WINNEBAGO Complaints

DT: THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MOTOR HOME AND THE STEERING WHEEL ROCKED BACK AND FORTH RAPIDLY AND HEAVILY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THIS ON 8-30-05. IT WAS SO VIOLENT THAT IT WAS CAUSING THE MOTOR HOME TO SHUDDER. IT HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES BEFORE HE GOT HOME. THIS OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY ANY SPEED. THE TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHASSIS, AND HE GOT AN INSPECTION ON IT ON 9-13-05. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE MOTOR HOME WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN THE CONTACT REALEST THE BRAKES THE STEERING WAS FINE. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHASSIS IS WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS, MODEL # P32. *AK

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A RV, 2001 WINNEBAGO BRAVE WPF30W. THE IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE IN USE. THE ENGINE FAILURE THEN CAUSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KICK IN AUTOMATICALLY. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS IN AUGUST -2003, THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN JANUARY -2005, AND THE THIRD IT OCCURRED WAS ON 9-5-2005. THE MOST RECENT TIME IT OCCURRED THE CONSUMER WAS ALMOST IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. CURRENTLY, THEY ARE GETTING READY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. WHEN THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN THE SWITCH AND WHEN HE TOOK IT APART HE COULD TELL IT HAD MELTED. THE SECOND TIME THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG AT THE SWITCH HAD MELTED. *AK *MR

2005 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER MODEL 35A DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE BURNER STAYING LIT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE BURNER FOR THE HOT WATER HEATER WOULD NOT STAY LIT. WHEN THE TANK WA LIT THE BURNER REMAINED ON UNTIL THE CONSUMER CLOSED THE OUTSIDE COMPARTMENT DOOR. AT THAT TIME THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE FLAME SMOTHER OUT. THE TANK WOULD LIGHT AGAIN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THEN GO OUT AGAIN. THE A/C PULLS 22-24 AMPS OF BUT THE UNIT IS ON EQUIPPED FOR ONLY 30 AMP SERVICE WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE USE OF OTHER APPLIANCES WITHOUT PUTTING SHUTTING DOWN COMPRESSOR 2 AND PUTTING THE FAN ON LOW. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE UNIT SHOULD HAVE 50 AMP SERVICE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FEATURES FURNISHED. *NM

MAKE: WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER MODEL: 2004 WFD30B SERIAL NO: [XXX] (WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES) CHASSIS VIN: [XXX](WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS) DELIVERY DATE: JAN. 24, 2004 (PURCHASED NEW) CURRENT MILEAGE: 14,000 1. GAS TANK LEAK ~RIGHT SIDE OF GAS TANK LEAKING FUEL; NOTICED FUEL POURING FROM REAR OF TANK WHEN FILLING UP AT STATION 2. SAFETY RECALL ~SEAT BELTS (WINNEBAGO ISSUE NOT CORRECTED, WAITING FOR PARTS)3. SWAY BAR ~BOLTS FELL FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (APRIL 2005) 4. SAFETY RECALL ~INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (APRIL 2005) 5. AIRBAG ~RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG IN SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFLATED AFTER ONLY 49 DAYS OF USE (AUGUST 2005) 6. DIFFERENTIAL ~DEFECT CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK FROM AXLE TUBE IN REAR-END (AUGUST 2005) 7. SHOCK BRACKET ~MANGLED AND TWISTED, CAUSING SHOCK TO FALL (AUGUST 2005) UNDETERMINED CAUSE; NOT A ROADHAZARD 8. DASH AIR ~BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR AT IDLE; OVERHEATS AND LEAKS ANTIFREEZE REQUIRED NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS: FOUR IN 2004 AND THEN AGAIN FOUR IN 2005 TOTAL DAYS IN SHOP FOR THIS DEFECT ALONE: 45 (26 IN 2004 AND 19 IN 2005) WORKHORSE REPS STATED TO ME THAT "CERTAIN MODELS" OF MOTORHOME HAVE "FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM" THAT THE ENGINEERS OF BOTH CORPORATIONS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY KNOWINGLY SELL A PRODUCT THAT IS EXPECTED TO FAIL. SINCE MOST OF THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE ELDERLY (RETIRED) AND COMPLACENT, THE COMPANY BANKS ON NOT HEARING FROM THEM. WHEN THEY DO, THE CUSTOMER IS FORCED TO NEGOTIATE REPAIRS. WORKHORSE REPS EXCUSE POOR PERFORMANCE OF SYSTEMS ON THEIR CHASSIS BY STATING THAT IT IS NOT DESIGNED FOR MOTORHOME USE; YET THEY SELL THEIR PRODUCT TO MOTORHOME MANUFACTURERS. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THEIR CUSTOMERS AND FAMILIES BUT EVERYONE SHARING THE ROAD WITH THEIR VEHICLES. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM

