Serious safety defect found in my 3400RL

[Mark N.]

My original post was moved to "Repairs & Service", but this is beyond a simple service and repair issue. This is a safety defect, through and through. I think everyone needs to read it.
I found a potential electrical fire condition under my bed! You can read about it here:

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=65530

[Artemus Gordon]

I assume your dealer has fixed the problem?

[1retired06]

Burned carpet, malfunctioning GFI, a very serious safety issue. If on one, likely on others as well.

[DQDick]

You're correct and folks with an outlet in the bed frame should be checking it out.

[PackerFan]

Good catch, let us know what happens!

[Mark N.]

On this issue, does anyone have ideas of the best course of action I should follow to make sure this doesn't get swept under the rug? I'm concerned about how many other Montana's have this hidden safety defect waiting to start a fire. Things like numbers to call and names to ask for would be appreciated if you have any. I'm starting with my dealership.

[waynemoore]

I would make sure that you have this well documented by the dealer and that they or a qualified election do the repairs.

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

You're correct and folks with an outlet in the bed frame should be checking it out.

Are you saying this problem is only applicable if there is an outlet in the frame?

[Mark N.]

UPDATE: I have called my dealership (They made me an appt. on Aug-19th) and I called Keystone. They opened a file under a "Thermal/Fire" heading, and indicated my e-mail with attached photos will go straight up the food-chain (my words, not theirs) to the top. We'll see now how well and quickly it gets resolved. I would love to post the photos for you all to see, but could someone tell me how to do it?

[Mark N.]

quote:Originally posted by Mark N.

UPDATE: I have called my dealership (They made me an appt. on Aug-19th) and I called Keystone. They opened a file under a "Thermal/Fire" heading, and indicated my e-mail with attached photos will go straight up the food-chain (my words, not theirs) to the top. We'll see now how well and quickly it gets resolved. I would love to post the photos for you all to see, but could someone tell me how to do it?
UPDATE: Images posted here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/145940634090/

[Webbyone]

Directions on adding photos to the forum are found by accessing the Home page. Link top middle of this page.

Good luck.

Webmaster

PS. Facebook link won't do members who are NOT on FB any good. Many of our members here on the MOC are NOT on FB.

[bullroc3]

Thank you Webmaster. I for one am not a Facebook Member (and probably never will be) and I would like to see them.

Thank you Mark for the pictures. This is a real issue.

[Mark N.]

I will find a photo hosting site, upload them, and then get them posted here on this forum too.

[Webbyone]

Thank you Mark N.

There are many members here on the MOC who have no desire to ever be on FB.

Posting photos here is really quite easy once you understand that you must host them somewhere in the cloud.

Thank you for sharing with our non-FB members.

Webmaster

[baybum10]

I also am not on Facebook but would to like see the photos

[Mark N.]

Here ya go! Pics of the issue at hand:

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=65547

[Mark N.]

UPDATE: Keystone called me today, had my pictures, and are very on top of it. So it seems anyway. They indicated they will now wait for the report back from the dealer when I take it in on the 19th. Stay tuned.

[waynemoore]

Oh my God that is so dangerous you are so lucky you saw that sparking. Ok KEYSTONE WHY are you waiting for the dealer as it will take them several days to do their thing making that near the end of the month. Put someone on an airplane and get them to the site now. That is what a responsable manufacturer needs to do. If someone is hurt or a rig burns down and you waited you will have a big problem. Again JMHO.

[Jimmer]

Mike thanks for bring up this topic. I do not think I have this wiring on my 2014 3582RL but I am going to check tomorrow to see if I do. Good luck with your repair.

[johnregrus]

A few years ago I took my 2007 Jayco Seneca motorhome to the dealer in Arizona for a warranty repair. Two weeks later while just sitting in the dealers lot waiting for parts it caught fire. It was not running and had not been touched for days. Lucky it was in the middle of the day on a work day and employees saw smoke and quickly put out the fire.

The dealer discovered that a battery cable was routed in such a way that it was pinched by the sliding battery tray. Jayco refused to pay to repair the damage and stated it was the owners responsibility to check the wiring in the unit to insure there was no problems. Jayco advised me to make an insurance claim. Of course I thought that was ridiculous and so did the dealer.

To make a long story short and with encouragement from the dealer I reported the problem to the NSTB (National Transport Safety Board) in Washington DC via email with pictures.

I've never seen a government agency act so fast. I got an email and subsequent phone call in under a week of my reporting to them. The NTSB investigator told me he was going to inspect other Jayco motorhomes located on the east coast and see if he could find any others with a similar defect. He emailed me and advised he had in fact found other units with the battery cable pinched.

Shortly thereafter the dealer called me and advised me Jayco has had a change of heart and they have authorized the dealer to repair my motorhome to the tune of $14,000.00.

Within another month or two Jayco issued a national safety recall covering the USA and Canada on all motorhomes that were same model as mine to inspect and reroute the battery cable.

I'm sure it cost Jayco a lot more than the $14,000 they refused to initially pay to fix mine.

Your problem is just as serious and could have involved loss of life if it had caught fire. I would not hesitate to report your problem to the NTSB as it may save someone else that fate.