2008 Itasca HORIZON: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2008-03-28 (March 28, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 31 MY 2006-2008 JOURNEY, VOYAGE, MY 2006-2007 SIGHTSEER, MY 2006 ADVENTURER, MINNIE WINNIE, MY 2007 ACCESS, TOUR, VECTRA, ITASCA CAMBRIA, AND MY 2007-2008 ITASCA HORIZON MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 9, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000.

Reported: 2008-08-12 (August 12, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 31 MY 2006-2008 ITASCA CAMBRIA, HORIZON, WINNEBAGO ACCESS, ADVENTURER, JOURNEY, MINNIE WINNIE, SIGNTSEER, TOUR, VECTRA, AND VOYAGE MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2008-10-30 (October 30, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 594 MY 2008-2009 DESTINATION, JOURNEY, TOUR, VECTRA, AND ITASCA LATITUDE, MERIDIAN, ELLIPSE, AND HORIZON MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND ADL SERIES REAR SUSPENSIONS. IN SOME INSTANCES THE TRANSVERSE BEAM WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE WELD.

Consequence: IF THE WELD FAILS, VEHICLE STABILITY WHILE CORNERING COULD BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH DAIMLER TRUCKS/SAF-HOLLAND TO HAVE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ADL TRANSVERSE BEAM PERFORMED. IF A WELD DEFECT IS IDENTIFIED, SAF-HOLLAND WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE REPLACEMENT KIT THAT CONTAINS A NEW TRANSVERSE BEAM, ALL NECESSARY INSTALLATION HARDWARE, BEAM REPLACEMENT, AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 08V269 AND 08E031). OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712, SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-231-773-3271, OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2010-01-25 (January 25, 2010)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 WINNEBAGO VECTRA AND ITASC HORIZON MOTOR HOMES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2006 AND MAY 2009, EQUIPPED WITH KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS. THE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL ARM MAY LOOSEN ALLOWING THE ARM TO ROTATE AROUND ITS SHAFT AND SWING IN FRONT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REDUCING BRAKING FUNCTION.

Consequence: A LOOSE BRAKE PEDAL INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER TO NOTIFY OWNERS. REPAIRS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY FREIGHTLINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING FEBRUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS WARRANTY CAMPAIGNS DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-647-0712.

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.