NHTSA Complaint #11302586 — 1998 WINNEBAGO RIALTA

ON DECEMBER 24TH, 2019, THE RIGHT REAR SPINDLE OF MY REAR AXLE FAILED. I WAS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, HAVING JUST CRESTED A VERY SMALL SPEED BUMP, AT 3MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY OF A LOWES IN UPLAND CALIFORNIA. WHEN THE AXLE FAILED, IT TORE OFF THE PASSENGER REAR BRAKE LINE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE, THUS RENDERING THE BRAKES USELESS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER LOAD RATING, WITH JUST ME DRIVING, AND NO FLUIDS OR EQUIPMENT ONBOARD. THE FAILURE WAS A BROKEN CAST SPINDLE THAT HOLDS THE BEARINGS AND BRAKE ASSEMBLIES TO THE AXLE. I BELIEVE THE CASTING IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, DUE TO THE THIN ELEMENTS LEFT IN PLACE WHERE THE CASTING IS RECESSED TO ALLOW FOR THE BRAKE CALIPER CARRIER TO BE BOLTED TO IT. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THESE FAILURES HAPPENING AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WINNEBAGO ISSUE A RECALL OR AT LEAST AN INSPECTION FOR ALL REMAINING RIALTAS ON THE ROAD, AND GUSSETS ATTACHED OR REPAIRS MADE TO ANY CRACKED AXLES OUT THERE.