2003 Damon CHALLENGER: complaints, problems and recalls

WINDSHIELD POPPING OUT OF RUBBER GASKET WE BOUGHT THE 2004 DAMON MOTORHOME NEW AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH WATER LEAKING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER GASKET. IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD POP OUT OF THE RUBBER GASKET CAUSING LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER TO COME IN DURING RAIN STORMS. WE SEALED THE WINDSHIELD THE BEST WE COULD TO KEEP OUT THE RAIN BUT THE GLASS WAS COMING OUT FURTHER AND FURTHER. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY REMOVED THE WINDSHIELDS AND CLEANED THE RUBBER GASKET. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS USE THE WINDSHIELD POPPED OU…

Look up ODI 10778009 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD DURING A RAINSTORM. WIPER BLADE ON DRIVER SIDE THEN HUNG BELOW THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. WIPE IS 32 INCHES LONG AND "SAGS" ON EACH PASS. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING THE BLADES, AND THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS US ON 2007 DAMON CHALLENGER CLASS A MOTORHOMES AS REPORTED ON THE WEBSITE WWW.IRV2.COM. DAMON DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON 2007 -2012 MODELS.*JB

Look up ODI 10538621 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GLASS DURING A RAINSTORM. VERY DANGEROUS. THE MOTOR IS RUNNING SO HAS POWER BUT THE LINK TO THE ARMS IS STALLED OUT WITH DRIVE ARM JAMMED AGAINST THE MOUNTING BOLT. 28" ARMS ARE TOO LONG SO HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 24" BLADES AS USED IN 2007. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY WITH LINKAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND ASSEMBLY TO FAIL WITHIN 3 YEARS ON THE SAME MOTORHOME.

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WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE WATER TANK BECAME DETACHED FROM UNDER THE TRAILER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TANK DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPORT. *AK *NLM THE TRAILER SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHOM STATED SINCE THE CONSUMER WAS THE SECOND OWNER, THE WARRANTY WAS NO GOOD. CONSUMER POINTED OUT THE STEEL SUPPORT STRAP WAS ON TOP OF THE TANK AND THAT THE FASTENERS FOR THE STRAP WERE BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE FRAME. AT THAT POINT, THEY LOOKED AT THE PICTURES AGAIN AND REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER. *PH *NLM

Look up ODI 10040252 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DAMON CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT BLINKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING ONE OF THE FOUR JACKS HAD RELEASED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT NONE OF THE JACKS WERE RELEASED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE JACK DOWN IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE HYDRAULIC HOSE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE JACK HAD FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE WIRES ON THE HOSE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DAMON CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE TV, WHICH WAS POSITIONED ON THE CEILING ABOVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SEAT BEGAN TO SLIDE FORWARD. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE MOUNTING SCREWS WERE OUT OF PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND HE REPLACED THE MOUNTING SCREWS. AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER 200 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED AND HE ADDED A LARGER SET OF SCREWS TO MOUNT THE TV IN PLACE. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEPS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WERE SEVE…

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BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE DEFECTIVE. *YH

Look up ODI 566089 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DAMON CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS ABNORMALLY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE WHEEL SCREWS WERE TIGHTENED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES FOLLOWING REPAIRS AND WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Look up ODI 10381118 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DAMON CHALLENGER, WORKHORSE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V225000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA07016, COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER. BEFORE ANY REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS AT NO COST; HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK-UP. THE REPAIRS COST WAS OVER $800 AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER DE…

Look up ODI 10301932 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DAMON CHALLENGER RV WITH A WORKHORSE W22 CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V225000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. AFTER REPAIRS WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. A LOCAL MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE PREVIOUS TECHNICIAN HAD NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED THE BRAKE LINE DOWN TO THE CALIBER. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT HE WOULD COVER P…

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I ATTEMPTED TO DO A NARRATIVE HERE BEFORE, BUT IT WAS TO LONG FOR YOUR WEB SITE TO ACCEPT. I HAVE THE NARRATIVE TYPED UP AND WILL CONTINUE HERE AND SEE AT THE END HOW I CAN GET THE NARRATIVE TO YOU BUY OTHER MEANS. *NM WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A ENGINE COOLANT LEAK. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SMELL OF THE COOLANT MADE THE CONSUMERS SICK. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED FROM LABORED BREATHING, COUGHING AND THEIR EYES WERE STINGING AND TEARING. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BUT…

Look up ODI 10171307 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DAMON CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE TV, WHICH WAS POSITIONED ON THE CEILING ABOVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SEAT BEGAN TO SLIDE FORWARD. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE MOUNTING SCREWS WERE OUT OF PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND HE REPLACED THE MOUNTING SCREWS. AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER 200 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED AND HE ADDED A LARGER SET OF SCREWS TO MOUNT THE TV IN PLACE. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEPS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WERE SEVE…

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SCREWS WERE RUSTING OUT ON LATTER LOCATED ON BACK OF TRAILER. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DAMON CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V745000 (EQUIPMENT) SEVERAL YEARS AGO HOWEVER, HE DID NOT CONTACT A DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICED. THE CONTACT STATED RECENTLY THE RETRACTABLE STEPS FAILED TO COMPLETELY RETRACT. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO BEND THE HANDRAILS IN ORDER FOR THE STEPS TO RETRACT. THE LOCAL DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

Look up ODI 11406438 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 DAMON CHALLENGER MODEL #371 MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THE SLIDE OUT CABLES THAT BRING THE SLIDE OUT AND IN WAS BROKEN. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE SLIDE OUT FROM SLIDING BACK INTO POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO REPAIR THE SLIDE OUT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

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THE SPRINGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE MOTORHOME COLLASPED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SIZE 16 CHASSIS IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO CARRY A 3500 FOOT MOTORHOME. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. MR

Look up ODI 8020420 at NHTSA ↗

WE PURCHASED NEW 2006 DAMON CHALLENGER MODEL 355 ON SEP. 6, 2006. THE BODY OR FRAME HAS BEEN TORQUED OR BENT , WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FRACTURE AND POP OUT LEAVING GLASS SHARDS ON DASH, THE SLIDE OUTS DO NOT COMPLETELY RETRACT, ENTRY STEP IS BINDING GOING IN AND OUT. DRIVERS DOOR NOT SHUT COMPLETELY, HYDRAULIC JACKS OPERATE ERRATICALLY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PARTS NOT TO FIT PROPERLY, DOES NOT DRIVE CORRECTLY ON HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND PARTICULARLY THE MFR. HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING EXCEPT OFFER A LOANER FOR A WEEKEND, THE MFR. MAY TAKE T…

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WATER TANK BOUNCED OUT OF POSITION, TEARING OUT UNDER BELLY OF VEHICLE . TANK HOLDS 70 GALLONS OF WATER. 5TH WHEELER, 357KTB. *AK THE WATER TANK BRACKET WAS REPOSITIONED A YEAR AGO. CONSUMER STATES THE DAMAGE TO THE WATER TANK WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY WELDING. *YH

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PASSENGER SIDE REAR SPRING SHACKEL RUBBED AGAINST THE MOTORHOMES PROPANE TANK. DEALER PAID FOR ADJUSTMENT TO PROPANE TANK HOLDING STRAP. *TT

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