WINNEBAGO Complaints

WE PURCHASED A 2012 WINNEBAGO NAVION 24J FROM CAMPING WORLD SUPERCENTER NEW BRAUNSFEL, TX JUNE 29, 2012. RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO OHIO ON JULY 8, 2012, WE ENCOUNTERED HEAVY STORMS, AVOIDING A NEAR COLLISION WE DISCOVERED THE HORN DID NOT WORK! WE REPORTED THE MALFUNCTION TO CAMPING WORLD AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE RV INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON JULY 17TH, 2012. JULY 20, 2012 WE WERE TOLD ALL ISSUES WERE ADDRESSED AND THE VEHICLE READY FOR OUR PICKUP ON JULY 24, 2012. WE WENT TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE JULY 25, 2012 ONLY TO DISCOVER THE HORN STILL DID NOT WORK. [XXX], SALES MANAGER, WAS INFORMED AND HE INSISTED THE RV PASSED THEIR "INTERNAL" INSPECTION AND PREDELIVERY CHECK. WE REITERATED THE HORN IS STILL NOT WORKING. WE INQUIRED AS TO WHY WERE WE TOLD TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP IF THE HORN STILL MALFUNCTIONED. NO ANSWER TO THIS INQUIRY. NOW WE ARE TOLD THE PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND HAS TO BE SERVICED ELSEWHERE. WE HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO OUR NEW VEHICLE SINCE JULY 17. WE FURTHER REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE UNDER ITS CURRENT HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. WE ARE DEMANDING CAMPING WORLD REMEDY THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. WE ARE PREPARED TO FILE A TX DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION LEMON LAW CLAIM AGAINST CAMPING WORLD. WE ARE REQUESTING ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND/OR INFORMATION THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY THIS DEPARTMENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 WINNEBAGO VISTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND IT STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PROTECTIVE SHIELD THAT ALLOWED MOISTURE TO PENETRATE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD AND BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,500....UPDATED 08-03-12 *BF UPDATED 08/09/2012 *JS

AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM A 3-HOUR DRIVE ON FEDERAL INTERSTATE I-10, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE FIBERGLASS LOWER REAR PANEL WAS GONE. THE 9 FT WIDE X 2.5 FT TALL PANEL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ATTACHMENT POINTS. IT APPEARS THAT THE ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE PANEL AND THE CHASSIS SUPPORTS FAILED. NO OTHER MOTORISTS NOTIFIED US THAT THE PANEL WAS GONE/MISSING. IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN TRAFFIC, A POTENTIAL MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR FROM THIS LARGE PANEL IMPACTING A PASSENGER CAR OR SIMILAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 WINNEBAGO BRAVE SE RV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE REALIZED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ASSUMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF BRAKE FLUID. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN BRAKING POWER AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD NEED REPLACING BECAUSE IT HAD OVERHEATED AND SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000 AND THE CURRENT 600,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NUMBER: 1201LRIMWPM WHICH WAS HOUSED IN A 2007 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS LEAKING AMMONIA. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS LOCATED IN THE REAR CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 07/10/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REFRIGERATOR WAS HOT, SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2006 THE REFRIGERATOR COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT, BUT IT NEVER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE REFRIGERATOR STOPPED WORKING AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CONSUMER OBTAINED THE PARTS AND WAS ABLE TO FIX IT, BUT THE EXTERIOR WAS STILL TOO HOT. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE CONSUMER PULLED THE REFRIGERATOR OUT AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH COOLING FANS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND PART OF THE THERMAL INSULATION WAS MISSING. NORCOLD DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE, UNTIL WINNEBAGO BECAME INVOLVED. AFTER WINNEBAGO BECAME INVOLVED, NORCOLD REPLACED THE FANS AND SENT ADDITIONAL INSULATION. UPDATE 07/11/12. *JB THE CONSUMERS LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMER. UNDER THE RECALL, THE COOLING UNIT WAS RETROFITTED WITH A THERMAL SWITCH KIT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE COOLING UNIT FROM LEAKING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE REPAIR WAS INEFFECTIVE AS THE UNIT CONTINUED TO LEAK REFRIGERANT. UPDATED 08/09/12

