NHTSA Complaint #11542932 — 2017 WINNEBAGO ERA

We experienced the collapse of the overhead storage compartment on a drive home from the West Coast on 27 August 2023 while driving 75 MPH. It was extremely fortunate that the shelf fell backwards dumping the contents on our sleeping dog. Had the shelf fell forward, it would have totally blocked the driver's vision in heavy, high speed traffic. It is also fortunate that the brunt of the collapse did not hit the drivers head, but was caught by her headrest and the passengers head, again allowing for control of the vehicle at the time of the failure. We learned afterward that there was a recall on this storage compartment due to similar failures. As second owners, we were unaware of any recalls. We should have been notified of this recall and 2 other existing recalls, when our vehicle went in for service to Roberson RV, of Salem, OR on 22 July 2022. The vehicle was in for minor cabin repairs, but even thought the vehicle was entered by VIN number into Roberson’s system, no mention of any Recalls was made. Had we been properly made aware of the recall, the shelf would have been reinforced and the ensuing failure would not have happened. All of the screws in cbinet were stripped out of the laminated panel, when the bottom of the cabinet collapsed. The forward edge of the cabinet was supported by only 2 ea 1/4" diameter bolts (approx 8" between them) attached to the preformed soft cabin ceiling. They were not fixed to anything solid. The recall calls for strengthening the back edge, but does nothing to bolster the 2 ea 1/4" screws. The flexing of the ceiling in trafic has to flex the joint the back side of the cabinet adding to the chance of a fatigue failure, like the one we experienced Finally, this is one of three outstanding recalls, yet your recall search shows no outstanding recalls. I assume Winnebago should be responsible for the repair and NHTSA should issue a further recall for the forward edge support.