NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07061

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATON WITH A SINGLE COMPLAINT, VOQ 10192456. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, NEWMAR IDENTIFIED ONE ADDITIONAL OWNER COMPLAINT ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE (POPULATION 2,431).NEWMAR ALSO IDENTIFIED ONE COMPLAINT PERTAINING TO A MODEL YEAR 2006 VEHICLE (OF 1,567 MFD) IN WHICH A LIFT ASSISTED CARGO DOOR IN A MOVING VEHICLE HAD REPORTEDLY OPENED (OR BEEN LEFT IN THE OPEN POSITION BY THE OPERATOR) TO THE NEAR HORIZONTAL POSITION AND THE PROTRUDING RIGHT REAR CARGO DOOR HAD CONTACTED A HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL WHICH SHEARED THE CARGO DOOR FROM THE VEHICLE.NEWMAR HAS ADVISED ODI THAT INADVERTANT OPENING OF HORIZONTALLY HINGED CARGO DOORS WILL BECOME LESS FREQUENT BECAUSE NEWMAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN MORE RECENT YEARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH VERTICALLY HINGED CARGO DOORS (WHICH ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A LIFT ASSIST FEATURE).ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION DUE TO A LOW NUMBER OF FAILURES, BUT HAS IMPLEMENTED A ONE-YEAR MONITORING PROGRAM AT NEWMAR THAT REQUIRESNEWMAR TO INFORM ODI WHEN ANY ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS OF INADVERTANT CARGO DOOR OPENINGS ARE REPORTED SO THE AGENCY CAN RESPOND WITH THE APPROPORIATEACTION IF, AND WHEN , NEW INCIDENTS ARE REPORTED.