2017 Entegra Cornerstone

Traveling at highway speeds, engine running at approximately 1,700 RPM without warning, a catastrophic engine failure occurred. Piston connection rod appears to have failed, causing both sides of engine block and oil pan to be destroyed, dumping oil and coolant onto roadway. Cummins ISX15 diesel engine. This dropped large pieces of engine block and debris all over the road causing a danger to other drivers. Because of the travel speed and complete loss of engine power (Red Stop Engine Light) with no warning, vehicle was difficult to control steering and safely getting to side of road. This vehicle was 7 years old, however only had 23,000+/- mile on it. The Stop Engine Light and warning buzzer came on and in less than 60 seconds, while trying to pull over safely on the shoulder of the interstate (again traveling at highway speeds), the catastrophic failure occurred. Vehicle was towed to local Cummins repair center for investigation and repairs.

The contact owns a 2017 Spartan Entegra Cornerstone RV. The contact stated while starting the RV to leave a campsite, he became aware that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system sensor head that needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the sensor system however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and the sensor was replaced again. The contact was concerned that the failure would recur. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

OCTOBER 2018, 21199 ODOMETER READING, ON PUBLIC TWO LANE HIGHWAY, THREE FAULT CODES ANNUNCIATED. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY ON NARROW SHOULDER WITH HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC PASSING. NOT SURE WHAT WAS ISSUE WITH FLASHING CODES AND BUZZER SCREAMING. ALL CODES RELATED TO DEF SYSTEM. UNSURE HOW FAR I COULD DRIVE BEFORE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. DID NOT WANT IT TO HAPPEN ON ISOLATED MAJOR HIGHWAY. CONTINUED ON 20 MILES TO NEAREST RV PARK. REPAIR REQUIRED SHAW DEVELOPMENT DEF CONTROL HEAD TO BE REPLACED IN KINGMAN, AZ. ACTION RESULTED IN UNSCHEDULED STOP AND TRIP INTERRUPTION OF TWO WEEKS WHILE WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PART. JULY 2020, 30831 ODOMETER READING, SAME THREE FAULT CODES RELATED TO DEF SYSTEM ANNUNCIATED. SHAW DEVELOPMENT CONTROL HEAD WAS AGAIN REPLACED IN MISSION, TX. ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ENTIRELY CORRECTED. NO CONFIDENCE IN 6TH REVISION OF SHAW DEVELOPMENT CONTROL HEAD. WAITING FOR NEXT FAILURE AND HOPEFULLY NOT WHERE PERSONAL SAFETY IS COMPROMISED.

RADIATOR TANK STARTED LEAKING AT A RATE OF OVER 15 QTS PER HOUR ON TRIP TO FLORIDA. KEPT FILLING WITH WATER TO GET 2 HOURS TO FINAL DESTINATION. REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR WAS DONE AT NORTH TRAIL RV IN FORT MEYERS AT MY EXPENSE OF $6,195.34. SPARTAN MOTORS IS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHASSIS AND THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH API RADIATORS. THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THEM TO DATE, MY COACH WAS JUST 6 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HELP ME OUT THEY OFFERED $1,000.00 AGAINST ALMOST $6200 BILL. WHY ISN'T THE RV INDUSTRY HELD TO THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS AS THE AUTO INDUSTRY?