Country Coach Affinity Complaints (2007)

1 consumer complaint on file.

• #10230479June 10, 2008
  STEERING

  ON MAY 12, 2008 AT 5:30 PM THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON OUR 45' MOTOR HOME. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HWY 60 WEST NEAR THE JUNCTION WITH I10 IN BEAUMONT, CA. THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING WHAT-SO-EVER. I WAS VERY LUCKY IN THAT THERE WAS A PULL-OUT AND I WAS BARELY ABLE MAN-HANDLE THE MOTOR HOME INTO THE PULLOUT AREA. STEERING A MOTOR HOME THAT WEIGHS 52000 POUNDS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY THE LEAST WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I FELT AS THOUGH I MIGHT BREAK THE STEERING WHEEL OFF AS THE COMPONENTS OF THE STEERING COLUMN ARE NOT DESIGNED TO BE USED WITHOUT POWER STEERING. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING, THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD SHE COULD HAVE CONTROLLED OR STEERED THIS MOTOR HOME AT THE TIME OF BREAKDOWN. WE WERE TOWED TO COLTON, CA FOR REPAIRS. THE PTO (POWER TAKE OFF) HAD FAILED COMPLETELY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE PTO IS MANUFACTURED BY CHELSEA. THE PTO UNIT INSTALLED ON OUR MOTOR HOME IS THE WRONG ONE FOR THIS APPLICATION. IT RUNS "DRY" WITH NO LUBRICATION ADDED AND CONSEQUENTLY FAILS AT APPROX 15K MILES (GIVE OR TAKE). THIS PTO IS NOT INTENDED FOR 100% DUTY CYCLE AND IS INTENDED FOR INTERMITTENT USE ONLY AS IT HAS NO RENEWABLE LUBRICATION AVAILABLE. WE KNOW OF 4 OTHER COUNTRY COACH MOTOR HOMES THAT HAVE THE SAME FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE. THE POTENTIAL FOR ROLLOVER OR DEATH IS EXTREMELY HIGH. BY THE WAY, CHELSEA MAKES A PTO DESIGNED FOR THIS APPLICATION BUT SOMEHOW, COUNTRY COACH ISN'T INSTALLING THE CORRECT PTO DESIGNED FOR CONTINUOUS DUTY. COUNTRY COACH AUTHORIZED THE PTO TO BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME MODEL RUNNING "DRY". SO IN APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES IT WILL FAIL AGAIN AS THIS IS ONLY A BAND-AID. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE OLD PARTS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY MOTOR HOME. COUNTRY COACH NEEDS TO RE-ENGINEER AND REPLACE THE PTO WITH A PTO DESIGNED FOR THIS APPLICATION. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0