DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WHERE THE SLIDING BOLT BREAKS DUE TO METAL FATIGUE OR OTHER REASON. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND CREATED A NEW LOCK, THAT HAS THE SAME DEFECT, ACCORDING TO OTHER CONSUMERS. WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE LOCK TO REPAIR THE ASSEMBLY. I WAS ABLE TO DRILL OUT THE LOCK AND REMOVE THE DEADBOLT, WHICH THEN ALLOWED ME TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AND ORDER A REPLACEMENT, WHICH I NOW FEAR WILL SUFFER THE SAME ISSUE. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN IN THE RV ALONE, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIFIED. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN EMERGENCY EXIT, SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLIMB DOWN WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, AND THE PRIMARY DOOR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO 'BOLT SHUT' IN CASE OF FAILURE. THE BREAK OCCURRED DURING NORMAL USE, AS HAVE MOST OTHER CONSUMERS REPORTED PROBLEMS (LOOK AT AMAZON FOR EXAMPLES). TRIMARK SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL LOCKS, OR AT LEAST ANY CONSUMERS THAT HAVE INCURRED THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER BECOME TRAPPED IN A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF KNOWN METAL FATIGUE PROBLEMS. SEE HTTPS://WWW.AMAZON.COM/GP/PRODUCT/B00HE7SLF8?PF_RD_R=2N3KX8TE2QPQBM9207DF&PF_RD_P=EDABA0EE-C2FE-4124-9F5D-B31D6B1BFBEE FOR HISTORY. OF COURSE USERS ARE HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCT REPLACEMENT..... UNTIL IT BREAKS (READ COMMENTS)
- NHTSA ID
- 11375780
- Incident
- Nov 21, 2020