Coachmen Captiva problems & recalls

Problem: Coachmen is recalling 13,662 my 2002-2008 motor homes, fifth wheel and travel trailers equipped with glass shower doors and manufactured from june 15, 2001 thorugh august 6, 2007. when pressure is applied to the towel bar on the glass shower door, the edge of the bar may contact the glass.

Risk: Glass breakage may occur which could cause personal injury.

Fix: Owners will be provided with new mounting hardware for the towel bar and installation instructions. if an owner is not comfortable replacing the hardware themselves, a dealer will install the hardware at no cost to them. the recall is expected to begin on or about december 19, 2008. owners may contact coachmen at 1-574-825-5821.

Problem: Coachmen is recalling 37,293 motorhomes and fifth wheel travel trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerator manufactured by the dometic corporation. the refrigerator may have a defect in the boiler tube. pressurized coolant solution could be released into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present.

Risk: Extended operation of a leaking cooling unit could lead to a fire from gas which might escape.

Fix: Coachmen is working with dometic in order to repair these refrigerators (please see 08e032). dometic will repair these refrigerators by installing a secondary burn housing, a thermal fuse, and a melt fuse free of charge. dometic has retained stericycle inc. to manage this campaign. stericycle will assist the owner in locating dealerships or service centers and will provide assistance with sche

Problem: On certain motor homes, travel trailers, and fifth wheel trailers equipped with samsung microwave ovens, these units were produced with a defective panel. an electrical short can occur between circuit patterns on the membrane panel, especially overlapped by a "jumper" or jump wire. this may cause the oven to activate without pressing any key pads.

Risk: An electrical short can occur causing the oven to activate without pressing any key pads. this could result in excessive heat, smoke, or possibly a fire.

Fix: Samsung will notify customers and repair the panel free of charge. in the meantime, consumers should unplug their microwave, if possible. if the consumer is unable to unplug the microwave, they should leave the door ajar until the panel is replaced. consumers should never use the microwave oven for storage or leave any towels, paper, cloth or other products in the microwave after use. owners w

Problem: On some travel trailers equipped with optional underslung spare tire carriers, the locking pin for the spare tire carrier may not have been installed.

Risk: If the release bolt that secures the spare tire carrier to the frame at the drop down end of the carrier were to become loose and fall off, a portion of the carrier assembly itself could detach and fall off if there is no locking pin. if the spare tire carrier were to separate from the unit during travel, there is the potential for a crash.

Fix: Dealers will install an improved carrier release bolt and locking pin. owner notification began january 21, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact coachmen at 1-800-453-6064.