NHTSA complaint: 2006 FOUR WINDS SIESTA — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
I QUESTION THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THESE EXPENSIVE MOTOR HOMES BUILT BY FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL (ELKHART, IN) AND ATTACHED TO A FORD TRUCK CHASSIS. I QUESTION THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS RIDING INSIDE THE COACH OF THIS POORLY CONSTRUCTED VEHICLE RAPIDLY DETERIORATING WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD AND WITH ONLY 5000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE INTEGRITY OF THE LOCK LATCHES ON DOORS AND CABINETS ARE QUESTIONABLE WITH STORED ITEMS FLYING THROUGH THE CABIN AT HIGH SPEEDS WHILE NAVIGATING HIGHWAYS. THE INTEGRITY OF THIS PRODUCT IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE AS EVIDENT BY THE FOLLOWING LIST OF PROBLEMS AS A RESULTING FROM POOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS SELECTION ON A VEHICLE MARKETED FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION AND OPERATING ON OUR HIGHWAYS. BELOW ARE JUST SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE CAN SEE. THERE ARE LIKELY DEEPER MORE INVISIBLE PROBLEMS: MECHANICAL FAILURE:POP OUT ROOM MECHANISM IS FAILING. THE FAILURE OF THIS MECHANISM WOULD INTERFERE WITH BALANCE AND COMPROMISE SAFETY AT HIGH SPEEDS. MATERIALS FAILURE:PARTICLE BOARD CONSTRUCTION OF INTERIOR FIXTURES HAVE LITTLE RESISTANCE TO TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY AND UTILIZED IN THIS VEHICLE MARKETED FOR OUTDOORS RECREATION. CABINETS AND OTHER STRUCTURES ATTACHED TO THE INTERIOR WALLS SHOW EXTRAORDINARY DETERIORATION OVER THIS SHORT PERIOD AND MAY POSE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN SEPARATION OCCURS. STRUCTURAL FAILURE:WATER IMPINGEMENT DUE TO LEAKS FROM EITHER FAILURE OF ROOF OR OUTSIDE STRUCTURES ATTACHED TO THE BODY (AWNING, ETC.).
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation