CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT STEERING INTERMEDIATE

Jul 05, 2006 — Recall Campaign #06V250000

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. THE STEERING COULD BECOME LOOSE AT THE STEERING BOX DURING TIGHT STEERING MANEUVERS.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 1,021 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

06V250000

Manufacturer:	Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Recall date:	July 05, 2006
NHTSA Campaign #:	06V250000
Units affected:	1,021

Description:: CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. THE STEERING COULD BECOME LOOSE AT THE STEERING BOX DURING TIGHT STEERING MANEUVERS.
Consequeces:: THIS STEERING CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective action:: WORKHORSE IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06V148000) AND WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-294-6883 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.
Notes:: CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Affects the following:

2007 ITASCA SUNCRUISER Complaints
HEATILATOR ELECTRIC FIREPLACE INSERT ELECTRONIC BOARD AND WIRES SHORTED OUT AND BURNED. WE WERE PARKED IN A CAMPSITE AND LUCKILY SITTING THERE AS SPARKS FLEW PLUS WIRES SMOKING. I UNPLUGGED UNIT SO NOTHING ELSE WOULD BURN. IT DID NOT THROW A FUSE OR BREAKER. WIRES WERE JUST HANGING FROM HEATING UNIT. *JS;
2007 ITASCA SUNOVA Complaints
WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER OVEREXTENDED OFF THE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD OF THE MOTORHOME. THE RESULTING DAMAGE WAS A BROKEN WASHER SPRAY HOSE CONNECTION, CRACKING AND INDENTATION OF THE FIBERGLASS SURROUNDING THE WIPER MECHANISM, AND SHEARING OF THE SUPPORTING BOLT(S). THE WIPERS REMAIN UNUSABLE. DAMAGE IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AT $1,969.00. WINNEBAGO IND. HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS INCIDENT. NO REPAIRS HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN MADE DUE UNSATIFACTORY REMEDY FROM WINNEBAGO. *TR;
2007 ITASCA SUNRISE Complaints
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 ITASCA SUNRISE FORD CHASSIS AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH I FELT AN INTERMITTENT SHIMMY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HEARD A SMALL SQUEAL SOUND THAT WENT AWAY. AFTER DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS RATHER WARM. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKE GRABBING THE ROTOR. I TOOK THE RV TO THE CLOSEST RV REPAIR SHOP. ONCE ON THE RV LIFT, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEEL ON WAS THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOOK OFF THE WHEEL TO DISCOVER THE WHEEL BEARING WAS VERY LOOSE. HE REMOVED THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY, THEN REMOVED THE HUB COVER, COTTER PIN AND CASTELLATED NUT TO DISCOVER THE OUTER RACE HAD NO GREASE ON IT DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE INNER RACE HAD GREASE AND WAS INTACT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT I WAS LUCK TO BE ALIVE AND THAT THE BEARING HAD WELDED ITSELF TO THE SPINDLE AT ODOMETER READING OF 22,529 MILES. THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. PICTURES WERE TAKEN. WHEN CALLING FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY DID NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LEVEL AFTER REPEATED CHAT AND PHONE CALL ATTEMPTS. I ASKED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR AN EMAIL TO SEND THE PICTURES TO THEM AND THEY STATED THEY HAD NO EMAIL. I ASKED FOR THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT NUMBER AND THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY HAD NO SAFETY DEPARTMENT!;
2007 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SMELL OF FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE WELD ON THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.;
2007 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER Complaints
THIS RV WAS BOUGHT IN NOV 2011, FROM THE DEALER AND DROVE IT HOME ABOUT 3 MILES DISTANCE. DRIVING AT 40MPH, I FELT THERE WAS ALOT OF POWER STEERING AND I FOUGHT THE STEERING TO STAY IN MY LANE.THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE WINTER MONTHS. FREQUENT TURNING ENGINE TO WARM UP AND SHORELINE HOOKED TO HOUSE POWER. MAY3, 2012, I, WIFE AND ADULT SON DEPARTED TO WILLIAMS, AZ ABOUT 130 MILES FOR CAMPING AT A FEDERAL CAMP SITE. I DROVE MOSTLY ON THE BACK ROADS AND AVOIDED THE I-HIGHWAY 40. OVER 40 MPH I COULD SENSE THAT THIS VEC. HAS ALOT OF POWER STEERING, AND UP TO 60 MPH. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING AT ALL..THE VEC. WAS GOING WHERE IT WANTED TO GO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AND I HAD TO COUNTER THIS BY TURNING SLIGHTLY BACK INTO THE PROPER LANE. AT TIMES, ON COMING VEC. WOULD SWAY TO THEIR RIGHT, AS THIS RV WAS OVER THE CENTER LINE AND I HAD TO COMPENSATED THE STEERING. WE EXITED THE BACK ROAD AND ENTERED THE I-40 HWY. AND, I FOUGHT THE STEERING CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL WE REACH THE FED. CAMP SITE(KAIBAB LAKE, WILLIAMS,AZ) MAY 11, 2012, WE JOURNEYED BACK HOME. AGAIN, DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES ON I-40, UNTIL WE GOT BACK ONTO THE BACK ROAD OF ROUTE66...FOLLOWING DAY, I CALLED AN RV REPAIR SHOP ABOUT MY STEERING PROBLEM AND TOOK IN THAT, SAME MORNING FOR AN INSPECTION. FEW HOURS LATER, THE RV TECHNICIAN CALLED AND STATED THAT, I HAD NO STEERING STABILIZER. I ASKED, IF IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.. HE AGAIN STATED, THAT THERE ISN'T ANY STEERING STABILIZER..THEIR IS NO WARRANTY, ON THIS USED VEC. BOUGHT NOV 2011. AND, DRIVEN FOR A LONG TRIP FOR THE 1ST TIME ON MAY 3, AND AGAIN FOR THE RTN TRIP MAY 11. I AM NOW PAYING FOR A BILL THAT, NEARLY COST ME AND MY FAMILIES LIFE. VEC. IS A 2007 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 28P, CHEV MOTOR, GAS, WORKHORSE CHASIS. VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR;