29 of the
59 complaints filed about the Monaco Coach Cayman
are about the suspension —
49% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
DRIVING WESTBOUND FROM SUSPENSION SHOP AFTER NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS INSTALLED,AND REQUEST FOR INSPECTION ON TRAILING ARMS THAT SHOP NOW DENIES THE REQUEST. ABOUT 7-10 MILES AWAY FROM SHOP HIT HARD BUMP AND TRAILING ARM SHIFTED DOWN WHICH TURNED WHOLE REAR SIDEWAYS AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS WAS A FEDERAL RECALL FOR MONACO WHO NOW RESTRUTURED AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY ALONG WITH MCBRIDE SPRING AND SUSPENSION AT 1010 2ND ST ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
NHTSA complaint #11374144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MONACO COACH CAYMAN RV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IT BEGAN TO FISHTAIL UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR AXLE HOUSING SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SIDE DUAL TIRES WERE PUSHED TO THE REAR WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS, REAR AXLE HOUSING, AND RELATED COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500.
NHTSA complaint #10887698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE 2004 MONACO CAYMAN " I-BEAM" RECALL. SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, A NOISE ALERTED HIM OF A PROBLEM. HE DISCOVERED THE I-BEAM LEAF IMITATOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT AXLE HAD BROKEN. THE PART WAS NOT REPLACED. BUT, FIXED BY WELDING A COSMETIC PLATE TO ONE SIDE OF THE I-BEAM. THE COMPONENT WAS SHORTER THAN THE I-BEAM BY A THIRD AND THE BREAK ON THE RV OCCURRED AT THE END, THAT WAS INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN THE I-BEAM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTICULAR PART THAT FAILED, WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL IN 2004. THE DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE THE PART, BUT INSTEAD CHOSE TO FIX IT WITH AN UN-APPROVED METHOD, THEREFORE NOT FOLLOWING THE RECALL ORDER. UPDATED 12/29/14.
NHTSA complaint #10649136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE LEFT OUR CAMPSITE IN MYRTLE BEACH AND WERE IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC. WE HEARD A RUMBLE NOISE AND WHEN I CHECKED THE MOTOR HOME, THE BACK END WAS ON THE GROUND. THE TRAILING ARMS HAD BOTH BROKEN. WE HAD TO HAVE IT FLAT BEDDED TO A GARAGE. WE WERE TOLD WE WERE VERY LUCKY, BECAUSE IF WE HAD BEEN GOING FASTER, THE COACH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FLIPPED OVER, AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE TRAILING ARMS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE UNIT. THE REPLACEMENT TRAILING ARMS WERE MUCH BIGGER AND STRONGER. WE HAD TO LEAVE THE UNIT THERE AND RETURN FOR IT THREE WEEKS LATER (800 MILES EACH WAY). COST: $3500.00 PLUS THE TOWING. WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM FLORIDA, AND WHEN WE STOPPED FOR GAS, THE LOW AIR LIGHT ON THE ENGINE CAME ON. WE HAD IT CHECKED IMMEDIATELY, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKE AIR BAGS WERE LEAKING BECAUSE THE SPRINGS INSIDE THE BAGS RUSTED. BROKE, AND PUNCHED HOLES IN THE BAGS. THE BRAKES COULD HAVE GIVEN OUT WHILE TRAVELING, AND WE COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. COST: $900.00 THE BOLTS ON THE MANIFOLD COVER RUSTED AND A COUPLE BROKE OFF. THIS COST A LEAK IN THE MANIFOLD. THE RADIATOR RUSTED OUT, SPRUNG AN UN-FIXABLE LEAK, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL OF THE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE ALSO RUSTY. THE MECHANIC SAID THE LINES AND THE RADIATOR WERE ALL MADE OF INFERIOR QUALITY ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GET HOT AND CAUSE A FIRE. COST $8200.00 PLUS TWO TOWS. UPDATED 11/06/14 *BF UPDATED 08/28/2017
NHTSA complaint #10627157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRAME AROUND THE ONE PIECE WINDSHIELD HAS COME LOOSE ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO COME LOSE TO THE POINT IT IS ABOUT TO POP OUT. IF THE WINDSHIELD HAD POPPED OUT AT 60 MPH, THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE REP FROM ALLIANCE (NEW OWNER OF MONACO). HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH MONACO. HE SAID IT WOULD TAKE 18 HOURS MINIMUM TO TAKE THE WINDSHIELD OUT, FIX THE FRAME, AND PUT THE WINDSHIELD BACK IN. COST: BETWEEN $2000.00 AND $300-.00 WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE AFTER ALL THIS MONEY WE HAVE SPENT (REFER TO FIRST FORM SUBMITTED), THERE ARE STILL PARTS OF THE ENGINE THAT ARE RUSTING. THE MECHANIC WE HAVE BEEN USING SAYS THAT HE HAS NOT SEEN THIS MUCH RUST ON UNITS 20 - 25 YEARS OLD. WE GET ONE THING FIXED AND SOMETHING ELSE BREAKS. WE HAVE NOT USED OUR COACH SINCE APRIL OF 2013 BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE. TWICE WE HAVE PICKED IT UP AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE SHOP BECAUSE SOMETHING ELSE BROKE. WE HAVE HAD TO CANCEL TRIPS BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE SHOP. THIS TIME, IT HAS BEEN AT SEARS AUTO FOR OVER A WEEK, AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHO IS GOING TO FIX THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. WE ARE AFRAID OF USING IT, AND CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE REPAIRS ON IT. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO FOR US? THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRAILER ARMS BROKE AND THE REAR OF THE MOTOR HOME FELL TO THE GROUND, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AIR BAGS, GENERATOR, MANIFOLD COVER, AND RADIATOR WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WERE NUMEROUS LEAKS IN THE COOLING SYSTEM, DUE TO RUSTY PIPES AND THE WELDS WERE BROKEN. THE PIPE USED TO FILL THE GENERATOR WITH OIL RUSTED OUT, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BRAKE CHAMBERS HAD RUSTY AND CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/28/14.....UPDATED 11/06/14
NHTSA complaint #10627175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MONACO COACH CAYMAN RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRAILING ARM BROKE IN HALF WITH NO WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AXLE SHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OF THE TRAILING ARM FOR ANY CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
NHTSA complaint #10542816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST COMING BACK FROM A TRIP PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY HEARD A LARGE BANG, TOOK THE COACH EIGHT MILES DOWN THE ROAD NOTICED A LOT OF SWAYING LOOKED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE REAR TRAILING ARM IS BROKEN RIGHT THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. CALLED NAVSTAR WHICH NOW OWNS MONACO THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS, IT IS A RR4R CHASSIS I AM GLAD WE JUST MOVING SLOW WHEN IT BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10504538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAD TRAILING ARMS REPLACED BECASUE OF A WELLKNOWN PREMATURE FAILURE PROBLEM. BOTH TRAILING ARMS WERE CRACKED. IN ONE, THE CRACK WAS RELATIVELY FAR ADVANCED AND LIKELY WOULD HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY IN SHORT ORDER. THE OTHER WAS JUST STARTING.
NHTSA complaint #10503057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 MONACO CAYMAN MOTORHOME. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BROKEN TRAILING ARMS RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE APPROACHED THE ON-RAMP TO THE FREEWAY, THE MOTORHOME BEGAN TO SWAY A BIT, AND WHEN HE ACTUALLY GOT ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE MOTORHOME BEGAN TO SWAY ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRAILING ARM'S REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS SINCE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND WAS PURCHASED BY ANOTHER COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10485683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MONACO CAYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V053000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRAILING ARM WAS CRACKED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 9/19/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE RV UNIT WAS REPAIRED BEFORE THE REAR DRIVE TRAIN FAILED AND WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE REAREND COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE.THE TURBO COOLING RADIATOR AND THE ENGINE RADIATOR WERE ALSO OF POOR QUALITY. UPDATED 9/21/2012
NHTSA complaint #10463181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MONACO COACH CAYMAN RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE ABNORMALLY LEANING TO ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION ARM ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS FRACTURED COMPLETELY AND THE SUSPENSION ARM ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WAS ALSO FRACTURED, BUT NOT AS EXTREME AS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THAT THE COMPANY HAD BEEN SOLD TO ANOTHER MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10459461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE WERE LEAVING LEBANON,VA HEADING HOME TO TEXAS..AS WE PULLED ONTO A HIGHWAY THE COACH WAS WEAVING,ROCKING, AND COULD NOT HOLD IT ON THE ROAD. PULLED OVER AND CRAWLED UNDER COACH AND FOUND TRAILING ARM WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN ON DRIVERS SIDE. WE DROVE VERY SLOWLY APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE TO A GARAGE. THEY CONFIRMED TRAILING ARM WAS BROKEN. WE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT KIT (BOTH ARMS)WHICH ARRIVED THE NEXT DAY..THEY INSTALLED IT AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME..I THANK GOD WE WERE NOT GOING 65 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. PLEASE INFORM OTHERS SO NO ONE GETS KILLED FROM THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10445923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MONACCO CAYMAN RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHASSIS THAT ATTACHED THE AIR BAG SUSPENSION FRACTURED ON BOTH SIDES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 05V053000. UPDATED 03/13/12
