ITASCA Complaints

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FELL OFF OUR NEW MOTOR HOME WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH ON A RELATIVELY SMOOTH INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN GOOD WEATHER. WE HEARD A LOUD THUMP AND FELT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE LURCH UPWARD AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM (ABOUT 14 FEET OF STEEL) WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SINGLE LANE OF TRAFFIC ABOUT 200 YARDS BACK. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS BEFORE ANY FOLLOWING DRIVERS STRUCK THE DEBRIS. THE INNER TIRE OF THE RIGHT DUALS WAS DAMAGED WITH A DEEP GOUGE, DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE STEEL CORDS, POSING THREAT OF A BLOWOUT. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CRUSHED INTO THE ONAN PROPANE GENERATOR THAT SITS BEHIND THE RIGHT DUALS. FORTUNATELY, THE PROPANE SYSTEM REMAINED INTACT, BUT HAD IT BEEN BREACHED, THERE WOULD BE OBVIOUS RISK OF EXPLOSION/FIRE. WE INITIALLY ASSUMED WE HIT SOMETHING, OR RAN OVER SOMETHING, BUT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE TO SUPPORT THAT HYPOTHESIS. IT APPEARS THE EXHAUST HANGER SYSTEM FAILED.

MY ITASCA SPIRIT HAS HAD THREE(3) BLOW-OUTS IN THE SAME LOCATION, THE BACK INSIDE PASSENGER TIRE. ONE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. FINALLY, A COMPANY FOUND THAT THE BRACKET HOLDING THE AIR BAG COMPRESSOR ONLY HAD ONE BOLT HOLDING IT UP INSTEAD OF FOUR. AS A RESULT THE HANGING BRACKET WAS SCRAPING THE TIRE. IN 2010 THERE AS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR IN THE BEDROOM AND SHOWER STALL THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED PLUS THE WHOLE LEFT OUTER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A LOT OF OUT OF POCKET MONEY WAS SPENT ON TIRES AND REPAIRS. A PICTURE OF THE LAST BLOW OUT IS AVAILABLE. *TR

2008 ITASCA NAVION MOTORHOME PRODUCED BY WINNEBAGO. PROPANE TANK IS TOTALLY DISINTEGRATING. METAL IS FLAKING OFF IN VERY LARGE CHUNKS. LOCATION OF MOTORHOME IS VERMONT, IN THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN AREA. LAKE CHAMPLAIN IS NOT A SALT WATER LAKE. WINNEBAGO IS TELLING US WE ARE IN A CAUSTIC AREA. EVEN IF WE WERE, IT WOULD TAKE MANY YEARS FOR THE PROPANE TANK TO PROGRESS TO THE STAGE IT IS CURRENTLY AT. HAVE NEVER VACATIONED OR STAYED FOR AN EXTENDED TIME NEAR THE OCEAN. CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO INSPECT THE TANK. PICTURES CAN BE SENT BY EMAIL IF NECESSARY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ITASCA MERIDIAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FOG HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ITASCA SUNOVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABNORMALLY PULLING TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO STICK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES WERE OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO STICK AND THE HYDRO BOOST TO STOP FUNCTIONING. THE MECHANIC THEN ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ITASCA IMPULSE SILVER MOTOR HOME, MODEL NUMBER: IF23IRP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SOFA WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTED OVER THE PASSENGER'S HIP ONLY IF THE PASSENGER WAS SEATED SIDEWAYS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER COULD SUSTAIN INTERNAL DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DESIGN COULD NOT BE COMPROMISED, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER NOTED THAT THE SEAT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR OCCUPANCY BUT A SEAT BELT WAS INSTALLED. THE SEAT BELT DEFECT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,640. UPDATED 11/27/12 *CN THE CUSTOMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SEAT SIX PEOPLE BUT CAN ONLY SEAT FIVE. UPDATED 12/11/2012 *JS

WINDSHIELD LEAKING DUE TO THE METAL FRAMEWORK THE WINDSHIELDS WERE ATTACHED TO WAS RUSTED AND THE GLASS TO METAL SEAL FAILED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN A RAIN STORM THE WINDSHIELDS COULD FAIL AND FALL OUT CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR

AT 1:20 PM A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BOX. A NEIGHBOR IN THE RV PARK SAW SMOKE, CALLED 911 AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE TOXIC SMOKE FROM THE INSULATION WENT INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE RV THROUGH THE BEDROOM FLOOR, KILLING OUR DOG AND COMPLETELY COATING EVERYTHING IN THE RV WITH BLACK, SMELLY SOOT, EVEN INSIDE CLOSED DRAWERS AND CLOSETS. THE FIRE MARSHALS REPORT FOUND THAT A WIRE (APPROX 10 GA) SHORTED AGAINST A METAL CORNER CAUSING HEAT WHICH SET THE INSULATION OF A LARGE WIRE BUNDLE ON FIRE. NO EVIDENCE OF MODS OR REPAIRS WERE NOTED AT THE AREA OF ORIGIN. REPORT ATTACHED. UPDATED 8/28/12 *CN ..UPDATED 08/31/12 *BF UPDATED 9/26/12 *CN UPADTED 09/27/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ITASCA NAVION 24J RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY ITASCA SUNCRUISER MOTORHOME TO COBB & SON RV REPAIR I NOTICED I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN NORMAL SPEED. ARRIVED AT COBB AND EXPLAINED TO RITCHIE COBB THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. RITCHIE HAD A TECH MEASURE THE HEAT AT THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE AT 900 DEGREES. INFORMED RECALL FROM WORKHORSE REGARDING A BRAKE ISSUE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE DEALER FOR REPAIR (100 MILES AWAY). RITCHIE EXPLAINED THIS COULD NOT BE DONE AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THERE WOULD BE SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY AND EVEN FURTHER DAMAGE AS THE PADS WERE WORN AND CRYSTALLIZED, CALIPERS BAD, AND THE BRAKE FAILURE HAVE CREATED SERIOUS GROOVES IN THE ROTORS. ADDITIONALLY THE BRAKES HAD ALREADY GONE INTO LOCKING UP MODE. RITCHIE SAID THE REMEDY WAS REPLACEMENT OF ALL THIS PARTS ON ALL 4 BRAKES BECAUSE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE RECALL ISSUE. ASTOUNDED THAT WORKHORSE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR DEALER FACILITY(100 MILES AWAY), I PERSONALLY CALLED WORKHORSE. I GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEN THE HEAD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEN THIRDLY FROM CARL DAHL THEIR REGIONAL MANAGER. I REFUSED TO RISK DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AT MY EXPENSE AS WORKHORSE REFUSED TO DO SO. MY NEXT SURPRISE WAS THAT WORKHORSE WOULD NOT REPLACE ROTORS, PAD, ETC., EVEN THOUGH THEIR RECALL ISSUE CAUSED ALL THE DAMAGE. A POLICY TO TELL SOMEONE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND THEN THEY WOULD TOW IT WHEN I BREAK DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS INSANE AND IRRESPONSIBLE. FURTHER THEY ARE IGNORING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR ALL THE DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THEIR RECALL. I HAVE NOW HAD TO PAY OVER $1,100 TO RESTORE MY BRAKES, PAY FOR TOWING, AND DRIVE 200 MILES TO PICK UP MY MOTORHOME. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO PERSUADE WORKHORSE TO DO THE ETHICAL AND HONORABLE THING AND REIMBURSE ALL THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT. *JS