NHTSA Complaint #10276140 — 2009 JAYCO EAGLE SL

OUR 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER PUSHED OPEN THE SCREEN DOOR AND FELL OUT OF THE CAMPER, WHICH WAS A FALL OF ABOUT THREE FEET. THE SCREEN DOOR WAS LATCHED SHUT. OBVIOUSLY, THE LATCH IS NOT VERY STRONG SINCE A 1 YEAR OLD CHILD COULD PUSH IT OPEN. THERE IS NO LOCK ON THE SCREEN DOOR AND NO WARNINGS ANYWHERE IN THE CAMPER OR IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATING THAT THE SCREEN DOOR IS NOT CHILD PROOF. SHE DID NOT FALL THROUGH THE SCREEN, BUT ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE DOOR OPEN. WHAT KIND OF DOOR SHOULD A 1 YEAR OLD CHILD BE ABLE TO OPEN, WHICH IS COMPLETELY CLOSED? SHE SUSTAINED A MILD HEAD INJURY WITH SOME CUTS AND BRUISING ON HER FACE. OUR MAIN CONCERN HERE IS CHILD SAFETY- THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY WITH A WORSE OUTCOME. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY LOCK ON THE SCREEN DOOR OR A WARNING ON THE DOOR INDICATING ITS LACK OF STRENGTH AND LACK OF SAFETY FOR CHILDREN. WE CONTACTED JAYCO AND THEIR INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SITUATION. AS STATED EARLIER, THE MAIN CONCERN HERE IS SAFETY FOR CHILDREN, WHICH WOULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED BY ADDING A LOCK TO THE SCREEN DOOR AND/OR ADDING WARNING SIGNS TO THE DOOR TO INDICATE LACK OF PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN. *TR