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2008 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER WITH A WORKHORSE W18 CHASSIS WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2009. ON 4/11/12, I HAD AN ABS WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT DISPLAYED AN INDICATION TO "CHECK ABS!" AND TOOK IT TO CHILHOWEE RV ON 4/14/12. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE CHASSIS AND FRONT WHEELS, CHILHOWEE DETERMINED THAT THE ABS SENSOR ON THE DRIVER FRONT WHEEL HAD BURNED OUT DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE WHEEL. THE FRONT BRAKES HAD EXCESSIVELY WORN PADS AND A SCORCHED ROTOR, CALIPERS WOULDN'T RELEASE, AND BRAKE LINE WAS NOT RELEASING FLUID CAUSED BY A COLLAPSED BRAKE LINE AND/OR CALIPER DEFECT. THE REAR BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. MY WORKHORSE WARRANTY DOESN'T EXPIRE UNTIL 7/7/12. CHILHOWEE RV SUBMITTED A WARRANTY CLAIM TO WORKHORSE AND PROVIDED ALL NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS AND PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THE CLAIM. WORKHORSE CLAIMS OFFICE DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE OF OPERATOR FAILURE -- "SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE DROVE DOWN A HILL WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE"; AND "IT IS A DRIVER/VEHICLE OPERATION FAILURE AND AS SUCH NOT A WORKHORSE WARRANTY REPAIR." THE REPAIRS WERE FINALLY COMPLETED ON 5/30/12 WITH A TOTAL COST OF $4,490.03. PARTS CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED THROUGH WORKHORSE WHICH AMOUNTED TO $3,418.70. IN THE END, WORKHORSE TURNED A $3,418.70 DEBT INTO A $3,418.70 PROFIT. THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF W18 CHASSIS IN SERVICE WITH THIS POTENTIAL DEFECT. YOU DO THE MATH ON HOW MUCH MONEY WORKHORSE CAN MAKE BY DENYING CLAIMS AND SELLING REPLACEMENT PARTS WHILE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. THERE HAVE BEEN 31 BRAKE RECALLS ISSUED BY WORKHORSE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS FOR W20/21/22 CHASSIS WITH EXACTLY THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE REPAIR INVOICE FROM CHILHOWEE RV, WORKHORSE REGISTRATION OF MY RV, WORKHORSE WARRANTY STATEMENT, ALL THE E-MAILS BETWEEN CHILHOWEE RV AND WORKHORSE, PICTURES OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THEMSELVES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR

SIX MORE INCIDENTS OF ENGINE ACCELERATION - NOW A TOTAL OF EIGHT 28 DEC 2011WATERLOO, IA 1:13 PM @ 5548 MILES. AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND PLACING SHIFT LEVER IN PARK, ENGINE SPED UP TO 2800 RPM THEN BACK TO IDLE. DURATION 2 TO 3 SECONDS. 4 JAN 2012 SOUTH OF WACO, TX GOING SOUTH ON I-35 NEAR EXIT 320 @ 1:10 PM WITH 6780 MILES ON ODOMETER. CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 60 MPH FOR SOME TIME GOING UP AND DOWN GRADES AND EVEN ON MODERATE GRADES RPM ONLY WENT TO 3800 RPM. THIS TIME ON A SLIGHT GRADE, ENGINE RACED FROM 2500 RPM TO 5000 RPM FOR 4 TO 5 SECONDS THEN BACK TO NORMAL. FEET WERE NOT ON ANY PEDALS. 4 JAN 2012 AT 1:35 PM ON I-35 NEAR EXIT 300 WITH 6805 MILES ON ODOMETER AND WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 60 MPH, ENGINE RACED FROM 2400 RPM TO 5100 RPM FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS THEN BACK TO NORMAL. SLIGHT INCLINE WITH FEET OFF OF ALL PEDALS. 4 JAN 2012 AT 1:43 PM ON I-35 NEAR EXIT 293 WITH 6811 MILES ON ODOMETER AND CRUISE CONTROL STILL SET AT 60 MPH. UPON APPROACHING A STEEPER GRADE, ENGINE RAPIDLY SPED UP FROM 2400 RPM TO 3400, TO 3800, TO 4300, TO 5200 RPM WITH THIS TOTAL SEQUENCE TAKING ABOUT 3 SECONDS. FEET OFF BOTH PEDALS; AS IT IS MY USUAL CUSTOM WHEN ON CRUISE CONTROL. 2 FEB 2012AT 2:36 PM GOING NORTH ON I-35 [KS TURNPIKE IN WICHITA] WITH 8246 MILES ON ODOMETER AND CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 70 MPH AND OPERATING NORMALLY AT 2600 RPM, IT WAS DISENGAGED FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE BY DRIVER. UPON PRESSING THE RESUME BUTTON ENGINE RACED DIRECTLY TO 5100 RPM FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEN BACK TO 2600 RPM. ALL OTHER RE-ENGAGEMENTS BY RESUME FUNCTIONS WERE UNDER 4200 RPM. 3 FEB 20126:50 PM ON I-35 TWO MILES SOUTH OF ALBERT LEE MN AND CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH. ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ENGINE RACED FROM 2200 RPM DIRECTLY TO 5100 RPM FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. NOTE: TWO PRIOR INCIDENTS REPORTED IN NHTSA ODI ID NO.: 10453149. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY 39F MOTORHOME. SINCE THE MOTORHOME WAS TWO YEARS OLD (IT SAT ON THE DEALER'S LOT, IN THE OPEN, FOR ONE YEAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT) WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WATER DRIPS ONTO THE DASH FROM ABOVE THE LEFT (DRIVER'S) WINDSHIELD. I CONTACTED WINNEBAGO AND THEY SAID TO PUT SILICON AROUND THE LIGHTS ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH I DID. THE CONDITION REMAINS THE SAME. THE INTERNET HAS REPORTED THAT THE METAL FRAME AROUND THE GLASS RUSTS OUT CAUSING THE LEAKS. I WORRY THAT THE ENTIRE WINDOW FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WINDOW BREAKING OR COMING LOOSER. THE VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM LEADS TO THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND/OR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD FRAMES. THANK YOU *TR

