NHTSA Complaint #11230982 — 2016 FREIGHTLINER X-LINE

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 40 FT MOTORHOME DOWN HIGHWAY 491 IN NEW MEXICO AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH HEADING SOUTH TOWARD SHIPROCK, NM, WHEN THE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED DAY/NIGHT SHADE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO THE DASH, RIPPING ELECTRICAL WIRING TOTALLY OUT. UNIT PROBABLY WEIGHED 10 - 12 POUNDS. I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SHOCK OF THE INCIDENT AND TO REALIZE WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. ENTIRE SHADE SYSTEM WAS NOW LAYING ON DASHBOARD. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT DRIVING INTO THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER THIS INCIDENT IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL INSTANCES OF ITEMS BEING DETACHED WHILE DRIVING. EACH INCIDENCE ACTS TO DIVERT THE DRIVERS ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD. *DT *DT CONSUMER STATED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE SHADE.*JB CONSUMER STATED ATTACHED ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE SHADE AFTER I DRILLED THROUGH THE RAIL AND THE CLIPS TO REATTACHED IT BECAUSE WE WERE 2000 MILES FROM HOME AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE CLIPS. PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THOR AS AN ORDER THROUGH ONE OF THEIR DEALERS. THOR DOESN'T SELL THEIR PARTS TO OWNERS DIRECTLY. I HAVE INCLUDED SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE CLIPS WHICH FAILED. THESE CLIPS ARE INSTALLED ON THE OVERHEAD JUST REAR OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEY HOLD THE RAIL WHICH THE SHADES ARE ATTACHED TO. THE RAIL IS APPROXIMATELY 96 INCHES LONG AND IS MADE OF EXTRUDED ALUMINUM. END PIECES ARE THEN ATTACHED TO THE RAIE AT 90 DEGREES ANGLE TO HOLD THE 2 SHADE ROLLERS. DRIVE MOTORS ARE INSIDE ROLLERS WHICH MOVE SHADES UP/DOWN.*JB