NHTSA Complaint #10130309 — 2001 FLEETWOOD TERRY

I WAS SOUTH BOUND ON I-5, NORTH OF LONGVIEW, WASHINGTON, TOWING MY 2001 TERRY (BY FLEETWOOD) 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. AT 65 MPH, THE LEAF SPRING ON ONE OF THE TRAILER WHEELS BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE WHEEL TO "SHIFT FORWARD" AND THE TWO TIRES ON THAT SIDE RUBBED TOGETHER, DESTROYING BOTH OF THEM. ANOTHER, PASSING, MOTORIST ALERTED ME TO THE PROBLEM AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE BOTH TIRES BLEWOUT. I WOULD ESTIMATED THAT I WAS MINUTES OR EVEN SECONDS FROM BOTH TIRES FAILING AT THIS RATE OF SPEED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF BOTH TIRES BLOWING COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC, CAUSING INJURY OR EVEN DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS OF MY TRACK AS WELL AS OTHER WHO MAY HAVE BEEN NEARBY. I PAIDED TO HAVE THE LEAFSPRING AND THE DAMAGED TIRES REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE TOWING FOR THE 3/4 TON TRUCK AND 5TH WHEEL ($250). THOUGH THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN NO REAL HARM EXCEPT FOR THE EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LEAF SPRINGS ARE UNDERSIZED AND IN ADEQUATE FOR THE LOAD THEY BEAR. UPON EXAMINATION, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE, IT HAD A VISIBLE FLAW ("HARD SPOT")I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THESE SPRINGS AND THAT OTHERS WILL BE HURT OR KILLED. I AM FEARFUL TO USE MY TRAILER AGAIN.