NHTSA Complaint #11140755 — 2015 FOREST RIVER SALEM

JUNE 8, 2017, WE WERE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I-15 IN CENTRAL UTAH. WE WERE TRAVELING AT OR NEAR 60 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE VINYL ROOF SEPARATED FROM THE TOP FRONT OF OUR TRAILER. WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AT THE 1ST OFF RAMP WE COULD SAFELY GET TOO, AND SECURED IT WITH ROPES TO PREVENT ANY HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC. AT THE TIME OF THIS ROOF FAILURE WE HAD LESS THAN 900 MILES OF ACTUAL HIGHWAY USE. IF WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED ON WITHOUT SEEING THE PROBLEM THE ROOF COULD HAVE BLOWN COMPLETELY OFF, POSSIBLY BLINDING OTHER MOTORISTS, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE DEATH OR INJURY TO THE PUBLIC. THE MANUFACTURER (FOREST RIVER TRAILERS) HAS COMPLETELY DENIED ANY AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE FAILURE. SINCE OUR INCIDENT, WE HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER FOREST RIVER TRAILERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS FAULTY PRODUCT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. I BELIEVE THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE VINYL ROOF BECOMING DELAMINATED IS DUE TO THE CHEAP PRESSBOARD SUB-ROOF. THE PRESSBOARD HAS A VERY UNEVEN SURFACE, ALLOWING ONLY PORTIONS OF THE STICKY VINYL FABRIC TO ADHERE. THE REASON I AM BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IS TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT ANYONE ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS FROM LOSS OF LIFE DO TO SUCH A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.