2007 Itasca SUNOVA: complaints, problems and recalls

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

Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252310 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)

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.

Consequence: THIS STEERING CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2007-05-07 (May 7, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, IF THE BATTERY BOOST SWITCH IS ENGAGED WHILE THE ENGINE IS OPERATING, THE ENGINE MAY SHUT DOWN.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A DIODE WIRE ASSEMBLY ON THE AUXILIARY START SOLENOID. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.

Reported: 2008-10-29 (October 29, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 717 MY 2006-2009 SIGHTSEER AND VISTA, ITASCA SUNOVA AND SUNSTAR MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON WORKHORSE CHASSIS. THE CASTLE NUT THAT RETAINS THE STEERING DRAG LINK TO THE PITMAN ARM MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE IMPROPER TORQUE MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE CASTLE NUT AND COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE CONNECTION.

Consequence: IF THE DRAG LINK WERE TO SEPARATE FROM THE PITMAN ARM, THE DRIVER WOULD NOT HAVE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH WORKHORSE TO REPLACE AND PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE CASTLE NUT THAT RETAINS THE STEERING DRAG LINK TO THE PITMAN ARM (PLEASE SEE 08V442). OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-946-7731 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2009-09-01 (September 1, 2009)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 ACCESS, ASPECT, SIGHTEER AND VISTA, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 ITASCA IMPULSE, CAMBRIA, SUNOVA, AND SUNSTAR, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 WINNEBAGO ACCESS, SIGHTSEER AND VISTA, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 ITASCA IMPULSE, SUNOVA, AND SUNSTAR MOTOR HOMES. THESE MOTOR HOMES MAY HAVE A MISSING STOVE PARTITION THAT ISOLATES THE FURNACE AIR.

Consequence: IF THE FURNACE IS OPERATED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE STOVE AND PARTITION IS MISSING, THE STOVE FLAME MAY GO OUT AND THE PROPANE GAS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IGNITE RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CORRECT THIS SITUATION BY INSTALLING A STOVE PARTITION THAT ISOLATES THE STOVE FROM THE FURNACE RETURN AIR AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.

Reported: 2010-10-05 (October 5, 2010)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2009 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER AND ITASCA SUNOVA MOTOR HOMES BECAUSE THE DINETTE AREA SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ON THOSE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." IN A COLLISION, THE GENERATED CRASH FORCES CAN CAUSE THE RESTRAINT'S ATTACHMENT TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHOR TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: IF THE RESTRAINT SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH, THE BELT WILL NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE SEAT OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS A DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 10, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.

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.