2002 Itasca Sunova Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Itasca Sunova, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .