NHTSA Complaint #10090902 — 2001 WINNEBAGO MINNIE WINNIE

9/10/04 TRAVELING WEST IN 2001 MINNIE WINNIE, MODEL 331 C. WINDOW IN THE CAB-OVER SECTION OF THE MOTORHOME IMPLODED. NO VEHICLES IN IMMEDIATE AREA AND NOTHING HEARD HITTING WINDOW. WINDOW WAS TEMPERED GLASS AND COMPLETELY SHATTERED INTO SMALL PIECES AND TINY SHARDS OF GLASS. BECAUSE WINDOW HAD CURTAIN DRAWN, DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE SPARED BEING COVERED WITH GLASS. ALTHOUGH AGAINS THE LAW TO DO SO, HAVE SEEN MANY CHILDREN RIDING UP IN THIS SECTION OF CLASS C MOTORHOMES AN CAB OVER CAMPERS. THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY LOST THEIR EYESIGHT. A CALL TO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOTORHOME WAS MET WITH DISINTEREST AND EXCUSES. I REPLIED THAT THE GLASS MAY BE TOO THIN AND THAT PROBABLY WINDSHIELD TYPE GLASS RATHER THAN TEMPERED GLASS SHOULD BE USED IN THIS APPLICATION. I CONSIDER THIS TYPE OF GLASS, USED IN VIRTUALLY A WINDSHIELD SITUATION, TO BE AN EXTREME HAZZARD TO ANY PASSENGERS RIDING IN MOTORHOMES OR CAB OVER CAMPERS. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK