THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD RETURN AND FELT THAT LIPPERT SHOULD DO A RECALL. IN ADDITION TO HAVING THE COMPLETE EXPENSE OF THIS REPAIR, WE ARE GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE MANY RV'S ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE FRAMES MANUFACTURED BY LIPPERT. EVENTUALLY THE WEAKENED FRAME WILL CAUSE A SUSPENSION COLLAPSE THAT MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. HOW MANY RV OWNERS CRAWL UNDER THEIR RIGS TO EXAMINE THE FRAME? LIPPERT ALSO PROVIDES MANY OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE RV INDUSTRY AND WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR APPARENT LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL AND APPARENT DISREGARD FOR SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAY. IF NECESSARY WE CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS. *TR

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.