NHTSA complaint #10429104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2008 MONACO CAYMAN RR4R CHASSIS-PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2009. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE MOTORCOACH HAD LESS THAN 10K MILES. DRIVING ON SMOOTHLY PAVED TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY AT LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS AN OCCASIONAL ROLLING HILL THAT WOULD CAUSE THE RV TO BOUNCE A LITTLE BIT. THE REAR OF THE MOTORCOACH DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS THE GROUND, THE REAR MUDFLAP WAS DRAGGING THE GROUND AND THE MOTORHOME INSTANTLY BEGAN VIBRATING AND HANDLING IN A SQUIRRELLY MANNER AND WITH VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE COACH WAS COASTED WHILE IT SHIMMIED TOWARDS THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. NEWLY MANUFACTURED REENGINEERED STUDIER TRAILING ARMS WERE OBTAINED AND INSTALLED BY A MONACO CERTIFIED REPAIR CENTER. THE BROKEN TRAILING ARMS WERE THE SAME PART RECALLED ON EARLIER RR4R CHASSIS MODELS DUE TO THIS SAME FAILURE. THE RECALL ON THE EARLIER MODELS DID NOT COVER MY NEWER MODEL BUT SHOULD HAVE SINCE IT IS THE SAME OEM INSTALLED PART WHICH EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE THAT THE RECALL WAS INITIALLY BASED ON. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE "LUCKY" BY THE RV TOW EXPERT THAT WE WERE TRAVELING SO SLOWLY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE OTHERWISE OUR COACH MAY HAVE ROLLED OR THE REAR AXLE MAY HAVE CAME ALL THE WAY OUT FROM UNDER THE COACH. THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE ON MY COACH BECAUSE THE TRAILING ARMS WERE REPLACED WITH A STURDIER PART MADE BY A NEW MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10345761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUR MONACO CAYMAN RV'S TRAILING ARMS BROKE. THIS CAUSED EXTREME SWERVING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WE TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO BE REPAIRED AND WARNED THEM NOT TO DRIVE IT. THEY TEST DROVE IT ANYWAY, AND I GOT A CALL THAT THE TECHNICIAN THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE AND WAS WHITE AS A SHEET. THEY CHECKED WITH MONACO, WHO ADMITTED TO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRAILING ARMS, BUT REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR. THEY HAD A REPLACEMENT TRAILING ARM SETUP AVAILABLE FOR $1850 PLUS $150 SHIPPING, SO THAT TELLS US THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR COST US OVER $3500. WE CALLED MONACO TO CHECK ON WARRANTY COVERAGE, AND THEY HUNG UP ON US. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IF I HADN'T BEEN A RETIRED TRUCK DRIVER, I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE HANDLED IT.
NHTSA complaint #10339127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAILING ARM FAILURE 2008 MONACO MOTOR HOME,ONE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND THE OUTER ONE WAS CRACKED CALLING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TWO WITH AFTER MARKET UNITS THAT ARE EXTRA HD.
NHTSA complaint #10335744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLETE FAILURE OF RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAUSING DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE & SERIOUS SWAY OF VEHICLE ON BRAKING. UPON INSPECTION AT REPAIR FACILITY,FOUND LEFT REAR TRAILING ARM CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #10335232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 MONACO CAYMAN. CONSUMER REQUESTS A RE-DETERMINATION RELATIVE TO THE PROVISIONS OF HIS PLATINUM COVERAGE SERVICE AGREEMENT AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE HAVING NEW SHOCKS INSTALLED, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE CHASSIS TRAILING ARMS HAD A 3 INCH CRACK WITHIN THE DRIVER SIDE ARM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HIS WARRANTY COMPANY, BUT WAS INFORMED THE DEFECTIVE TRAILING ARMS WERE NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURERS RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2005.
NHTSA complaint #10322017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DUE TO REPORTS DISCUSSED ON THE IRV2 FORUM, I HAD MY UNIT INSPECTED. BOTH REAR CONTROL ARMS (TRAILING ARMS) WERE CRACKING. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THESE ARMS WAS EMINENT AND SERIOUS HANDLING PROBLEM WAS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10320105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOTED AN ARTICLE IN FAMILY MOTOR COACH MAG CONCERNING A POSSIBLE FAILURE MODE OF THE MONACO TRAILING ARM ASSEMBLY FOR A 4 AIRBAG CONNECTION TO THE REAR AXLE. TOOK IT TO BRAZEL'S IN CENTRALIA, WA. FOR INSPECTION. THEY FOUND CRACKS IN BOTH TRAILING ARMS. HAD THEM REPLACED FOR REENGINEERED ONES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BY SOURCE MFG. MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES MONACO GET BY WITH NOT COVERING A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS IF I HAD WAITED UNTIL IT ULTIMATELY FAILED. MONACO KNEW OF THE PROBLEM SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE MY COACH WAS MANUFACTURED ( MINE IS A 2005 CAYMAN. THE FAILURE WAS KNOWN IN 2003. THEY CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THE COACH WITH A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND NOW BECAUSE OF THEIR FINANCIAL PREDICAMENT THEY NO LONGER FEEL THAT IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE REPAIR WITH A PART THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM. THANK GOODNESS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE I HAD A FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD. THERE ARE HORROR STORIES OF OTHERS THAT WERE NOT SO FORTUNATE.
NHTSA complaint #10300367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.