RIALTA Complaints

WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 1 MPH THE REAR AXLE ON MY MOTORHOME BROKE IN HALF AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF! CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE CRACK SHOWED THAT THE AXLE HAD BEEN CRACKED FOR SOME TIME BEFORE IT BROKE. SINCE REPORTING THIS FAILURE TO THE RIALTA TECH WEB SITE SEVERAL OTHER RIALTA OWNERS HAVE FOUND CRACKS IN THE SAME AREA OF THEIR AXLES. IF THIS FAILURE HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY IT COULD BE TRAGIC. *TT UPDATED 1/23/14*CN 1/29/14CN

THERE ARE AT LEAST 3 CASES OF PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE CRACKED OR BROKEN REPORTED LATELY ON THE RIALTA TECH-GROUP, THE WEBSITE IS: HTTP://AUTOS.GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/RIALTA-TECH/. THIS FACT WARNED ME TO CHECK THE AXLE OF MY 2003 HD RIALTA, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE, WHERE THE WHEEL AND BRAKE ARE MOUNTED, IS CRACKED. THE CRACK IS A HAIR LINE SIZE, APPROXIMATELY 1/2" LONG, ON ONE SIDE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE. AS REPORTED ON THE RIALTA TECH-GROUP WEBSITE, THIS TYPE OF CRACK MIGHT PROPAGATE TO BOTH SIDE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE THAT LEADS TO A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE AXLE. *TR UPDATED 01/28/14*LJ

2001 VOLKSWAGEN CHASSIS WINNEBAGO RIALTA MOTORHOME VR-6 FIBERGLASS PANEL FELL AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NJ (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10240454)*JB UPDATED02/24/10 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 WINNEBAGO RIALTA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE THEN OVERHEATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COOLING FAN BLADES FRACTURED AND SEPARATED, HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V107000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,550. UPDATED 10/24/07. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 WINNEBAGO RIALTA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. HE PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, STEAM BEGAN TO RISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND HE NOTICED LIQUID ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR HAD BEEN CUT BY THE ENGINE FAN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,500.

2004 WINNEBAGO RIALTA MOTORHOME. CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK. CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM SAVED THE LIVES OF 2 PEOPLE AND 2 PETS WHILE RUNNING THE GENERATOR AND AIR CONDITIONING. WINNEBAGO IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY ACTION. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW HOURS LATER. THE VEHICLE, AS SUCH IS AN UN-USABLE DEATH TRAP. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH AN ODOR EMITTED CAUSING THE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM TO BEEP. WHEN THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING WAS RUPTURED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING WAS REPLACED.

1999 WINNEBAGO RIALTA TIRE FAILURE.*MR THE CONTINENTAL TIRES FAILED BECAUSE THE NON DRIVE REAR AXLE TUBULAR AXLE FLEXED. THIS DESIGN CAUSED BOTH TIRES TO WEAR O THE INNER EDGE OF THE TREAD. BOTH REAR TIRES SEPARATED AND MADE NOISE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TWO TIRE AND ALIGNMENT SHOP EXPERT TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE AXLE IS CHANGED OR MODIFIED. *NM

DT: CALLER HAS A MINI MOTOR WITH HOME FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. THE REAR WHEEL AXLES BENT CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR ON THE INSIDE. THE CONSUMER COULD SEE THE METAL BEADING ON THE TIRE. AFTER APPROX 15,000 MILES THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT NEW TIRES ON. THIS MADE THE THIRD SET OF NEW TIRES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES LOOKED NEW. *NM *NM

VEHICLE IS A 2004 RIALTA MOTOR HOME. THE REAR PORTION IS MANUFACTURED BY WINNEBAGO AND THE FRONT BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE PROBLEM CONCERNS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT (SUPPOSEDLY A VW RESPONSIBILTY). IT CONSATNTLT CONTRACTS CREATING AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION FOR THE WEARER. THREE ATTEMPTS AT HAVING VW FIX THIS HAVE RESULTED IN THEIR FINAL POSITION THAQT THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED, AND THAT I'LL HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. HOWEVER IT WORKS LIKE NO OTHER SEAT BELT IN THE VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO VERIFY THIS "DESIGN" SITUATION WITH VW OF AMERICA HAVE MET WITH NO RESPONSE. IF UNCHANGED, THIS SITUATION CREATES A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AND DISCOURAGES COMPIANCE WITH LOCAL SEAT BELT REQUIREMENTS.*AK