2006 Itasca Navion

During this investigation, ODI identified 29 reports of cracked and/or fractured hitch receiver assemblies installed on the subject vehicles.The majority (27 of 29) of the reported hitch incidents occurred prior to the initiation of PE10-048 in December, 2010.This investigation has been characterized by (1) Scant forensic samples available for inspection and review since most of the reported incidents occurred prior to ODI?s investigation and pertinent material has been scrapped; (2) Uncertainty regarding the contributory role of issues such as unintended hitch contact with road surfaces, use of hitches with offsets that exceed Winnebago recommendations; and (3) Other usage factors.Based on reported failures, the indicated failure rate for detected and reported cracking /fracture incidents associated with the estimated population of subject vehicles was found to be 0.10% after the vehicles had been in service for between 6 and 8 years.Reports were higher in calendar year 2007 (9 reports) than in succeeding years 2008-2010 (3-5 reports per year) and 2011 (2 reports) and appear likely to decline further due to diminished use associated with vehicle aging.ODI is aware of only one consumer complaint (ODI# 10368002) in its files describing a hitch receiver malfunction in Winnebago-Itasca vehicles.As of September 2013, Winnebago has reported that there have been no additional incidents of cracked or fractured hitch receivers reported since the most recent incident reported in May 2011.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more detailed information, see the attached closing report.

WINNEBAGO HAS FILED DEFECT REPORT 07V-163 WHICH OUTLINES WINNEBAGO'S INTENTION TO INSTALL SECONDARY LATCHES ON THE AFFECTED CARGO DOORS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE PROPOSED SECONDARY LATCH WILL PROVIDE A MORE RELIABLE LATCHING SYSTEM (1) FOR OWNERS WHO MAY INADVERTENTLY FAIL TO SECURE THE PRIMARY LATCH AND/OR (2) AS A REDUNDANT RETENTION MEANS FOR SITUATIONS IN WHICH A CARGO DOOR BECOMES MISALIGNED, DISTORTED, AND/OR DAMAGED IN A WAY THAT COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRIMARY LATCH SYSTEM.

I RESPONDED TO A RECALL NOTICE (S91) ABS BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS DONE AS A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER ON MY SPRINTER MOTOR HOME. THE WORK WAS DONE BY ARRIGO DODGE.. HOWEVER, THE NEXT TIME I USED THE MOTOR HOME, THE ABS BREAK SYSTEM FAILED (WHILE EVACUATING HURRICANE IRMA) THUS CAUSING THE MOTOR HOME TO GET STUCK IN 2ND GEAR WITH NO ABS BRAKES.. THE TOTAL BILL FOR PARTS AND LABOR WAS $5,054.26. THE GRAND TOTAL WAS $7678.49 AFTER ALL OTHER EXPENSES. AT THIS TIME, THE MOTOR HOME DOES NOT HAVE A WORKING ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR PEOPLE ADVISED ME THAT IF I PUT THE UPDATED SOFTWARE INTO THE NEW COMPUTER, THERE IS A 1 IN 3 CHANCE IT WOULD BLOW OUT THE COMPUTER AGAIN. MY MECHANIC STATED, IN WRITING, THAT THE REPAIR WAS DIRECTLY CAUSED BY UPDATE. AFTER SPEAKING TO JOHN ARRIGO AND ADVISING HIM OF PROBLEM, MR. ARRIGO DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. HE REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR MAKE GOOD. MR. ARRIGO STATED HE DID NOT WRITE THE FAULTY SOFTWARE AND THEREFORE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. THIS ATTITUDE PRESENTS AS UNPROFESSIONAL AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DANGER FOR CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC. ALL OTHER COMPANY'S CONTACTED REFUSED RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING DEALERS AND ALL PARTS MANUFACTURES OF THE MOTORHOME.

NHTSA ID

11073252

Incident

Sep 9, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

THIS WAS THE THIRD TURBO FAILURE SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THIS RV VEHICLE: 2006 ITASCA NAVION, WITH THE DODGE/MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN SEPT. , '05, ABOUT 1 1/2 MONTHS AFTER OUR PURCHASE. THE SECOND WAS IN AUGUST, '06. EACH TIME, IT LOST POWER SUDDENLY, WHILE WE WERE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DECREASING OUR SPEED IMMEDIATELY TO APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH IF ON A DOWNHILL OR STRAIGHT ROAD. IT HAD NO POWER TO CLIMB EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE. EACH TIME, THE RESONATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE MET OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. ALL HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THIS MOTOR WAS A POOR DESIGN; THAT WE COULD PURCHASE AND CARRY A SPARE RESONATOR WITH US FOR FUTURE FAILURES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL CERTAINLY NOT KEEP US SAFE ON THE ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206392

Incident

Oct 1, 2007

Mileage

31,853 mi

CRACKED TURBO RESONATOR TUBE RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" RESULTING IN VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND SPEED BELOW POSTED MINIMUMS, PARTICULARLY ON UPHILL EXPRESSWAY GRADES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10203001

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

6,858 mi

CRACKED TURBO RESONATOR TUBE RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" RESULTING IN VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND SPEED BELOW POSTED MINIMUM ON UPHILL EXPRESSWAY GRADES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10202996

Incident

May 31, 2006

Mileage

1,745 mi

THE TURBO RESONATOR/MANIFOLD OF MY ITASCA NAVION MOTORHOME FAILED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC RESONATOR PART. WHEN THEFAILURE OCCURS (RANDOMLY) THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER MAY PLACE THE MOVING VEHICLE IN DANGER OF BEING REAR ENDED OR HEAD ON COLLISION IF IN THE ACT PF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THIS FAILURE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET AT "TOPIX" AND "DODGE FORUM". I AM UNABLE TO GET ANY SUPPORT OR HELP FROM THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER (WINNEBAGO ITASCA) OR FROM DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE FAILURE IS EPIDEMIC AND BECOMING A HAZARD UNLESS A FIX IS DESIGNED TO RETROFIT THIS FAILING PART. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT ACTIONS I CAN TAKE AS A CONSUMER AND WHAT ACTIONS IF ANY THAT THE NHTSA CAN TAKE. THANKYOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10200616

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

4,500 mi

DODGE SPRINTER IT IS A WINNEBAGO NAVION (MOTOR HOME) THE TURBO RESONATOR FAILED AND I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND I LOST A LOT OF POWER ON A HILL IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177431

Incident

Sep 30, 2006

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE 100LB OUTSIDE STORAGE CONTAINER LOCATED OM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY ITASCA NAVION, H MODEL HAS SLID OUT TO THE OPEN POSITION TWICE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT REQUIRES A FIX BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159324

Incident

May 28, 2003

Mileage

2,900 mi

2006 ITASCA NAVION UNDERCARRIAGE STORAGE BIN LATCH DID NOT HOLD WHILE DRIVING. BIN SLID OPEN AND HIT TREE, SHEARING OFF THE STORAGE BIN AND LOWER SIDE PANELS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155428

Incident

Mar 30, 2006

Mileage

1,647 mi