NHTSA Complaint #10166792 — 2005 ITASCA SPIRIT

(1) ON 12TH OF AUGUST, PROCEEDING ON FREEWAY, MY WIFE AND I WERE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. ONCE TRAFFIC STARTED I PROCEEDED TO DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL AND CABINET TELEVISION FELL OUT ONTO MY WIFE'S HEAD AND SHOULDERS AND THEN STRUCK AREA BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THEN BROKE THE TOP OF THE DOG BARRIER GATE SEPARATING THE DRIVERS' COMPARTMENT FROM THE COACH AND DAMAGED BENCH AND TABLE BEHIND DRIVER. I PLACED MY RIGHT ARM UNDER THE TV AND HELD IT UP AS BEST AS I COULD, SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES WHILE I CHECKED WITH MY WIFE TO DETERMINE IF SHE WAS OK. THE REMAINING WIRES CONNECTED TO THE BACK OF THE TELEVISION BROKE; MY WIFE EXTRICATED HERSELF FROM BENEATH THE TELEVISION. (2) SUBSEQUENT BRUISING WAS SEVERE ON MY WIFE'S SHOULDER AND FOREARM, WITH MINOR SWELLING OF HER FOREHEAD. MY WIFE HAD A FOLLOW UP VISIT WITH OUR FAMILY DOCTOR AND WAS GIVEN PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN AND SORENESS. (3) I IMMEDIATELY CALLED BOTH MY SALES REPRESENTATIVE AND WATTS RV TO EXPLAIN WHAT OCCURRED AND WAS REQUESTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN ON MONDAY. I CALLED WINNEBAGO OWNER RELATIONS DEPT. AND INFORMED THEM OF THE INCIDENT AND THAT I WAS RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO WATTS RV FOR REPAIR. I WAS ASKED TO HAVE THEM CALL OWNER RELATIONS WITH THE PROBLEM. I INFORMED THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT I WANTED WINNEBAGO THE LOOK AT THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN OF THE TELEVISION CABINET TO DESIGN A SAFE SOLUTION TO THIS MATTER. I WAS INFORMED THAT WATTS RV WILL DECIDE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR A PERMANENT FIX. I PERSONALLY EXPRESSED MY SURPRISE THAT THE TELEVISION WAS NOT ANCHORED TO THE CHASSIS COACH; IT IS ONLY HELD IN BY A METAL BAND THAT IS BOLTED TO THE CABINET FRAMEWORK. THIS TO ME IS INADEQUATE AND I REALLY FEEL THAT WINNEBAGO HAS TO REENGINEER THE DESIGN FOR THIS PROBLEM. REGARDLESS, WATTS RV HAS ORDERED REPLACEMENT CABINET PARTS, TABLE ETC. AND HAS DETERMINED THAT THEY WILL ADD ADDITIONAL EXTERIOR CABINET FRAMING PIECES TO PREVENT THE TELEVISION FROM FALLING OUT OF ITS PLACE. *NM