NHTSA Complaint #10192994 — 2000 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER

RE: A&E AWNING M 8500 BY DOMETIC, PO BOX 490, ELKHART, IN 46515 ON 2000 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURE MOTOR HOME. SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. SAME DESIGN DEFECT CAUSED A FAILURE IN APRIL 2003 ,WHICH WAS NOT AS SERIOUS AND ONLY REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AWNING FABRIC AND LOCKING MECHANISM.. ROLLER LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. ABLE TO STOP BEFORE ANY LARGE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE. RECENT INCIDENT ON MAY 7, 2007. BEFORE LEAVING ROLLED AGAIN THE AWNING TO MAKE SURE IT WAS TIGHTLY ROLLED AND LOCKING MECHANISM WORKED. TRAVELED 840 MILES FROM PORTLAND TO STRATH MORE, CANADA. IN STRATHMORE DID NOT PUT OUT THE AWNING BUT DID INSPECT TO MAKE SURE STILL TIGHTLY ROLLED AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON. 80 MILES S, ROLLER LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. IN LESS TEN 10 SECONDS AWNING UNFURLED SO RAPIDLY IT WAS BLOWN OVER THE TOP OF THE MOTORHOME, BROKE LOOSE FROM AWNING ARMS, RIPPED THE FABRIC AND FLEW INTO THE ROAD. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WAS THERE NOT MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AWNING ROLLER AS A FLYING PROJECTILE COULD HAVE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED SOMEONE IN FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFICIENCY WHICH CAN ALLOW A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY TRAVEL CONDITIONS. THIS FAILURE COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH AND EXTENSIVE AND COSTLY MECHANICAL DAMAGES. THE AWNING STOWING AND LOCKING MECHANISM WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ASSURE THAT THE AWNING COULD NOT BECOME UNFURLED UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS. E-MAILED DOMETIC REQUESTING AWNING REPAIR AND LOCKING MECHANISM MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT. THEY REFUSED. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT CAMPING WORLD AND OTHER RV OUTLETS SELL AWNING LOCKING MECHANISMS WHICH FIT THEIR AWNINGS AND WHICH WOULD LOCK THE AWNING SO THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE THIS CADISTROPIC FAILURE. HE SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD PURCHASE ONE IF I WANT TO PROTECT MY SELF FROM FUTURE AWNING FAILURES IN THE FUTURE. *AK