NHTSA Complaint #11521919 — 2023 WINNEBAGO VIEW

Traveling East on the PA Turnpike at approx. 7:00 PM traveling at 68/70MPH we heard a sudden noise that sounded like a rear wheel rim had come off or a tire blow out. A passing car/truck motioned on the drivers side pointing to the back of the RV. We had to slow down immediately and try to find enough room to pull over on the shoulder which was difficult due to the 8 ft width of the RV and the 26 ft length of the RV where it would be safe. Walking around to determine what the problem was, my husband looked under the back of the RV and found that the entire under mount spare tire was hanging down under the RV, half barely attached and the other half on the ground. There was no warning prior to this occurring. My husband had to crawl under the back of the RV to remove the one remaining screw that held the spare tire cage to the underbody of the RV and the heavy fully inflated spare tire. At the time traffic was speeding by at 70 plus MPH. It was dangerous to even be pulled over on the shoulder with the RV. We carefully loaded through the RV side door the under mount steel bracket and the heavy spare tire into the RV which was difficult. Someone had to make sure that the RV interior was not damaged while driving the 20 remaining miles home. The RV had two adults and 3 Golden Retrievers in it at the time of the equipment failure. The RV was brand new purchased in August 2023 by a Winnebago Dealer in Forest City, Iowa and had approx. 2500 miles on it. At the present time we have not contacted the dealer where the RV was purchased or contacted Winnebago Industries in Forest City, Iowa. If we had not heard the noise, the potential for a devastating outcome could have happened if the entire tire mount and tire had come loose, possibly causing an accident. We were physically and emotionally shaken after this incident.