NHTSA Complaint #10556520 — 2014 FOREST RIVER FORESTER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FOREST RIVER FORESTER RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL TERMINALS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE TWO HIGH AMPERAGE STORAGE BATTERIES WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES FROM THE FUEL CONTAINER (PROPANE). THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE IMPACT COULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION IF THE HIGH AMPERAGE TERMINAL MADE CONTACT WITH THE FUEL CONTAINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND BECAUSE OF THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK, AN EXPLOSIVE TYPE OF FAILURE WOULD POSSIBLY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. UPDATED 1/16/14*CN UPON FURTHER SCRUTINY OF THE ELECTRICAL PANEL THAT CONTAINS THE TERMINALS IN QUESTION, I NOTICED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TERMINAL MOUNT INTO THE PANEL IS ALSO IN QUESTION. THE POSITIVE (+), ELECTRICAL TERMINAL IS MOUNTED INTO THE NEGATIVE (-), ELECTRICAL PANEL. IT APPEARS THAT THE TERMINALS ARE ISOLATED FROM THE PANEL USING SOME KIND OF INSULATING GROMMET. WHILE THE GROMMETS INSULATING INTEGRITY MAY SURVIVE AN IMPACT, THE TERMINAL ENDS OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND BUS BAR ATTACHED THROUGH THE PANEL COULD EASILY SHORT CIRCUIT WITH ONLY MODERATE DISTORTION. THE ELECTRICAL PANEL IN QUESTION IS THE PRIMARY ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE COACH. WORST CASE SCENARIO - THE TWO HIGH AMPERAGE (DEEP CYCLE) COACH BATTERIES COULD ALSO BE RECEIVING CHARGE THROUGH SAID TERMINAL FROM THE VEHICLE ALTERNATOR THROUGH THE VEHICLE BATTERY. ADDITIONALLY, CHARGE COULD ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY BE PROVIDED FROM COACH AUXILIARY GENERATOR THROUGH ITS INVERTER. SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF ENERGY FOR ONE SMALL SPACE.