I TRIED TWO DAYS AGO BUT MY MEMO DID NOT GO THRU. MY REFERENCE # 447680 WHILE IN AN I95 REST STOP IN SANTEE, SC MY UNIT BROKE INTO FLAMES WHEN THE GENERATOR WAS STARTED TO MAKE COFFEE. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND CALL 911. SANTEE FD RESPONDED QUICKLY. AFTER CHECKING THE UNIT CAREFULLY AND TURNING OFF THE BATTERIES TO THE HOUSE PORTION THEY CLEARED ME TO DRIVE HOME TO RICHMOND, VA THIS FIRE WAS IN AN INACCESSIBLE AREA BEHIND THE WALL UNDER THE BATHROOM SINK. I AM A SENIOR AND AN AMPUTEE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR

THIS RV WAS BOUGHT IN NOV 2011, FROM THE DEALER AND DROVE IT HOME ABOUT 3 MILES DISTANCE. DRIVING AT 40MPH, I FELT THERE WAS ALOT OF POWER STEERING AND I FOUGHT THE STEERING TO STAY IN MY LANE.THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE WINTER MONTHS. FREQUENT TURNING ENGINE TO WARM UP AND SHORELINE HOOKED TO HOUSE POWER. MAY3, 2012, I, WIFE AND ADULT SON DEPARTED TO WILLIAMS, AZ ABOUT 130 MILES FOR CAMPING AT A FEDERAL CAMP SITE. I DROVE MOSTLY ON THE BACK ROADS AND AVOIDED THE I-HIGHWAY 40. OVER 40 MPH I COULD SENSE THAT THIS VEC. HAS ALOT OF POWER STEERING, AND UP TO 60 MPH. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING AT ALL..THE VEC. WAS GOING WHERE IT WANTED TO GO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AND I HAD TO COUNTER THIS BY TURNING SLIGHTLY BACK INTO THE PROPER LANE. AT TIMES, ON COMING VEC. WOULD SWAY TO THEIR RIGHT, AS THIS RV WAS OVER THE CENTER LINE AND I HAD TO COMPENSATED THE STEERING. WE EXITED THE BACK ROAD AND ENTERED THE I-40 HWY. AND, I FOUGHT THE STEERING CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL WE REACH THE FED. CAMP SITE(KAIBAB LAKE, WILLIAMS,AZ) MAY 11, 2012, WE JOURNEYED BACK HOME. AGAIN, DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES ON I-40, UNTIL WE GOT BACK ONTO THE BACK ROAD OF ROUTE66...FOLLOWING DAY, I CALLED AN RV REPAIR SHOP ABOUT MY STEERING PROBLEM AND TOOK IN THAT, SAME MORNING FOR AN INSPECTION. FEW HOURS LATER, THE RV TECHNICIAN CALLED AND STATED THAT, I HAD NO STEERING STABILIZER. I ASKED, IF IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.. HE AGAIN STATED, THAT THERE ISN'T ANY STEERING STABILIZER..THEIR IS NO WARRANTY, ON THIS USED VEC. BOUGHT NOV 2011. AND, DRIVEN FOR A LONG TRIP FOR THE 1ST TIME ON MAY 3, AND AGAIN FOR THE RTN TRIP MAY 11. I AM NOW PAYING FOR A BILL THAT, NEARLY COST ME AND MY FAMILIES LIFE. VEC. IS A 2007 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 28P, CHEV MOTOR, GAS, WORKHORSE CHASIS. VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR