ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE LP TANK HAS STRESS ON WELD JOINTS AT THE POINT WHERE MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE

Mar 04, 2004 — Recall Campaign #04V114000

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE LP TANK HAS STRESS ON WELD JOINTS AT THE POINT WHERE MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE TANK.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 5,143 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

04V114000

Manufacturer:	Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Recall date:	March 04, 2004
NHTSA Campaign #:	04V114000
Units affected:	5,143

Description:: ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE LP TANK HAS STRESS ON WELD JOINTS AT THE POINT WHERE MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE TANK.
Consequeces:: THIS COULD CAUSE STRESS CRACKS AT THE WELD JOINTS AND LEAD TO AN LP LEAK AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE DAMAGE.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REINSTALL A CRADLE-STYLE CARRIER, AND, IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE LP TANK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-6939.
Notes:: WINNEBAGO RECALL NO. 90.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:

2004 ITASCA HORIZON Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ITASCA HORIZON EQUIPPED WITH SYNERGY AP400 TIRES (NA), SIZE: 295/75/R22.5 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS OBSERVED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE TIRE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS REPAIRED BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE BOTTOM OF THE RV WAS DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,500.;
2004 ITASCA MERIDIAN Complaints
OUR ENTIRE MOTORHOME BURNED COMPLETELY, WE BARELY ESCAPED WITH OUR LIVES, WHEN THE NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR CAUGHT FIRE IN THE NIGHT WHILE WE WERE ASLEEP. WE WERE PARKED ON REMOTE PRIVATE PROPERTY. Consumer stated from 2004- 2020 there was no issues with the refrigerator. Original owners: [XXX]and [XXX] Email: [XXX] @ aol.com Telephone [XXX] Address [XXX] Documents follow INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”;
2004 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY Complaints
Winnebago propane road tank serial #1661055. This tank is mounted on the frame with 2 brackets which are welded to the tank and bolted to the frame. This is the second time for this failure. The tank forms a crack at the end of the bracket where the bracket has a sharp 90 degree corner. The bracket is not welded at this point and is welded 3/4 of an inch from where the leak forms. The second leak happened with a full tank of propane (37.6 gallons) and was at the bottom of the tank and therefore in liquid not gaseous propane. The leak was loud enough to be audible and as such scared the hell out of us. We had just driven the stretch of highway 93 between Phoenix and Henderson Nevada which is in very poor condition and is extremely rough in different sections. I believe the rough road is what contributed to this crack braking though the thin tank wall and the tank bounces up and down and flexes with pressure concentrating at the sharp 90 degree corner at the top and bottom of the bracket. We drained the tank so that we may continue to our destination. There is already a safety recall of Winnebago’s up to September 2003 manufacture date for this same problem. This safety recall should be expanded to include all Winnebago’s with the same mounting system. I understand that there is a change up bracket system that will support the weight of the tank better to prevent these tank cracks at the ends of the brackets. It was only due to being very lucky that we did not end up in a fatal fire or explosion. This defect needs to be addressed no matter how old the vehicle is as it is a deadly hazard.;