Western ALPENLITE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
5,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Wheels:Rim is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels:Rim | 4 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 2 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Wheel Speed Sensor | 1 |
Wheels:Rim: 4; Steering: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 2; Tires:Sidewall: 2; Wheels: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Wheel Speed Sensor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels:Rim leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10046715 · 2003-11-10 (November 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WAS DELAYED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004636 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT BRAKE ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL WAS SMOKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268409 · 2009-05-11 (May 11, 2009)
FAILURE: STEEL BRACKET HOLDING THE POWER STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME DEFLECTS EXCESSIVELY WHEN OPERATING THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY MOTORHOME. THIS LEADS TO STRESS CRACKING OF BRACKET WELDS, STRESS CRACKING OF THE BRACKET'S REAR MOUNTING FLANGE, AND HAS LEAD TO ONE SUBSTANTIAL BRACKET FAILURE AFFECTING STEERING SAFETY FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE: ALL THE TIME CORRECTIONS: NOTHING DEFINITIVE HAS BEEN DONE. I HAVE ADDED A PROTOTYPE RETROFIT STIFFENER BETWEEN THE STEEL BRACKET & FRAME AND AM TESTING THAT AT THIS TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10268409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268537 · 2009-05-12 (May 12, 2009)
HYDRAULIC STEERING GEARBOX IS MOUNTED TO A STEEL BRACKET THAT BENDS UP AND DOWN EXCESSIVELY WHEN STEERING THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS ALL THE TIME WHEN DRIVING, AND I FEAR THAT THE CONSTANT FLEXING WILL ULTIMATELY BRAKE THE BRACKET AND RENDER VEHICLE STEERING NON-OPERATIONAL WHILE DRIVING - LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268537 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 2; 1998: 3; 1999: 3; 2000: 2; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 0; 2006: 2; 2007: 0; 2008: 0