Thanks for all of the replies. I have been looking through the documentation we received from the pool builder. Within that were the plans they used to build the pool. Apparently they purchased the plans from a company (pool engineering) and they are "series 100" which are standard pool building plans. After spending time looking through the website I found that they offered other "series" of plans... For pools built near upslope retaining walls, special features and freestanding pools which I am starting to believe they should have use on our build as every bit of land here is on a slope. I am going to contact the engineering company and verify this theory. The owner of the company has sereral articles online about determining why pool structures fail. Hopefully he knows how to repair them. Wish me luck!
18,00 gallon, pebble finish, FNS 48 d.e. filter, 3 h.p. intelliflo vsf pump, intellichlor ic40, easytouch controls, ultratemp heat pump