Complaint 668366

Complaint Summary

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

Owner Narrative

VEHICLE: 2005 CHINOOK GLACIER CLASS C R/V, 2004 FORD E450 CUTAWAY CHASSIS. APPLICABILITY: ALL MODEL YEARS OF CHINOOK GLACIER R/V AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODELS. HAZARD: FIRE/EXPLOSION. COMPONENT: FLEXIBLE PROPANE HOSE CONNECTING 2 DISTRIBUTION MANIFOLDS UNDER COACH IN VICINITY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. HOSE IS ROUTED OUTBOARD AND FASTENED TO THE AXLE ARCH FRAME MEMBER BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE RIGHT REAR SPRING. MINIMAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN SPRING AND HOSE ALLOWS SPRING AXLE MOUNTING HARDWARE TO ABRADE HOSE. THE HOSE ABRADED THROUGH AND BEGAN LEAKING. I NOTED PROPANE SMELL AND HEARD HISSING WHILE PREPARING FOR RECENT TRIP. THE LEAK WAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE EXHAUST PIPE, JUST FORWARD OF GAS GENERATOR AND IN VICINITY OF 55 GAL FUEL TANK. I BELIEVE THERE WAS LIKELIHOOD OF CATASTROPHIC EXPLOSION AND FIRE HAS THIS GONE UNNOTICED, PARTICULARLY IF PARKED AND GENERATOR RUNNING. CORRECTION REQUIRED REMOVAL OF RIGHT REAR DUALS TO ACCESS THE HOSE AND MOUNTING CLAMPS. HOSE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH NEW HOSE AND FITTINGS MADE UP BY LOCAL PROPANE COMPANY SERVICE PERSONNEL. NEW HOSE WAS RE-ROUTED ABOVE FRAME MEMBER SO AS TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBILITY OF CONTACT WITH SPRING HARDWARE. I BELIEVE THAT MOVING TO INBOARD OF FRAME IS NOT IDEAL AS THAT IS WHERE THE ENGINE EXHAUST PIPE IS ROUTED. BETTER SOLUTION MAY BE TO REPLACE THE FLEXIBLE HOSE WITH METAL TUBING. I CAN SUPPLY PHOTOS OF DAMAGED HOSE AND ORIGINAL PLACEMENT AS WELL AS MY REPAIR AND RE-ROUTING. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL, HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER IS OUT OF BUSINESS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A STRONG LIKELIHOOD OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH AND MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR

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