2003 Forest River WINDSONG: complaints, problems and recalls

TWO FRONT RIMS CRACKED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR WHILE DRIVING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050400 at NHTSA ↗

WE WERE TRAVELING IN OUR 2003 28' SUNSEEKERCLASS C MOTORHOME, WHICH HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. ON OUR TRIP OUT A FEW DAYS EARLIER, THE VALVE STEM FELL OFF THE PASSENGER-SIDE INSIDE DUAL TIRE CAUSING IT TO GO FLAT. THE TIRE WAS REMOVED AND A NEW VALVE STEM PUT ON. FIVE DAYS LATER, ON THE RETURN TRIP WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH ON I 495 IN MA, THE SAME TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT. A FIST-SIZED HOLE WAS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE'S SIDEWALL. FIRESTONE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND SAID THE WARRANTY WAS VOIDED BECAUSE A NON-FIRESTONE DEALER HAD REPAIRED …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088326 at NHTSA ↗

DT: CONTACT STATES WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE RIGHT REAR, CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE SHEET METAL STRUCTURE AROUND THE TIRE AREA. THE SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE LEFT REAR WHILE GOING APPROX.IMATELY 60 MPH. ALSO CAUSED THE SAME DAMAGE AS THE FIRST BLOW OUT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER IS KENDA-CLEVER A-P; TIRE:#LT235/85R16;

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126209 at NHTSA ↗

2003 CARGO MATE CARGO TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY FOREST RIVER. MODEL GACM718TA2, GCVW 7,000 LBS., DOUBLE AXLE WITH ELECTRIC BRAKES. SERIAL # [XXX] [XXX]. MANUFACTURED 03/2003 ELECTRIC WIRING FOR BRAKES ONLY GOES TO LEFT SIDE BRAKES. WIRING FOR BRAKES ON RIGHT SIDE WAS NEVER HOOKED UP. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132816 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER WIND SONG. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CALIPERS LOCKED WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE PADS, CRACKED THE ROTORS AND OVERHEATED THE BRAKE FLUID. THE MECHANIC DID NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. AS OF AUGUST 10, 2007, THE DEALER…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199079 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOREST RIVER WINDSONG. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS LATER, HE NOTICED OIL COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CALIPERS WERE NOT RELEASING THE BRAKE PADS AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,350 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. 10,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201921 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-09-17 (September 17, 2003)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY STANDARD.

Consequence: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600.

Reported: 2007-03-05 (March 5, 2007)

CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: FOREST RIVER WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FOREST RIVER AT 1-574-389-4600,

Reported: 2009-04-03 (April 3, 2009)

NAVISTAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR MY 2001-2008 WORKHORSE W20, W21 AND W22 CHASSIS AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 MONACO RV ADMIRAL, ARISTA, MONARCH, AND RIPTIDE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.

Consequence: THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL, AND POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WORKHORSE DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FOUR BOSCH BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.