ON MARCH 18TH 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, A FEMALE ADULT (OCCUPANT) AGE 49, OPENED THE ENTRY DOOR AND STEPPED OFF THE RV. THE ELECTRIC DOUBLE-DOOR (EDD) STEP WAS NOT EXTENDED AT THE TIME AND THE OCCUPANT FELL TO GRADE, APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET VERTICALLY, SERIOUSLY INJURING THE OCCUPANT AND FRACTURING HER RIGHT LOWER LEG. THE EDD STEP ON THE 2001 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER V32 IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY EXTEND WHEN THE ENTRY DOOR IS OPENED AND RETRACT WHEN THE ENTRY DOOR IS CLOSED. THE EDD STEP CAN ALSO BE CONTROLLED BY AN ON-OFF SWITCH THAT DISABLES THE EDD STEP IN ITS LAST POSITION. THIS ON-OFF SWITCH ENABLES ONE TO DISABLE THE STAIRWAY IN THE EXTENDED POSITION FOR CONVENIENCE AT A CAMPSITE WHERE ENTRY AND EXIT WOULD OCCUR FREQUENTLY. IF THE EDD STEP IS SO DISABLED, TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL OVERRIDE THE ON-OFF SWITCH AND RETRACT THE EDD STEP IF THE ENTRY DOOR IS CLOSED. FELL TO GRADE SEVERELY INJURING HERSELF. DESIGN/SAFETY DEFICIENCIES: THE ON-OFF SWITCH FOR THE EDD STEP IS LOCATED IN THE SAME AREA AS THE PORCH LIGHT SWITCH AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH. IT IS ALSO THE SAME STYLE OF TOGGLE SWITCH WITH THE IDENTICAL SIZE, COLOR, AND OPERATING FEEL OF THE LIGHT SWITCHES. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS OR INSTRUCTIONS POSTED TO DESCRIBE THE OPERATION OF THE EDD STEP AND THE FUNCTION OF THE STEP SWITCH AND THE POTENTIAL FALL HAZARD. *NM