2005 Monaco Coach Cayman

DRIVING WESTBOUND FROM SUSPENSION SHOP AFTER NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS INSTALLED,AND REQUEST FOR INSPECTION ON TRAILING ARMS THAT SHOP NOW DENIES THE REQUEST. ABOUT 7-10 MILES AWAY FROM SHOP HIT HARD BUMP AND TRAILING ARM SHIFTED DOWN WHICH TURNED WHOLE REAR SIDEWAYS AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS WAS A FEDERAL RECALL FOR MONACO WHO NOW RESTRUTURED AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY ALONG WITH MCBRIDE SPRING AND SUSPENSION AT 1010 2ND ST ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

2005 MONACO CAYMAN MOTORHOME. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BROKEN TRAILING ARMS RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE APPROACHED THE ON-RAMP TO THE FREEWAY, THE MOTORHOME BEGAN TO SWAY A BIT, AND WHEN HE ACTUALLY GOT ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE MOTORHOME BEGAN TO SWAY ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRAILING ARM'S REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS SINCE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND WAS PURCHASED BY ANOTHER COMPANY.

OUR MONACO CAYMAN RV'S TRAILING ARMS BROKE. THIS CAUSED EXTREME SWERVING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WE TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO BE REPAIRED AND WARNED THEM NOT TO DRIVE IT. THEY TEST DROVE IT ANYWAY, AND I GOT A CALL THAT THE TECHNICIAN THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE AND WAS WHITE AS A SHEET. THEY CHECKED WITH MONACO, WHO ADMITTED TO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRAILING ARMS, BUT REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR. THEY HAD A REPLACEMENT TRAILING ARM SETUP AVAILABLE FOR $1850 PLUS $150 SHIPPING, SO THAT TELLS US THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR COST US OVER $3500. WE CALLED MONACO TO CHECK ON WARRANTY COVERAGE, AND THEY HUNG UP ON US. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IF I HADN'T BEEN A RETIRED TRUCK DRIVER, I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE HANDLED IT. *TR

NOTED AN ARTICLE IN FAMILY MOTOR COACH MAG CONCERNING A POSSIBLE FAILURE MODE OF THE MONACO TRAILING ARM ASSEMBLY FOR A 4 AIRBAG CONNECTION TO THE REAR AXLE. TOOK IT TO BRAZEL'S IN CENTRALIA, WA. FOR INSPECTION. THEY FOUND CRACKS IN BOTH TRAILING ARMS. HAD THEM REPLACED FOR REENGINEERED ONES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BY SOURCE MFG. MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES MONACO GET BY WITH NOT COVERING A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS IF I HAD WAITED UNTIL IT ULTIMATELY FAILED. MONACO KNEW OF THE PROBLEM SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE MY COACH WAS MANUFACTURED ( MINE IS A 2005 CAYMAN. THE FAILURE WAS KNOWN IN 2003. THEY CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THE COACH WITH A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND NOW BECAUSE OF THEIR FINANCIAL PREDICAMENT THEY NO LONGER FEEL THAT IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE REPAIR WITH A PART THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM. THANK GOODNESS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE I HAD A FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD. THERE ARE HORROR STORIES OF OTHERS THAT WERE NOT SO FORTUNATE. *TR