2003 Winnebago ADVENTURER: complaints, problems and recalls

WILLIAM COUCH VS. WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES.*MR CONSUMER ONLY USED THE MOTORHOME FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. THE REST OF THE TIME IT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 30 SAFETY AND QUALITY ISSUES. CONSUMER SENT IN A CD AND PICTURES TO THE CEO; NUMEROUS EMAILS TO THE EMPLOYEES AND THE CONSUMER HAS HEARD NOTHING. CONSUMER WANTS THE MOTORHOME REPLACED PLUS REIMBURSE EXPENSES OR REFUND MONEY AND REIMBURSE EXPENSE AND TRADE IN VALUE OF ORIGINAL MOTORHOME. *PH *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042704 at NHTSA ↗

REF: 10042704. NVS 216 GMH. NEW MOTOR HOME WITH NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED: ALIGNMENT, TRAVEL DIRECTION (TRACKS TO THE RIGHT WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD), BANGING IN THE FRONT END, ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS IN DASH, TAIL PIPE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, EASY CHAIR THAT CONTINUOUSLY ROCKS AND IS DISTRACTING. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED: HOLE IN DUST CAP ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL, WATER IN LEFT FRONT HEAD LIGHT, SOUND ON BACK UP MONITOR, FLORESCENT LIGHT COVERS FALLING OFF, BROKEN CUPBOARD LATCH, GAS LEAK ON GENE…

Owner-reported narrative. 226 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050579 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, SOMETIMES THEY WORKED, AND SOME TIMES THEY DIDN'T OPERATE PROPERLY. ALSO, AT TIMES HAD TO PUMP THEM. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS, AND ONE DEALER ROTATED THE DRUMS, AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075802 at NHTSA ↗

03 V 060 000/BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR:THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096716 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM INSTALLED BY THE WORKHORSE FACTORY IS INADEQUATE. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WORKGORSE SHOULD DO THE UPGRADE FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE NEW WORKHORSE LEATHER STEERING WHEEL FOR BETTER GRIP SHOULD BE INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101463 at NHTSA ↗

FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT MY 2003 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER TO AN AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD AIR CONDITIONING WASN'T COOLING. EACH TIME THE REFRIGERANT WAS GONE, THEY SAID NO LEAKS COULD BE FOUND AND THEY JUST RECHARGED THE SYSTEM. THEY SAID THE "O" RINGS MIGHT BE DRYING UP OVER WINTER AND THEN THE REFRIGERANT IS LOST. I HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS BECAUSE MUCH OF THE AIR CONDITIONING IS MOUNTED ON THEIR ENGINE. THEY TOLD ME IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THAT WORKHORSE HAS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136768 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS ON MY 2003 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER HAVE FOGGED UP, LIMITING VISIBILITY AND BEGUN TO LEAK. THESE WINDOWS WERE THERMO-PANED GLASS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165305 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER 203WFG35U. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTING AND HE BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. NEXT, THE ABS LIGHT, WARNING BUZZER, AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS, CALIPERS,…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205700 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105,"HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 25, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2004-12-22 (December 22, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A 20,700 GVWR OR GREATER WORKHORSE CHASSIS, THERE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE IN THE AREA WHERE THE FUEL LINE CROSSES THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER.

Consequence: WITHOUT CLEARANCE, A CONDITION COULD DEVELOP WHERE THE CROSS MEMBER MAY WEAR INTO THE FUEL LINE AND A FUEL LEAK MAY DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTOR HOMES BY PROVIDING CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND FRAME CROSS MEMBER. THE FUEL LINE WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN JANUARY 7, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.

Reported: 2005-09-14 (September 14, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE ROOF VENT FOR THE OPTIONAL 4-DOOR REFRIGERATOR WAS INCORRECTLY LOCATED.

Consequence: THIS CAN ALLOW EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IGNITE SURROUNDING MATERIALS, RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/OI VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE ROOF VENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-6939.

Reported: 2009-07-29 (July 29, 2009)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 1,547 MODEL YEAR 2001-2003 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 1, 2001 TO DECEMBER 31, 2002, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.

Consequence: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 09E-027). OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.

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.