2006 Itasca ELLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ITASCA ELLIPSE MOTORHOME EQUIPPED WITH A HIGH-PRESSURE LIQUID PROPANE HOSE WITH PART NUMBER: 195011-01-000. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V625000 (EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE EQUIPMENT FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A LIQUID PROPANE LEAK COMING FROM THE ENDS OF THE HOSE FITTINGS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS TOO OLD TO BE RECALLED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW PROPANE HOSE HOWEVER, THE PART H…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11405538 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE CINCH BOLT, WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN CONNECTS TO THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WAS IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE BOLT THREADS BEING STRIPPED, CONCEIVABLY NOT PROVIDING A TIGHT JOINT.

Consequence: IF THE JOINT IS LOOSE, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SLIP OFF THE SPLINE SHAFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE CINCH BOLT AND NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-6939.

Reported: 2005-12-28 (December 28, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH KWIKEE BRAND ELECTRIC STEPS, THE STEPS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE STEP CONTROL UNITS.

Consequence: THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL UNITS COULD DEVELOP AN ELECTRICAL SHORT ALLOWING FOR THE POTENTIAL OF THE PLASTIC CASE TO IGNITE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE KWIKEE STEP AND REPLACE THE STEP CONTROL UNIT, IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.

Reported: 2007-08-29 (August 29, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT WITH CUMMINS ISL CM850 DIESEL ENGINES, THE CONNECTING ROD CONTAINS A MACHINING DEFECT IN THE WRIST PIN BUSHING OF THE ROD THAT COULD CAUSE A SEIZURE OF THE PISTON PIN.

Consequence: IF ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THIS CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ROD RUPTURING THE LOCK CAVITY, SPILLING OIL AND DEBRIS ONTO THE ROADWAY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS TO RECALIBRATE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND ENHANCE THE ENGINE PROTECTION SYSTEM ENABLING IT TO PROVIDE EARLY DETECTION OF THE FAILURE MODE AND AVOID MORE SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE AND RESULTANT SAFETY HAZARD. CUMMINS WILL ALSO INSTALL A NEW VALVE COVER WITH A CRANKCASE PRESSURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E033). OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.

Reported: 2007-10-18 (October 18, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.' THE REAR AND REAR-SIDE RED REFLECTORS ARE LOCATED ABOVE THE 60-INCH HEIGHT LIMIT.

Consequence: NON-STANDARD SIDE MARKER AND REFLECTOR LIGHTS COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD REFLEX REFLECTORS IN COMPLIANT LOCATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.

Reported: 2008-05-19 (May 19, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 1,699 MY 2005-2009 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY, TOUR AND ITASCA MERIDIAN AND ELLIPSE MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON THE FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS CONTAINS STEERING FILTERS THAT CAN PLUG DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SCREEN ADHESION TO THE FILTER HOUSING CAUSING A RISE IN RETURN LINE PRESSURE POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FILTER OR STEERING GEAR FITTING RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING FLUID AND POWER ASSIST.

Consequence: SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING INVOLVING A MOTOR HOME COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR CERTAIN DRIVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FILTERS WITH A LARGER FILTER (PLEASE SEE 07V570). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2010-10-26 (October 26, 2010)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Consequence: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.