CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON SOME MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOAD REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR

Dec 18, 2004 — Recall Campaign #04V608000

CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON SOME MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOAD REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 6,201 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

04V608000

Manufacturer:	Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Recall date:	December 18, 2004
NHTSA Campaign #:	04V608000
Units affected:	6,201

Description:: CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON SOME MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOAD REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequeces:: THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AMSAFE AT 1-574-266-8330 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.
Notes:: WINNEBAGO RECALL NO. 92.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.

Affects the following:

2005 ITASCA HORIZON Complaints
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 WINNEBAGO ITASCA HORIZON 40FD. THE MOTOR HOME HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HOT AIR EXCHANGE THAT GOES TO THE FURNACE; THE PIPES ARE NOT HOOKED UP AND IT IS SENDING ALL OF THE HOT AIR INTO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM WITH CARBON MONOXIDE BUT ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THESE MOTOR HOMES. HE FELT THAT THEY SHOULD FIX ALL MODELS OF THESE MOTOR HOMES BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE SECOND DAY OF PURCHASE. *AK *MR *JB;
2005 ITASCA MERIDIAN Complaints
AT 1:20 PM A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BOX. A NEIGHBOR IN THE RV PARK SAW SMOKE, CALLED 911 AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE TOXIC SMOKE FROM THE INSULATION WENT INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE RV THROUGH THE BEDROOM FLOOR, KILLING OUR DOG AND COMPLETELY COATING EVERYTHING IN THE RV WITH BLACK, SMELLY SOOT, EVEN INSIDE CLOSED DRAWERS AND CLOSETS. THE FIRE MARSHALS REPORT FOUND THAT A WIRE (APPROX 10 GA) SHORTED AGAINST A METAL CORNER CAUSING HEAT WHICH SET THE INSULATION OF A LARGE WIRE BUNDLE ON FIRE. NO EVIDENCE OF MODS OR REPAIRS WERE NOTED AT THE AREA OF ORIGIN. REPORT ATTACHED. UPDATED 8/28/12 *CN ..UPDATED 08/31/12 *BF UPDATED 9/26/12 *CN UPADTED 09/27/12;
2005 ITASCA SUNCRUISER Complaints
WHILE DRIVING MY ITASCA SUNCRUISER MOTORHOME TO COBB & SON RV REPAIR I NOTICED I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN NORMAL SPEED. ARRIVED AT COBB AND EXPLAINED TO RITCHIE COBB THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. RITCHIE HAD A TECH MEASURE THE HEAT AT THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE AT 900 DEGREES. INFORMED RECALL FROM WORKHORSE REGARDING A BRAKE ISSUE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE DEALER FOR REPAIR (100 MILES AWAY). RITCHIE EXPLAINED THIS COULD NOT BE DONE AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THERE WOULD BE SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY AND EVEN FURTHER DAMAGE AS THE PADS WERE WORN AND CRYSTALLIZED, CALIPERS BAD, AND THE BRAKE FAILURE HAVE CREATED SERIOUS GROOVES IN THE ROTORS. ADDITIONALLY THE BRAKES HAD ALREADY GONE INTO LOCKING UP MODE. RITCHIE SAID THE REMEDY WAS REPLACEMENT OF ALL THIS PARTS ON ALL 4 BRAKES BECAUSE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE RECALL ISSUE. ASTOUNDED THAT WORKHORSE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR DEALER FACILITY(100 MILES AWAY), I PERSONALLY CALLED WORKHORSE. I GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEN THE HEAD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEN THIRDLY FROM CARL DAHL THEIR REGIONAL MANAGER. I REFUSED TO RISK DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AT MY EXPENSE AS WORKHORSE REFUSED TO DO SO. MY NEXT SURPRISE WAS THAT WORKHORSE WOULD NOT REPLACE ROTORS, PAD, ETC., EVEN THOUGH THEIR RECALL ISSUE CAUSED ALL THE DAMAGE. A POLICY TO TELL SOMEONE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND THEN THEY WOULD TOW IT WHEN I BREAK DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS INSANE AND IRRESPONSIBLE. FURTHER THEY ARE IGNORING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR ALL THE DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THEIR RECALL. I HAVE NOW HAD TO PAY OVER $1,100 TO RESTORE MY BRAKES, PAY FOR TOWING, AND DRIVE 200 MILES TO PICK UP MY MOTORHOME. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO PERSUADE WORKHORSE TO DO THE ETHICAL AND HONORABLE THING AND REIMBURSE ALL THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT. *JS;
2005 ITASCA SUNOVA Complaints
2005 WINNEBAGO ITASCO SUNOVA HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE CHASSIS, IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE PAST 55M PH RV IS REACTIVE TO SLIGHT WIND GUST FROM SMALL TO LARGE VEHICLES. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE RV SUCH AS AN INOPERATIVE STOVE TOP O RING, SLIDE OUT FASCIA RIGHT SIDE, DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER FENDER BLEW OUT, THE WATER HEATER FAILED, DRIVER SIDE MIRROR HAD BLOWN OFF WHILE DRIVING, A SLIDE OUT LEAK, A TOILET SPRAY LEAK, BATHROOM CAULK CRACKING/SEPARATING, SHOWER CAULK/ SEPARATION, THE KITCHEN WAS DELAMINATING AND THE WALL PAPER WAS BUBBLING;