Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2002 Monaco Coach Lapalma
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Equipment & Accessories
325.0%
Median failure at 48,000 miles
Brakes
325.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 18,000 mi
Other & Unspecified
18.3%
Median failure at 60,000 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
18.3%
Median failure at 40,021 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
18.3%
Suspension
18.3%
Body & Structure
18.3%
Electrical System
18.3%
Median failure at 60,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
228.6%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
342.9%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
228.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 2002peak 2Nov 2012
NHTSA investigations into the 2002 Monaco Coach Lapalma
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE06047Opened 24 Oct 2006Closed 22 Jan 2007STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TOW HITCH/FRAME FAILURE
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING A CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY AND DETERMINING THE EXISTENCE OF TWO FAILURES.ADDITIONAL REPORTS WERENOTED ON THE INTERNET.THE REPORTS CLAIM THAT THE FRAME EXTENSION LOWER FLANGE IS CRACKING AND ALLOWING THE HITCH TO BEND DOWN TOWARDS THE GROUND.MONACO HAD PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED A SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS MATTER.ODI SENT AN INFORMATION REQUEST TO MONACO AND HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH MONACO OFFICIALS.AS A RESULT,MONACO COACH INC SUBMITTED A 573 AND IS RECALLING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. MONACO WILL REINFORCE THE FRAME EXTENSION FLANGE WITH TWO PIECES OF...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 18,000 milesMonrovia, MDFire
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MONACO COACH LAPALMA RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, NOTICED VAPORS COMING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS SEIZED AND WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN THEN ADVISED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER, FRONT BRAKE LINES, AND THE BRAKE FLUID WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA complaint #10484895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 18,000 milesMonrovia, MDFire
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MONACO COACH LAPALMA RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, NOTICED VAPORS COMING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS SEIZED AND WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN THEN ADVISED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER, FRONT BRAKE LINES, AND THE BRAKE FLUID WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA complaint #10484895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesDesert HOT Springs, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FRACTURES OF THE FLOOR TRUSS NETWORK SUPPORT SYSTEM. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WE TOOK VEHICLE TO THREE RV SERVICE VENDORS. ALL OF THEM CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WERE FALSELY TOLD THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE. WE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER (GUARANTY IN JUNCTION CITY, OREGON) WHICH REFUSES TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR UNLESS WE PAY FOR IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10471781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesDesert HOT Springs, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE WAS A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FRACTURES OF THE FLOOR TRUSS NETWORK SUPPORT SYSTEM. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WE TOOK VEHICLE TO THREE RV SERVICE VENDORS. ALL OF THEM CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WERE FALSELY TOLD THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE. WE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER (GUARANTY IN JUNCTION CITY, OREGON) WHICH REFUSES TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR UNLESS WE PAY FOR IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10471781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,021 milesVirginia Beach, VA
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SUNVISOR MANUFACTURED BY CAREFREE OF COLORADO FELL UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED A FULL BLOCKAGE OF FOWARD SIGHT OF THE TWO LANE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON. I WAS ABLE TO PANIC STOP AND PULL OFF THE ROAD UNHARMED. MY INSPECTION OF THE SHADE SHOWED THAT THE PLASTIC MOUNTING CLIPS HAD DETERIORATED WHERE THE MOUNTING SCREWS ARE LOCATED CAUSING THE FULLY EXTENDED SHADE TO FALL.
NHTSA complaint #10425968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesMathis, TX
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
NOTIFIED BY NORCOLD,INC. OF A FIRE HAZARD CAUSED BY MY REFRIGERATOR . THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH RECALL , BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DO A CHEAP QUICK FIX AND IT DIDN'T WORK . NOW , THEY ARE DOING IT OVER TO CORRECT THEIR FIRST SCREW UP. THEY REFUSED TO COME TO ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM .CAUSING ME TO SPEND MY MONEY AND TIME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED , MAYBE!! THE LETTER STATES " THE INSTALLATION OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE SENSOR WILL BE AT NO COST TO YOU ". THEY LIED ! I DO HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED . I REALIZE THE NHTSA HAS NO POWER TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS , SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO SEND A COMPLAINT TO YOU ANYWAY . NORCOLD INC. SAID IF I HAD A COMPLAINT I HAD TO NOTIFY YOU, THEY HAD NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY . THAN TO NOTIFY ME AND FURNISH THE PARTS AND IN-SHOP LABOR . ANY FOOD LOSS AND ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE AT MY EXPENSE . IF A LAW SUIT RESULTS FROM THEIR MISTAKES AND ERRORS THE ON -SITE COST WILL SEEM TRIVIAL . THANKS FOR YOUR TIME .
NHTSA complaint #10368351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corpus Christy, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MONACO LAPALMA. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH FORD REGARDING A SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF 2007. THE SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED; HOWEVER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OR APRIL OF 2008. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE RECALL IS CONSIDERED URGENT WHEN THERE IS SUCH A DELAY MAKING THE RECALL REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
NHTSA complaint #10205947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,037 milesLivingston, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE MONACO LAPALMA COACH BRAKE FAILURE. *TS ON 11/5/04 A BRAKE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, RECALL NUMBER 50401-C, MILEAGE 25037. INCLUDED IN THIS REPAIR WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CALIPER PINS. ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, MILEAGE 33919, THE VEHILCE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THIS TIME THE CONSUMR WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO HEAT CRACKS. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE DAMAGE THAT OCCUED WAS DUE TO THE CALIPERS BINDING ON THE PINS AND NOT RUNNING FREE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EITHER THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY WITH PROPER LUBRICATION OF THE NEW PINS OR THAT THERE STILL EXIST A DESIGN DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10172237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,200 milesBullhead City, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
OWNER HAD A RECALL ON THE MONACO MOTORHOME WITH A WORK HORSE CHASSIS. THE OWNER WAS WAITING FOR THE BRAKE PARTS. THE DEALER HAS TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE OWNER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR MORE THAN 1 MONTH BUT AS OF TODAY THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10099036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apple Valley, CA
STRUCTURE
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2002 MONACO LAPALMA MOTORHOME.*MR THE MAIN STRUCTURE HOLDING THE PROPANE TANK BROKE AND AS A RESULT THE DROPPED WITHIN 4-5 INCHES OF THE FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10075827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRACKET WHICH ATTACHED THE PROPANE TANK TO THE MOTORHOME WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE TANK. WHILE DRIVING THE BRACKET LOOSENED AND CAUSED THE TANK TO DANGLE FROM THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST FALL OFF. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Auburn, WA
TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES SHE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE TRUSS ASSEMBLY. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD BE IN ABOUT A WEEK. SHE WAITED A WEEK, AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. SHE STATES ALSO THAT SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART IS AVAILABLE. THE DEALERS NAME IS GREAT AMERICAN RV AT 3801 20TH ST E. FIVE, WASHINGTON. 253-926-2322. THE MANAGER'S NAMES ARE [XXX]. TS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10001070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hillsboro, OR
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
FRONT END BOUNCES SEVERLY ON SECONDARY ROADS AND IS UNCONTROLABLE. WORKHORSE AND MONACO BOTH DENY A PROBLEM. THIS IS OUR 5TH MOTORHOME AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF RIDE. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE SEAT BELT, WE WOULD BE THROWN FROM OUR SEATS. WE HAVE ASKED FOR HEAVIER DUTY SHOCKS BUT WERE TOLD NONE WERE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #762800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.