WINNEBAGO Complaints

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED.*AK

ON MARCH 18TH 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, A FEMALE ADULT (OCCUPANT) AGE 49, OPENED THE ENTRY DOOR AND STEPPED OFF THE RV. THE ELECTRIC DOUBLE-DOOR (EDD) STEP WAS NOT EXTENDED AT THE TIME AND THE OCCUPANT FELL TO GRADE, APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET VERTICALLY, SERIOUSLY INJURING THE OCCUPANT AND FRACTURING HER RIGHT LOWER LEG. THE EDD STEP ON THE 2001 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER V32 IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY EXTEND WHEN THE ENTRY DOOR IS OPENED AND RETRACT WHEN THE ENTRY DOOR IS CLOSED. THE EDD STEP CAN ALSO BE CONTROLLED BY AN ON-OFF SWITCH THAT DISABLES THE EDD STEP IN ITS LAST POSITION. THIS ON-OFF SWITCH ENABLES ONE TO DISABLE THE STAIRWAY IN THE EXTENDED POSITION FOR CONVENIENCE AT A CAMPSITE WHERE ENTRY AND EXIT WOULD OCCUR FREQUENTLY. IF THE EDD STEP IS SO DISABLED, TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL OVERRIDE THE ON-OFF SWITCH AND RETRACT THE EDD STEP IF THE ENTRY DOOR IS CLOSED. FELL TO GRADE SEVERELY INJURING HERSELF. DESIGN/SAFETY DEFICIENCIES: THE ON-OFF SWITCH FOR THE EDD STEP IS LOCATED IN THE SAME AREA AS THE PORCH LIGHT SWITCH AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH. IT IS ALSO THE SAME STYLE OF TOGGLE SWITCH WITH THE IDENTICAL SIZE, COLOR, AND OPERATING FEEL OF THE LIGHT SWITCHES. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS OR INSTRUCTIONS POSTED TO DESCRIBE THE OPERATION OF THE EDD STEP AND THE FUNCTION OF THE STEP SWITCH AND THE POTENTIAL FALL HAZARD. *NM

STEAL BELT/TREAD CAME FLYING OFF THE VEHICLE AT 70 MPH. TIRE WAS A DUALLY ON THE OUTSIDE RIGHT REAR. IN JULY, INSIDE REAR, AND 1 YEAR AGO, INSIDE LEFT REAR CAME OFF. *AK *MR

ON 3/18/04 ENROUTE FROM KANSAS TO BRANSON MO, MY 2003 RIALTA DEAD STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. 4 OF 6 BOLTS IN THE AXLE HAD FALLEN OUT. I WAS TOLD BY THE WINNEBAGO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM, THAT HAD I NOT BEEN ON A BACK HIGHWAY, COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF MY FAMILY. I FEEL A RECALL IS DEEMED ON THE VW EUROVANS THAT WINNEBAGO UTILIZES FOR THESE MOTORHOMES. *JB

DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED AT 55 MPH. 100 MILES LATER, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRES SEPARATED AT 55 MPH. *AK

WE HAVE A 1997 MINNIE WINNIE MOTORHOME WITH FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRES R4S LT225/75R16 M/S. ONE OF THE REAR DUALLY TIRES BLEW ON A TRIP WITH LESS THAN 18,000 MILES. WE REPLACED THE TIRE AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL WE TOOK ANOTHER TRIP AND ONE OF THE DUALLY TIRES ON THE OTHER SIDE BLEW OUT CAUSING SOME DAMAGE. I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE SECOND BLOWOUT, NOT SURE ON THE FIRST. WE WERE NOT ON THE ROAD LONG WHEN THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURED AND HAD INSPECTED, AND CHECKED THE PRESSURE BEFORE OUR DEPARTURE. NOW THE FRONT TIRES ON THE VEHICLEHAVE AREAS IN MID SECTION OF THE TIRES WHERE THERE ARE DIPS. A FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US IT LOOKS LIKE "CUPPING" AND PROBABLY CAUSED FROM BEING OUT OF BALANCE. A GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER TOLD US THE TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM THE BELT. WE FEEL ALL THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! WE ARE LUCKY THE FRONT DID NOT BLOW OR PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FATALITIES INVOLVED. WE WILL SUBMIT WHAT IS LEFT OF THE SECOND TIRE TO FIRESTONE AT OUR OWN EXPENSE FOR THEIR REVIEW OF OUR CLAIM. THEY CERTAINLY DON'T MAKE IT EASY. (THE FIRST BLOWOUT WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WE PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TIRE FROM. *AK

RECALL NOT ACCOMPLISHED BY SAMSUNG OF AMERICA ON MICROWAVE MODEL MR6699GB I HAD TO REPLACE THE MICROWAVE AT MY OWN COST SAMSUNG MHAS NOT REINBURSED ME FOR THIS ACTION. I HAVE A LETTER STATING THAT I WOULD BE REINBURSED IN JANUARY.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL LETTER MR6699GB CONCERNING SAMSUM MICROWAVE IN NOVEMBER 2003. WALCO LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE PART ON RECALL, AND IT FAILED. CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW MICROWAVE, AND NO BODY WANTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REFUNDING THE MONEY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED AND BOUNCED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HANDLING NORMALLY. *AK

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK