2000 Monaco Coach SIGNATURE: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE TRAVELING EAST ON I 40, 70 MILES EAST OF BARSTOW CA MY ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE ISOLATOR BAR TO MELT CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO SEND 25 VOLTS THROUGH THE COACH BURNING UP THE COACH BATTERIES AND STARTING A FIRE IN THE CABINET ABOVE THE DRIVERS HEAD. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, ALSO SEVERAL SWITCHES BURNED UP. AT THIS TIME THE INVERTOR, SOLENOID, NUMEROUS FUSES, AND THE ELECTRONIC BOARDS IN THE AC BURNED OUT. I GOT THE VEHICLE PARKED SAFELY AND HAD THE VEHICLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,851 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161318 at NHTSA ↗

AUTOMATIC BRAKE SLACK ADJUSTERS ON DRIVE AXLE DO NOT FUNCTION. SINCE DISCOVERING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE SLACK ADJUSTERS MANUALLY ADJUSTED. PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ROAD IN COLORADO DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE GRADE AT THAT POINT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3% AND THE COACH BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AFTER SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE. PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD ADEQUATELY AFTER PROPER ADJUSTMENT OF SLACK ADJUSTERS. I HAVE NO WAY TO TEST THE HOLDING POWER OF THE PARKING BRAKE, HOWEVER WITH THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181185 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MONACO SIGNATURE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SERVICE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR TO IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE PLACED BRICKS BEHIND THE TIRES TO KEEP THEM FROM ROLLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ROTORS SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN GOOD DRIVING CONDITION…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221086 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MONACO COACH SIGNATURE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TAG AXLE FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. **TR *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114606 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-16 (August 16, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES PRODUCED ON ROADMASTER CHASSIS. AS THE RESULT OF INCORRECT CRIMPING OF HYDRAULIC LINE FITTINGS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONE OR MORE OF THE HYDRAULIC HOSES ON THE ENGINE-COOLING UNIT COULD BECOME DETACHED. THIS COULD ALLOW HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE SPRAYED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC HOSES AND THEIR FITTINGS.

Reported: 2001-01-23 (January 23, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES PRODUCED ON ROADMASTER CHASSIS. THE WATER PUMP CONTROLLER CANNOT ADEQUATELY HANDLE CURRENT LOAD WHICH CAN RESULT IN OVERHEATING OF THE PUMP CONTROLLER.

Consequence: THIS CREATES A POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A WIRE HARNESS AND RELAYS TO RELIEVE THE OVERLOAD POTENTIAL FROM THE WATER PUMP CONTROLLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.

Reported: 2001-04-30 (April 30, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES BUILT BY AM-SAFE. ON SOME SEAT BELTS, THE BUCKLE AND CONNECTOR MAY UNLATCH DURING A COLLISION.

Consequence: SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP BELTS AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT WITH A NEW BELT ASSEMBLY. AM-SAFE IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION. 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 AM-SAFE AT 219-266-8330 OR MONACO AT 219-862-7211.

Reported: 2001-09-10 (September 10, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON ROADMASTER CHASSIS. AS THE RESULT OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE ENGINE SYSTEM IN RESPECT TO THE ROUTING OF THE 12-VOLT DC BATTERY CABLES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE INSULATION ON THE BATTERY CABLE TO MELT AND CREATE A SHORT.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE 12-VOLT DC SYSTEM AND ENGINE OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD TWO HEAT SHIELDS TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TO DEFLECT HEAT, AND ADD HEAT SHIELDING SLEEVE MATERIAL OVER THE BATTERY CABLES IN THE AREA OF EXPOSURE TO EXHAUST HEAT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 22, 2001. 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 MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.

Reported: 2008-06-05 (June 5, 2008)

MONACO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK.

Consequence: EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.

Remedy: MONACO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS. NORCOLD WILL PROVIDE THERMAL SWITCH KITS TO OWNERS ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.