Coachmen Sportscoach Elite problems & recalls

Problem: Coachmen is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 chaparral, model year 2004-2006 somerset, model year 2007-2008 wyoming, model year 2004-2005 santara, and model year 2004-2006 sportscoach elite motor homes and fifth wheel trailers manufactured from october 2003, through september 2007. these vehicles are equipped with dimplex electraflame, symphony, or optiflame branded electric fireplaces, stoves, and fireplace inserts. the plug in remote control receiver for the fireplace can overheat.

Risk: An overheated receiver could cause a fire.

Fix: Coachmen is working with dimplex to identify and notify any affected owners. dimplex will provide owners a free replacement plug-in remote control kit. the safety recall began on february 21, 2011. owners may contact dimplex north america customer service at 1-888-346-7539 or coachmen motor works customer service at 1-866-953-5555.

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 34 my 2008 sportscoach elite, sportscoach legend, and sportscoach pathfinder motor homes equipped with saf-holland adl series rear suspensions. in some instances the transverse beam was not properly welded which could result in a failure of the weld.

Risk: If the weld fails, vehicle stability while cornering could be affected resulting in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a crash. in addition, the transverse beam could drop to the ground causing sparks that could cause a fire hazard.

Fix: Coachmen is working with daimler trucks and saf-holland to have a visual inspection of the adl transverse beam performed. if a weld defect is identified, saf-holland will provide a service replacement kit that contains a new transverse beam, all necessary installation hardware, beam replacement, and instructions free of charge (please see 08v269 or 08e031). owners may contact saf-holland at 1-23

Problem: Coachmen is recalling 961 my 2005-2007 cross country, sportscoach elite, my 2005-2006 cross country se, and my 2006 sportscoach encore class a motor homes built using inline power steering filters, part no. 14-16829-000. the filter can plug due to failure of the screen adhesion to the filter housing causing a rise in return line pressure. this can lead to hose separation from the filter or steering gear fitting resulting in a sudden loss of steering fluid and power assist.

Risk: Sudden loss of steering assist without warning involving a motor home could be a problem for certain drivers increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Coachmen is working with freightliner to replace the affected filters with a larger filter (please see 07v570). owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712 or coachmen at 1-574-825-5821.

Problem: On certain class a motor homes built on freightliner chassis and equipped with zf model 8018 steering gears, these gears may have been assembled with the incorrect recirculating ball spacer. this could potentially allow the recirculating balls to escape from the recirculating ball circuit resulting in a loss of steering.

Risk: The operator may notice higher required steering wheel inputs, or the need for more steering wheel adjustments while driving in a straight line in combination with metallic cracking noises prior to a loss of steering. loss of steering could result in a vehicle crash.

Fix: Coachmen is working with freightliner and zf to replace the steering gear (please see 07v343 and 07e049). owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712 or coachmen at 1-800-453-6064.

Problem: On certain motor homes built with cummins isl cm850 diesel engines, the connecting rod contains a machining defect in the wrist pin bushing of the rod that could cause a seizure of the piston pin.

Risk: If allowed to progress, this can lead to engine failure with the possibility of the rod rupturing the lock cavity, spilling oil and debris onto the roadway increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Coachmen is working with cummins to recalibrate the engine control module and enhance the engine protection system enabling it to provide early detection of the failure mode and avoid more serious engine damage and resultant safety hazard. cummins will also install a new valve cover with a crankcase pressure sensor free of charge (please see 07e033). owners may contact cummins at 1-800-343-73

Problem: On certain rear diesel motor homes containing a 50 amp transfer switch built by intellitec, the material used for the wire lugs was changed from nickel plated to copper lugs. the copper lugs are softer than the nickel plated and do not retain the torque of the screw that clamps the wire connector.

Risk: When the torque is relaxed, the lugs can become loose resulting in excessive heat within the connected wire that could result in a fire.

Fix: Coachmen will be working with intellitec to notify owners and have the repair performed on their vehicles. the recall began on july 14, 2005. owners may contact coachmen at 1-574-825-1174.