2002 Winnebago BRAVE: complaints, problems and recalls

WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER HAS REJECTED TO BUY THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE BY REPAIR FACILITIES TO GET THE MOTORHOME TO HANDLE IN A MORE STABLE MANNER. COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED AND ADJUSTED BUT THOSE REPAIRED DIDN'T CHANGE THE WAY THE UNIT HANDLED. THE CONSUMER WAS FINALLY INFORMED BY HIS MECHANIC THAT HIS MODEL MOTORHOME UNIT WAS TOO LARGE TO BE APPLIED TO THE SIZE WORKHORSE CHASSIS TO WHICH CAUSED THE UNIT TO BE UNSTABLE. *CB *JB FOLLOWUP LETTER SENT *TC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051768 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER CEASED. BRAKE LIGHTS AND HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WERE RENDERED INOPERATIVE. WE COULD NOT GET ENTIRELY OFF THE ROAD SO NOT HAVING HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS WELL AS US. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING BUT NO FURTHER FIRE WAS FOUND. NEITHER THE CHASSIS OR COACH MANUFACTURE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT HAVING A FAIL SAFE SYSTEM FOR BRAKE LIGHTS AND HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS NOT BEING OPPERATIONAL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078999 at NHTSA ↗

NO WARNING - ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND LOST ALL ENGINE ELECTRIC INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS. POWER WIRE TO ABS SYSTEM BURNED TO EXHAUST HEADER, LOOSE BULK HEAD CONNECTOR AND BLOWN 40 AMP & 60 AMP FUSES. REPLACED FUSES, REPAIRED WIRE AND TIGHTENED BULK HEAD CONNECTOR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6,866 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086621 at NHTSA ↗

MICHELIN, XRV, SIZE 275/70 19.5. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THESE TIRES FITTED THE MOTOR HOME. WHEN DRIVING THE SIDEWALLS BLEW OUT AND EXPOSES THE BELTS WITHIN. THE WIRING INSIDE WERE RUSTED. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS EXACT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089706 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2002 WINNEBAGO BRAVE MODEL 34D MOTORHOME AND EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTING OF THE PROPANE TANK. WHILE ON A TRIP I WENT TO SHUT OFF THE PROPANE TANK VALVE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TANK WAS MOVING. UPON INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THE MOUNTING PLATE THAT THE TANK IS BOLTED TO HAD COMPLETELY FRACTURED AND THE TANK WAS BEING HELD UP BY THE REAR ONLY. THIS IS A 28 GALLON PROPANE TANK THAT IS USED FOR COOKING, HEATING AND HOT WATER AND IS MOUNTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTORHOME. THE RESULTS OF THIS TANK RIPPING OFF WHILE DRIV…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133980 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 WINNEBAGO BRAVE THAT IS ON A WORK HORSE CHASSIS. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS HE STOPPED AT A REST AREA ABOUT 110 MILES FROM HIS HOME. WHEN HE TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START AND NOTHING WOULD OPERATE. THERE WAS NO POWER GOING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR SOUNDS NOR WAS THERE POWER TO THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS. AFTER FURTHER EVALUATION A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CONNECTORS TO THE SWITCH HAD MELTED…

Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139454 at NHTSA ↗

2002 WINNEBAGO BRAVE MICROWAVE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO PERFORM SAFETY RECALL AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TS THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS THE WAY THE MICROWAVE WAS INSTALLED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157331 at NHTSA ↗

THE 2002 WINNWBAG BRAVE MODEL 34D EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE FRONT ATTACHMENT BRACKET TO THE LIQUID PROPANE TANK. THE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 THICK BY 10"HIGH BRACKET CRACKED COMPLETELY AND LEFT THE TANK SUSPENDED BY ONLY TWO BOLTS AT THE REAR THAT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN INTENDED TO STABILIZE THE TANK ,BUT NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT AS THEY WERE ATTACHED TO ONLY TWO SMALL TABS. THIS PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED DURING MAINTENANCE TO REPLACE TWO OF THE FAILED STABILIZER HYDRAULIC JACKS. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THIS WORK BEING DONE I WAS CERTAIN ONE OF THE REM…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,928 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194105 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: 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, THESE UNITS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.

Remedy: SAMSUNG WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS SHOULD UNPLUG THEIR MICROWAVE, IF POSSIBLE. IF THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNPLUG THE MICROWAVE, THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR UNTIL THE PANEL IS REPLACED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NEVER USE THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR STORAGE OR LEAVE ANY TOWELS, PAPER, CLOTH OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MICROWAVE AFTER USE. 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 SAMSUNG AT 800-932-3837 OR WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 2,331 MY 2002-2004 BRAVE AND ITASCA SUNRISE MY 2005 2006 WINNEBAGO VOYAGE, ADVENTURER, ITASCA SUNRISE AND SUNCRUISER MOTOR HOMES. THE PROPANE TANK MOUNTING BRACKET MAY HAVE AN INCOMPLETE OR IMPROPER WELD.

Consequence: SHOULD THE WELD FAIL, THE PROPANE TANK CAN TIP OR FALL, POSSIBLY RELEASING PROPANE WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IGNITEA FIRE, RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND PROPERLY WELD THE BRACKET FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 800-537-1885.

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.