I HAVE A 2002 WINNEBAGO BRAVE MODEL 34D MOTORHOME AND EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTING OF THE PROPANE TANK. WHILE ON A TRIP I WENT TO SHUT OFF THE PROPANE TANK VALVE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TANK WAS MOVING. UPON INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THE MOUNTING PLATE THAT THE TANK IS BOLTED TO HAD COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND THE TANK WAS BEING HELD UP BY THE REAR ONLY. THIS IS A 28 GALLON PROPANE TANK THAT IS USED FOR COOKING, HEATING AND HOT WATER AND IS MOUNTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTORHOME. THE RESULTS OF THIS TANK RIPPING OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 60 MPH IS FRIGHTING TO SAY THE LEAST. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON R.V. SITE AND DISCOVERED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. A WELDING SHOP PATCHED IT UP BUT I THINK THAT WINNEBAGO NEEDS TO ADDRESS A PERMAINENT FIX FOR ALL OWNERS.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ALL OF THE TIME. SHE CALLED AND WROTE TO THE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD HER IT WAS AN AFTER MARKET TRAILER HITCH THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AGAIN. THEY HAVE NOW FOUND A RELAY PART, WCCW8002024, THAT WAS A 70 AMP RELAY. THEY WERE PUTTING A 20-35 AMP RELAY AND IT WAS NOT TAKEN THE LOAD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED. THE BRAKES HAD BEEN DOING THIS SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS HAPPENING TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THEY WERE PUTTING THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY WERE NOT RECALLING IT. WINNEBAGO WPG32V, THAT MODEL NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WAS ONLY 12,591 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. *AK *SC

WIRING HARNESS LOOSE, CAME IN CONTACT WITH EXHAUST CAUSING SHORT AND A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF PCM (BLOWN FUSE) WITH RESULTANT SHUTDOWN OF ENGINE COMPUTER AND ENGINE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IN BOTH CASES, WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROADWAY BUT WERE TRAFFIC HEAVIER, WOULD HAVE BEEN STALLED IN TRAFFIC LANE. I'M ONLY ADVISING OF THIS IN CASE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AND IT IS THE RESULT OF A GENERAL DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE THAT MAY BE DANGEROUS.

DT: 1999 SUNSEEKER . THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER OUTSIDE REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED. THERE WAS STEEL COMING OUT OF THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER INSISTED THAT TIRE HAS PLENTY OF TREAD, AND HE KEPT PROPER TIRE PRESSURE. HE CALLED FIRESTDNE, AND THEY STATED TIRES WERE UNDER WARRANTY FOR 6 YEARS. THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION BETWEEN THE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD. THE TREAD WAS INTACT. *AK

DT: GOODYEAR TIRES BLEW OUT ON THE FRONT RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE AND 6 MONTHS LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE ALSO BLEWOUT. GOODYEAR, 1998, RADIAL TIRES, 245/70R19.5. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THEY BLEWOUT. THESE WERE THE RECOMMENDED SIZE TIRE FOR THE WINNEBAGO. CONSUMER NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES BLEW A HOLE ON THE SIDEWALL ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES WIDE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH THE SAME BRAND OF TIRE FROM GOODYEAR. CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH WHEN THE TIRES BLEW OUT. *AK *NM

SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE MOTORHOME WHEN PARKED. TRACED THE SMELL TO THE GENERATOR AND FOUND GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INLET LINE INTO THE FUEL FILTER INSIDE THE GENERATOR. CALLED CUMINS NORTHWEST IN PENDLETON, OREGON AS THE GENERATOR IS A ONAN MANUFACTURED BY CUMINS AND WAS UNDER WARRENTY. TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO PENDLETON (100 MILES EACH WAY) FOR NEEDED REPAIR. *JBTHEY FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT THE GENERATOR BUT HOW WINNEBAGO HAD HOOKED THE FUEL LINE INTO THE GENERATOR (PROBABLY AT THE FACTORY). WINNEBAGO HAS USED TWO BRASS FITTINGS ABOUT 2" INCHES LONG COUPLED BY A BRASS FITTING. THE COUPLER HAD WORKED LOOSE AND GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THAT FITTING. CUMINS REPLACED THE TWO BRASS FITTINGS AND COUPLER WITH A SINGLE NIPPLE (AS IS STANDARD PRACTICE ACCORDING TO THEM). THIS SOLVED THE GAS LEAK PROBLEM. CUMINS FUTHER STATED THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THE GENERATOR HADN'T CAUGHT FIRE WITH THE GAS LEAK. WE HAD ONLY 15 HOURS ON THE GENERATOR AND WERE GETTING READY TO DO "DRY CAMPING" IN THE FOREST AND WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE USE OF THE GENERATOR. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FITTINGS AND COUPLERS USED BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND INLET HAD WORKED LOOSE DUE TO THE VIBRATION OF THE MOTORHOME DURING TRAVEL. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR THE MOTORHOME HAD 6754 MILES. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COUPLINGS, THE GENERATOR DIDN'T HAVE TO BE TAKEN OUT BUT IT STILL TOOK 2 HOURS AND $165.00 + PARTS TO REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF FOLKS TAKE THEIR MOTORHOME INTO THE FOREST FOR CAMPING..