NHTSA Complaint #10250261 — 2008 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER

THIS RELATES TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ON A 2008 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER 35A ON A WORKHORSE CHASSIS IN A WAY THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ON NOVEMBER 30,2008, I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 10 IN ALABAMA WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65. AHEAD OF ME IN MY LANE WAS A STOPPED CAR. THERE WAS TRAFFIC IN THE LEFT LANE SO I COULDN'T MOVE OVER. I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. I COULD HEAR THE BRAKES AGAINST THE WHEELS, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND STILL THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. I HIT THE BRAKES HARDER AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW. BY THEN I WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE STOPPED CAR, AND HAD TO QUICKLY DRIVE ON TO THE SHOULDER AND PASS THE CAR ON THE RIGHT. I BARELY MISSED IT, AND WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN I WENT BY ON THE SHOULDER. IF THERE HAD BEEN INSUFFICIENT SHOULDER I WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE WITH THE MOTOR HOME. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS DISABLED AND WON'T TURN ON. APPARENTLY FORCING IT OFF BY HARD BRAKING MUST HAVE BLOWN A FUSE OR TRIGGERED SOME BACKUP DISENGAGEMENT DEVICE OR SWITCH. I WILL BE TAKING THE MOTOR HOME TO AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL REPAIRED. *TR