BRACE, ARTICULATING STEPS - FRACTURE. THE ARTICULATING STEPS TO THE MAIN CABIN ARE UNSUPPORTED DUE TO A FRACTURE IN THE REARMOST WELD OF THE BRACE IN WHICH THE STEP ASSEMBLY RESTS ON IN THE FULLY ARTICULATED/OPEN STATE. ENTRY AND EGRESS BY AN OCCUPANT IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SUDDEN DROP DURING ENTRY/EXIT. LOADING THE BRACE CAUSES THE BRACE TO DISENGAGE FROM ITS MATING SURFACE DUE TO THE BROKEN WELD; THE STEP ASSEMBLY DROPS ON 1 SIDE CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND LOSE BALANCE. CONDITION IS WITNESSED ON A 5TH WHEEL TOY HAULER; STEPS ARE USED WHEN STATIONARY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11044033
- Incident
- Oct 28, 2017
- Mileage
- 5,000 mi