CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD

Feb 21, 2003 — Recall Campaign #03V060000

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105,"HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 8,532 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

03V060000

Manufacturer:	Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Recall date:	February 21, 2003
NHTSA Campaign #:	03V060000
Units affected:	8,532

Description:: CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105,"HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequeces:: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 25, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.
Notes:: WINNEBAGO RECALL NO. 88.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Affects the following:

2003 ITASCA SUNCRUISER Complaints
I HAVE A 2003 ITASCA SUNCRUISER WITH THE WORKHORSE CHASSIS THAT IS UNDER RECALL FOR THE BRAKE CALIPER PROBLEMS. I ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM LAST SUMMER AND TOOK IT TO PARKVIEW RV IN SMYRNA, DE. THEY REBUILT THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES, SEALS, CALIPERS, PADS AND SENSORS WHICH HAD MELTED. AT THE TIME THEY TOLD ME WORKHORSE WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THE WORK. LAST WEEK I TOOK THE REPAIRED UNIT TO FLORIDA AND IN TAMPA HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES SMOKING AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I AM TAKING IT BACK TO PARKVIEW SO THEY CAN DOCUMENT THE NEW PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,000. FOR REPAIRS AND NOW IT APPEARS IT WILL ALL HAVE TO BE DONE AGAIN. I ONLY DROVE FOR 2,000 MILES AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS BAD AGAIN. I NEED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE INITIAL REPAIR AND A MORE PERMANENT FIX NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE UNIT. I HAVE A $85,000 RV I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN. THE WORKHORSE HELP LINE DIRECTS YOU TO A MAILBOX THAT IS FULL. I CAN NOT GET ANYONE ON THE LINE. IF NECESSARY I WILL SPEND REPAIR MONEY ON AN ATTORNEY TO GET THIS RESOLVED. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO WILL BE APPRECIATED.;
2003 ITASCA SUNOVA Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 ITASCA SUNOVA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABNORMALLY PULLING TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO STICK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES WERE OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO STICK AND THE HYDRO BOOST TO STOP FUNCTIONING. THE MECHANIC THEN ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,600.;
2003 ITASCA SUNRISE Complaints
REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER STUCK WHILE DRIVING BECOMING EXTREMELY HOT CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO BRAKE PARTS AND LOSS OF BRAKES. THE BRAKE ANTI-LOCK SENSOR ON THE BRAKE CALIPER MELTED CAUSING ABS ANTI-LOCK LIGHT TO COME ON DASH. *TR;
2003 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER Complaints
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.;
2003 WINNEBAGO BRAVE Complaints
MY 2003 WINNEBAGO ONLY HAS 9800 MILES ON IT AND IS KEPT UNDER SHELTER. OBVIOUSLY IT HAS HAD LITTLE USE. THERE IS A WINDSHIELD LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WITH RUST PARTICLES FALLING ON THE DASH. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE WINNEBAGO/ ITASCA CLASS A MOTORHOMES. I SUSPECT THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO RECALL AND HELP CUSTOMERS WITH WHAT COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY FEAR IS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY,HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND HAVING THAT WINDSHIELD FALL IN ON MY WIFE OR ON THE HIGHWAY, NOT TO MENTION THE WATER DAMAGE OR MOLD POTENTIAL. THIS IS MY 3RD WINNEBAGO. I BOUGHT IT NEW AT A COST OF OVER $100K. I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT , KEEPING IT UNDER ROOF WHEN NOT IN USE. THE COMPANY TOLD MA THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ALREADY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AFTER IT CRACKED MYSTERIOUSLY. I THINK WINNEBAGO/ITASCA OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL, AND THE WINDSHIELDS SHOULD BE REPAIRED OF RUST ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD FRAME, AND THE GLASS RESEALED AND REINSTALLED. I KNOW OF MANY SAFETY ISSUES THAT NHTSA HAS TAKEN CARE OF IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY. THIS SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. RV MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE HELD AS RESPONSIBLE AS THE AUTO COMPANIES. FOR THE MONEY THAT IS SPENT ON THEM, THE CUSTOMERS DESERVE BETTER CONSIDERATION. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU;