NHTSA complaint: 1998 CHEVROLET MOTOR HOME — PARKING BRAKE
THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED ON MY 1998 WINNEBAGO ITASCA SUNCRUISER MOTORHOME. THE MOTORHOME WAS PARKED IN A FLAT PARKING LOT, PLACED IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET. AFTER ALL PERSONS EXITED THE MOTORHOME, IT ROLLED ACROSS THE FLAT PUBLIC PARKING LOT AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER UNOCCUPIED CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE PARKED CAR AND LEFT SIDE REAR DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR HOME. NO PERSONS WERE HURT OR INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT AS BOTH VEHICLES LUCKILY WERE UNOCCUPIED. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE DID PAY FOR THE CLAIM TO THE VICTIMS CAR. THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CREATING AS OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. HAD THE MOTORHOME NOT HIT A PARKED CAR, IT WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CHASSIS OF THE MOTORHOME WAS BUILT BY GM, AND THE FAILED SYSTEM IS PART OF THE CHASSIS ACCORDING TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR. THE MOTORHOME WAS TAKEN TO A GM DEALERSHIP - BOB MCDORMAT CHEVROLET (614) 837-3421 FOR REPAIR PER GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. AFTER A $1575.00 REPAIR TO THE PARKING GEAR AND BRAKE SYSTEM, THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN CAUSING THE MOTORHOME TO ROLL UNEXPECTEDLY. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE SECOND INCIDENT AS THE FOOT BRAKE WAS APPLIED, WHICH DID HOLD THE MOTORHOME UNTIL THE TIRES COULD BE BLOCKED. PARTS WERE REPAIRED AND REPLACED BY THE GM DEALERSHIP. PARTS WERE SAVED BY MY FAMILY. GM CENTRAL CLAIMS UNIT IS INVESTIGATING THESE INCIDENTS,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation