RoadVitals

2006 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 Nov 20, 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.
7
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.
1
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 2006 Itasca Sunova, most frequently naming the body & structure and tires & wheels categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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 & structure150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

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

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

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
10V467000

SEAT BELTS

Oct 5, 2010
1,925 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: IF THE RESTRAINT SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH, THE BELT WILL NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE SEAT OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANT.
The 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.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.Manufacturer number 119View on NHTSA.gov
08V571000

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN

Oct 29, 2008
717 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: IF THE DRAG LINK WERE TO SEPARATE FROM THE PITMAN ARM, THE DRIVER WOULD NOT HAVE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH.
The 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.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE10048ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Hitch Receiver Fracture

Opened Dec 7, 2010
Closed Dec 3, 2013

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.

TRAILER HITCHES

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Nov 20, 2014

WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-15 BETWEEN HESPERIA AND BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, THE FIBERGLASS SKIN ON THE ROOF OF OUR RV STARTED BLOWING OFF. BY THE TIME WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, 80% OF THE ROOF SKIN HAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND LARGE PARTS WERE FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. FORTUNATELY THE WIND WAS BLOWING TOWARDS THE SHOULDER AND MOST OF THE FLYING DEBRIS LANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS WE WERE IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE SHOULDER. THE DEBRIS INCLUDED THE LAVATORY EXHAUST FAN, FIBERGLASS STYREFOAM, WOOD PANELING AND POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BROUGHT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SATELLITE DOWN. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND READING ONLINE, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND NO ONE FROM WINNEBEGO/ITASCA NOTIFIED US OF THIS POTENFIAL FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS COULD RESULT FROM THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659757
Incident
Nov 15, 2014
Mileage
12,113 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 3, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ITASCA SUNOVA RV WITH GOODYEAR TIRES DOT# MJ93-MAHW, SIZE 245/70/ R19. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON VEHICLE INSPECTION SHE NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF DRIVER-SIDE REAR TIRE HAD EXPLODED. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INNER MESH LINING OF THE TIRE HAD CORRODED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 19500. UPDATED 12/07/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED 4 TIRE BLOWOUTS. GOODYEAR DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 12/08/09

NHTSA ID
10290819
Incident
Dec 3, 2008
Mileage
1,500 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—
2006Viewing271—
2005240—
2004160—
2003470—
2002240—
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.