2007 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 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

SEAT BELTS

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.

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.

1,925 vehicles affected

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE

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.

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.

469 vehicles affected

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN

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.

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.

717 vehicles affected

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

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.

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.

31 vehicles affected

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

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.

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.

31 vehicles affected

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

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

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.

68 vehicles affected

STEERING

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.

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.

1,021 vehicles affected

THIS RV WAS BOUGHT IN NOV 2011, FROM THE DEALER AND DROVE IT HOME ABOUT 3 MILES DISTANCE. DRIVING AT 40MPH, I FELT THERE WAS ALOT OF POWER STEERING AND I FOUGHT THE STEERING TO STAY IN MY LANE.THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE WINTER MONTHS. FREQUENT TURNING ENGINE TO WARM UP AND SHORELINE HOOKED TO HOUSE POWER. MAY3, 2012, I, WIFE AND ADULT SON DEPARTED TO WILLIAMS, AZ ABOUT 130 MILES FOR CAMPING AT A FEDERAL CAMP SITE. I DROVE MOSTLY ON THE BACK ROADS AND AVOIDED THE I-HIGHWAY 40. OVER 40 MPH I COULD SENSE THAT THIS VEC. HAS ALOT OF POWER STEERING, AND UP TO 60 MPH. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING AT ALL..THE VEC. WAS GOING WHERE IT WANTED TO GO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AND I HAD TO COUNTER THIS BY TURNING SLIGHTLY BACK INTO THE PROPER LANE. AT TIMES, ON COMING VEC. WOULD SWAY TO THEIR RIGHT, AS THIS RV WAS OVER THE CENTER LINE AND I HAD TO COMPENSATED THE STEERING. WE EXITED THE BACK ROAD AND ENTERED THE I-40 HWY. AND, I FOUGHT THE STEERING CONTROL AGAIN UNTIL WE REACH THE FED. CAMP SITE(KAIBAB LAKE, WILLIAMS,AZ) MAY 11, 2012, WE JOURNEYED BACK HOME. AGAIN, DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES ON I-40, UNTIL WE GOT BACK ONTO THE BACK ROAD OF ROUTE66...FOLLOWING DAY, I CALLED AN RV REPAIR SHOP ABOUT MY STEERING PROBLEM AND TOOK IN THAT, SAME MORNING FOR AN INSPECTION. FEW HOURS LATER, THE RV TECHNICIAN CALLED AND STATED THAT, I HAD NO STEERING STABILIZER. I ASKED, IF IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.. HE AGAIN STATED, THAT THERE ISN'T ANY STEERING STABILIZER..THEIR IS NO WARRANTY, ON THIS USED VEC. BOUGHT NOV 2011. AND, DRIVEN FOR A LONG TRIP FOR THE 1ST TIME ON MAY 3, AND AGAIN FOR THE RTN TRIP MAY 11. I AM NOW PAYING FOR A BILL THAT, NEARLY COST ME AND MY FAMILIES LIFE. VEC. IS A 2007 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 28P, CHEV MOTOR, GAS, WORKHORSE CHASIS. VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR 2007 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN. THE WIPERS STICK IN AN OPEN POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL WE PULL OVER AND THERE IS NO WIND RESISTANCE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, THE LAST TIME IN JULY 2010 FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2007 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. WIPERS FAILED COMPLETELY, WITHOUT WARNING IN AN EXTREME DOWNPOUR SITUATION. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE HIGHWAY AT ALL. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO EXIT INTO A REST AREA IMMEDIATELY. I PURCHASED ANOTHER WIPER MOTOR FROM A WINNEBAGO DEALER. IT ALSO FAILED WITHIN 2500 MILES. THE RESULT WAS NOT AS SEVERE BECAUSE THE RAIN WAS ONLY MISTING. IT WAS STILL INCONVENIENT BECAUSE I STILL HAD TO DRIVE FOR A DISTANCE IN ORDER TO SAFELY EXIT THE HIGHWAY. WINNEBAGO DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE, NOR MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC RESULTS OF THIS FAILURE. *TR

WAS PASSING TRUCK ON HILL WHEN 18 WHEELER PASSED ON RIGHT SIDE AND IF I HAD NOT SLAMED ON BREAKS 3 OF US WOULD BE SCATTERED ON I 40. WHAT CAUSED THIS HAPPENING WAS THE LOST OF POWER (DOWN TO 45MPH) MIDWAY THRU MY PASSING OF FIRST TRUCK. THE VEHICLE IS A 07 WINNEBAGO VIEW. VIN#[XXX]. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AMONG VIEW AND NAVIONS. YAHOO GROUPS VIEW-NAVION CAN GIVE YOU OVER 4000 ENTRYS ON THIS PROBLEM. MY WIFE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO DIE WHEN THAT SILVER TRUCK GOING AS FAST AS HELL WENT BY US ON THE RIGHT SIDE. PLEASE, BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED GET WINNEBAGO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1 injured