2004 Itasca HORIZON: complaints, problems and recalls

SINCE DRIVEN OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR, ITASCA HORIZON MOTORHOME'S WIPERS HAVE WORKED TWICE (15 SECONDS EACH TIME). WERE INOPERATIVE UPON PICKUP. FIRST REPAIR ALLOWED TWO SHORT USES, SECOND REPAIR BY THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED FREIGHTLINER DEALER WAS TO NO AVAIL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086311 at NHTSA ↗

OUR MOTORHOME HAD A HAMSAR ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FLASHER WHICH IS USED TO MAKE THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND LEFT/RIGHT SIGNAL BLINK. IT IS LOCATED IN THE FUSE BOX IN THE OUTSIDE COMPARTMENT, NEAR DRIVER'S SIDE. IT STARTED SMOKING AND SMELLED BURNED, LOTS OF SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE MOTORHOME. THE HAZARD WERE NOT IN USE AT THE TIME - WE WERE JUST PARKED AND IT WAS OFF. WE REMOVED THE DEVICE AND IT WAS ENTIRELY MELTED. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS, BUT IF WE WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME IT STARTED BURNING/MELTING, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. I HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447065 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 58,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10875417 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-03-04 (March 4, 2004)

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

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE STRESS CRACKS AT THE WELD JOINTS AND LEAD TO AN LP LEAK AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE DAMAGE.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2004-09-27 (September 27, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH A 400-HP CUMMINS ENGINE, A SHEET METAL "TAB" ON A WIRE COVER LOCATED BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CATCH ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence: IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HANGS UP ON THE TAB OF THE WIRE COVER, A HAZARDOUS SITUATION COULD RESULT IN THE PEDAL NOT GOING BACK TO IDLE POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY, VEHICLE DAMAGE AND, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS FOR OWNERS TO INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY HAVE THE WIRE COVER REPAIRED. IF OWNERS DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE PERFORMING THE INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-6939.

Reported: 2004-12-18 (December 18, 2004)

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."

Consequence: THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2007-12-12 (December 12, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATION BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATION BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.

Consequence: THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS,OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS, WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

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.