WINNEBAGO Complaints

OWNER REPORTS THAT VEHICLE ROCKS WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 50-55 MPH. AIR GUST FROM PASSING CAR WILL "PUSH" MOTORHOME OFF PAVEMENT ON TO SHOULDER.

I OWN A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER WPG38R. I INCURRED WHAT AMOUNTED TO A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON MY ON A GENERATOR, DIRECTLY CAUSED BY WINNEBAGO IGNORING ONAN'S "RECOMMENDED" INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. THOSE INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFICALLY STATE A SUPPORT BRACKET BE INSTALLED IF THE TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY IS MORE THAN 18" LONG. THE TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY ON THIS UNIT IS 25" LONG. THE FIX, IF CAUGHT EARLY ON COST ME $725.00. MY REAL CONCERN INVOLVES SAFETY. ONAN WARNS IN THEIR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS " A HOT EXHAUST PIPE CAN CAUSE ---- SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. I ALSO ASSUME IT CAUSE CARBON MOXIDE POISONING OR HEAT/ FIRE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR HOME. WINNEBAGO PUT IN WRITING TO ME THEY HAD ALL THEIR MODEL YEARS INSTALLATIONS APPROVED AND INSPECTED BY ONAN.. ONAN PUT IN WRITING TO ME THEY DIDN'T APPROVE OR INSPECT ANY INSTALLATIONS FOR ANY CUSTOMER. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THIS INFORMATION, A WINNEBAGO CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ( BRIAN) TOLD ME THEN THE LACK OF THE SUPPORT INSTALLATION MUST HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY WINNEBAGO'S ENGINEERS. THEY ( WINNEBAGO) CONTINUED TO DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY AS MY MOTOR HOME WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO ONAN'S WARRANTY THEY EXCLUDE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THEIR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. MY WARRANTY THEREFORE WAS VOIDED THE DAY WINNEAGO INSTALLED THE GENERATOR ON MY UNIT AND OTHERS OF SIMILAR LENGTH. A WINNEBAGO TECHNICAL SUPPORT MAN TOLD ME VERBALLY OVER THE PHONE THAT UNIT CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE A SUPPOPRT BRACKET INSTALLED. HE THEN WENT ON WINNEBAGO'S MANUFACTURING INSTRUCTIONS FOR MY MODEL AND STATED HE WAS SURPRISED IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THEIR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. ONE OF THEIR INITIAL STATEMENTS TO ME OVER THE PHONE WAS "IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF WINNEBAGO, THINK AGAIN". THEY MAINTAINED THAT STANCE EVEN WHEN I SUBMITTED TO THEM THE SUPPORT INFORMATION I HAD COLLECTED THAT STATED THEY WERE AT FAULT. IT TOOK A LETTER FROM MY ATTORNEY AND A LOCAL TV STATION TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND REIMBURSE ME THE $725. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V060000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT DONE BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,849.

PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, INCLUDING EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS IS THE WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER RV MOTORHOME WHICH IS NOT LISTED ON YOUR SITE THAT SAYS MAKE AND MODEL. *TR

THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND WE COULD NOT TELL THE MILLAGE NOR WHAT GEAR WE WERE IN. THIS IS DEFINITLY A SAFETY CONCERN AS ONE CAN THINK THEY WERE IN DRIVE AND REALLY BE IN REVERSE

2005 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR IN HIS MOTORHOME HAS GONE OUT TWICE AND HE PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. HE PHONED NORCOLD AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HIM. HE HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED YET. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED FROM THE DAY THE RV WAS PURCHASED, IT NEVER DID COOL THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE. ON JULY 26, 2007 THE COOLING FANS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECOND TIME IT FAILED, AMMONIA WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE UNIT AND WHEN HE TURNED IT ON PROPANE, IT MADE A POPPING SOUND, SO HE IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE PROPANE OFF AT THE MAIN TANK AND UNPLUGGED THE UNIT.*JB

PURCHASED 6 NEW OFF BRAND TIRES. 4 OF THE 6 FAILED WITHIN 6MO/700MILES. HAVING TO FIGHT WITH TIRE DEALER & WAREHOUSE TO GET ANY COMPENSATION BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAPPEN ALL AT ONE TIME. ONLY HAVE LAST TIRE DOT #, OTHERS WERE DISCARDED AS THEY HAPPENED. ARE STATISTICS KEPT ON TIRE BATCHES? CAN I ACCESS THIS INFO TO SEE IF THE FAILURE RATE OF MY TIRE BATCH WAS HIGHER THAN AVERAGE? ANY HELP IN THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

