2004 National RV Seabreeze

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NATIONAL RV SEABREEZE RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V059000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: SWITCHES:BRAKE WARNING) AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ROTORS WERE FRACTURED AND THE BRAKE PADS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO THE DEFECT OF THE CALIPERS, WHICH WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,776. UPDATED 12/28/2011 *LN

I WAS TAKING MY 2004 NATIONAL DOLPHIN RV TO BE SERVICED IN OCALA FLORIDA. IT HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE ON VEHICLE (12,800) AND WHILE ENROUTE, I FELT THE VEHICLE BEGIN SHAKING FROM THE CHASSIS AREA, SO I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER. I FOUND THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY BREAKS, EVEN WHEN I PUMPED THE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT OUT TO CHECK ON WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I COULD SMELL THE ODOR OF BURNT BRAKES AND THE FRONT HUB WAS SO HOT I COULDN'T TOUCH IT. AFTER A COOL DOWN REST, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT ON TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, SINCE THEY WERE ONLY ABOUT 3 MILES UP THE ROAD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ARE LOCKING UP, CAUSING OVERHEATING OF BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE ABS SENSORS MELTED, ALL OF WHICH RESULTED IN THE INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. THE REPAIRS WILL COST $3200, WHICH I DO NOT HAVE AND THEREFORE WILL HAVE TO LET IT SIT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD IT. HOWEVER, BASED ON FOLLOW UP RESEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE WORKHORSE W-22 CHASSIS AND BOSCH BRAKES. THEREFORE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I ADD MY NAME AND COMPLAINT TO THAT OF THE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE SO. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ON A 2 LANE BACK ROAD AND NOT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY OR WORSE, IN A CROWDED CITY AREA. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS NOT ONLY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BUT ALSO A COSTLY ONE. WITH LESS THAN 13,000 MILES, I SHOULD NOT HAVE WORRY ABOUT SAFE BRAKES OR SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR WHAT I CONSIDER IS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN ERROR. THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO PRETTY MUCH GO AWAY ONCE WORKHORSE CHANGED BRAKE SYSTEMS OR PORTIONS THEREOF. *TR

TOOK MOTORHOME (WORKHORSE W22 CHASSIS) TO GET GAS, APPROX 5 MILES. GOT GAS AND RETURNED. LITTLE TRAFFIC, FLAT ROAD, 45 MPH. UPON RETURN, BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE SMOKING. THIS FOLLOWS PREVIOUS FAILURES OF BOTH REAR BRAKES. MOTORHOME HAS LESS THAN 24,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, INCLUDING TWO COMPLETE REPLACEMENTS OF BRAKE FLUID. NOTIFIED WORKHORSE AND THEY RESPONDED THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT INVOLVED IN ANY BRAKE RECALLS. *TR