NHTSA Complaint #11062011 — 2017 WINNEBAGO VISTA

WHILE DRIVING OUR RV IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP AND HEAVY CONDENSATION FORMED ON THE SIDE WINDOWS. WHEN WE TURNED THE DEFROSTER ON THICK BLASTS OF STEAM SHOT UP OUT OF THE VENTS, FILLING THE FRONT OF THE COACH WITH A DENSE FOG. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS, SCARY SITUATION! AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AND THAT SMOKE WAS FILLING THE COACH. IT WAS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. I WAS DOING MY BEST TO 'FEEL THE ROAD' TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THROUGH TERRIBLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WHILE MY WIFE WAS FRANTICALLY WIPING THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WITH HER SWEATSHIRT AND NAPKINS. IT IS INDEED A MIRACLE THAT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE RV ON THE ROAD AND UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING SOMEONE OR GOING OFF THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THIS TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONE TIME AND WINNEBAGO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT REMAINS UNRESOLVED, WHICH MEANS THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE FACT THAT THIS MODEL DOESN'T HAVE DEFROSTER VENTS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS IS ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN CONDENSATION BUILDS ON THE SIDE WINDOWS YOU HAVE TO WIPE IT OFF IN ORDER TO SEE THE MIRRORS. DRIVING AN RV WITH ONE HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TRYING TO WIPE WINDOWS WITH THE OTHER HAND CREATES UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PASSENGER TO HELP KEEP THE WINDOWS CLEAR IN WHICH CASE THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WILL BE COMPLETELY OBSCURED. *BF*BF *TR