NHTSA Complaint #11541664 — 2022 WINNEBAGO FORZA

This complaint is about broken welds on the Superstructure (The framing that runs the length of the Motor Home (RV). It is attached to the chassis frame rails and supports the entire Motor Home including any cargo and equipment like the Fresh Water tanks (100 gallons) Black and Grey waste tanks. It is the backbone of the construction process and supports several thousand pounds and is under incredible stress especially when this 40 foot Motor Home with a dry weight of in in motion. This vehicle has a GVWR of 29,410 lbs. I took the vehicle down to McClain's RV center located in Corinth, TX (DFW Metroplex) to repair 2 slide-outs that were not functioning correctly on August 7th, 2023. I arrived that evening and set the vehicle up on one of the dealerships RV pads that has both water and electric hook-ups. Before going to sleep, I attempted to put some water into the onboard 100 gallon water tank as I normally do not travel with much due to decreased MPG and weight of water. I was unable to get any water into the tank, so I just switched the valve to open and just had the water running straight from the City hook up into the coach via a "City water" hook-up and went to bed. Next morning, I attempted to fill the onboard tank again with what appeared to be no results. I then took a shower. The service manager & I went to lunch before checking my unit in. We were notified during lunch that my vehicle was overflowing onto the ground. We returned and the water had dissolved from the concrete. Further inspection by myself and the Shop Manager reveled that the fresh water tank had collapsed the floor and superstructure steel flat and angle iron bars and was nearly on the ground. If this had happened in motion, someone could have been killed. The broken welds had complete surface rust indicating the welds had been broke and other welds broke in route causing the Superstructure failure. I suspect other welds are bad and fear for our safety and the safety of the public!!!!