1998 WINNEBAGO BRAVE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

EQUIPMENT

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.

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.

18,461 vehicles affected

WILL FOLLOW UP ON REQUEST FROM DOT FOR PHOTOS OF TIRES NEXT WEEK. CHEVROLET TRUCK DIVISION IS AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE WINNEBAGO 'BRAVE' PACKAGE IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE CHASSIS. MY PRELIMINARY RESULTS INDICATE THAT, WITH THE LIQUIDS CAPACITY @ 50% AND 3 ADULTS, THIS VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURERS AXLE RATING IS EXCEEDED BY 1600 POUNDS ON THE FRONT AXLE AND BY 2000 POUNDS ON THE REAR AXLE. WILL OBTAIN SLIPS FROM CERTIFIED SCALES AND FORWARD TO YOUR OFFICE THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16.*AK

VEHICLE WANDERS ALOT ON THE ROAD ON A DIP OR ON ANY UNEVEN ROAD CONDITIONS. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT DEALER. *AK

MAGIC CHIEF OVEN; THE OVEN DOES NOT BURN ALL THE WAY AROUND, AND THE CONTROL VALVES STICK, NOT ALLOWING THE BURNERS TO TURN ON/OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS THREE TIMES. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED (TWICE). *YC