RoadVitals

2002 Itasca Sunova

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest May 7, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Oct 26, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Itasca Sunova, most frequently naming the body & structure, brakes and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure125.0%
  • Brakes125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Steering125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10V525000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 26, 2010
18,461 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
03V405000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Oct 16, 2003
15,337 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
03V243000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Jul 8, 2003
2,684 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, WHEN THE COOKING RANGE AND FURNACE ARE OPERATING AT THE SAME TIME, THE FLAME ON THE COOKING RANGE COULD BE FORCED DOWNWARD OVER THE BURNER OR FLAME OUTAGE COULD OCCUR. THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FURNACE AND COOKING RANGE WHEREBY THE FURNACE MAY DRAW AIR IN FROM ABOVE THE RANGE BURNERS AND CAUSE A DOWNDRAFT.
The risk: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE FLAME MAY GO OUT, AND THE LIQUID PROPANE (LP) GAS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN AIR RESTRICTOR PANEL UNDER THE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-6939.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.Manufacturer number 89View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesEngineSteering
Filed May 7, 2014

MOTOR HOME SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AT 55 MPH. LOSS OF BRAKES, STEERING AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN-TOWED TO SERVICE. CRANK CASE SENSOR FAILURE! THIS SAME SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN YESTERDAY AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM! WORKHORSE 2002 ITASCA. ONCE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT! TWICE IS NOT! SOMEONE WILL GET HURT PENDING WHERE THEY ARE AT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I WAS LUCKY TWICE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10587143
Incident
May 12, 2004
Mileage
5,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 16, 2012

WHILE TRAVELLING IN THE SLOW LANE OF A 4 LANE FREEWAY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ARCH PANEL LITERALLY BLEW OFF WITH NO WARNING, IT IS A LARGE ENOUGH FIBERGLASS PANEL AND COULD EASILY HAVE KILLED A NEARBY MOTORCYCLIST OR EVEN THE DRIVER OF A SMALL CAR TRAVELLING ALONGSIDE AT FREEWAY SPEED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT DUE TO THE POOR METHOD OF ATTACHMENT TO THE FRAME OF THE MOTORHOME, AS EVIDENCED BY THE CURRENT STATE OF THE LEFT SIDE ARCH PANEL. PLEASE HELP WITH GETTING THIS SITUATION RECTIFIED, THE MANUFACTURER HAS REBUFFED MY ATTEMPTS TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THANKS

NHTSA ID
10458702
Incident
May 1, 2012
Mileage
40,100 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Itasca Sunova by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019010—
2018030—
2017030—
2016060—
2015140—
2014040—
2013140—
2012030—
2011120—
2010020—
2009050—
2008040—
2007160—
2006271—
2005240—
2004160—
2003470—
2002Viewing240—
2001030—
2000020—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—
1996010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.