RECALL SERVICE FOR NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR INSTALLED IN 2005 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER MOTORHOME. RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED NOV. 10. 2010 FROM NORCOLD. I CALLED MY SERVICE/DEALER TO GET IT REPAIRED. TODAY THEY INFORMED ME THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY, 2011. I CALLED NORCOLD AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD BE SHIPPED ABOUT DEC. 13TH. I FEEL THIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG THAT I HAVE TO WAIT SO LONG TO GET SOMETHING REPAIRED THAT THEY SOLD AS BEING OK. NOW THEY SAY IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. WE HAVE BEEN USING THIS FOR OVER FIVE YEARS AND THEY ARE JUST NOW TELLING US IT IS DANGEROUS? ALSO, WE HAVE RESERVATIONS TO GO TO FLORIDA THAT WERE MADE LONG BEFORE WE GOT THE RECALL. I CALLED IMMEDIATELY TO GET IT REPAIRED AND IT IS NOW GOING TO BE TWO OR THREE MONTHS BEFORE I CAN USE THE REFRIG AND THAT MEANS I CAN'T USE THE MOTORHOME TO GO TO FLORIDA AND STAY FGOR THE WINTER. WHY HAS THIS BEEN ALLOWED TO DRAG OUT SO LONG AND WHY CAN'T REPAIRS BE DONE IN A MORE TIMELY FASHION? *TR

WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS SAFETY RECALL 51101-C, REPLACEMENT OF BOSCH SERVICE BRAKE CALIPERS. DEALER INTENTIONALLY FAILED TO HAVE CALIPERS REPLACED PRIOR TO SALE OF VEHICLE. PURCHASER OF VEHICLE COMPLAINED TO DEALER THAT TIRES WERE BAD AND, AFTER REMOVING TIRES, THAT BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS WERE ALSO BAD. DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY ANY OF THE COMPLAINTS AND NEGLECTED TO INFORM PURCHASER OF VEHICLE OF THE SAFETY RECALL FOR NEARLY 2 WEEKS AFTER SALE. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW WINNEBAGO VIA MOTOR HOME (BUILT ON A MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER CHASSIS) IN AUGUST 2010. ON SHORT TRIPS (10 TO 20 MILES) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TUM ON. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THIS STARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DID NOT TUM OFF. I CONTACTED A DEALER FOR REPAIR ADVICE AND WAS ASK TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER IS ABOUT 60 MILES AWAY; REQUIRING 195 INTERSTATE USE TO DRIVE THERE. THE VEHICLE DROVE CORRECTLY ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALER UNTIL I SLOWED IN PREPARATION TO EXITING FREEWAY BY CHANGING LANES. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" (AS I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER). IT HAD NO POWER, SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TO SUDDENLY SLOW IN A LANE OFTRAFFIC GOING 65+ MPH AND TRYING TO CHANGE LANES IS A BIT SCARY AND I THINK DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO GET ACROSS TOWN (ABOUT 10 MILES) IN TRAFFIC BY HAVING MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND TRYING NOT TO HOLD UP TRAFFIC. THE DEALER HAD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND LOANED ME A VEHICLE TO GO HOME UNTIL THE VIA MOTOR HOME WAS REPAIRED. REPAIR TOOK A DAY AND A HALF - INCLUDING WAITING FOR PARTS. THE REPAIR WAS "REMOVE/INSTALL CONTROL VALVE FOR EXHAUST-GAS RECIRCULATION". I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS WATER ENTERING TO TOP OF THE ENGINE AREA THAT CAUSED THE VALVE TO FAIL. THE REPAIR ALSO INCLUDED "REPAIR OF WINDSHIELD TO BODY SEALING". THIS WAS ALL PREFORMED UNDER WARRANTY WITHOUT COST TO ME. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER DEALERSHIP ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS THE FOURTH UNIT (WINNEBABO VIA) THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THIS FAILURE COULD BE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD -LOSING SPEED WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT 65MPH OR GREATER UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF