2004 Winnebago Adventurer Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER EQUIPPED WITH A NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NUMBER: 1201LRIM AND SERIAL NUMBER: 15374429. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR BEGAN LEAKING AND AN AMMONIA ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. THE NORCOLD MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AT 800 543-1219 AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY EXISTING RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR SCREEN DISPLAYED A WARNING FOR A LEAK AND THE AMMONIA ODOR. THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE REFRIGERATOR FAILURE. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11113257

Incident

Jul 24, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF POTENTIALLY FRACTURING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ROTORS WERE CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE CALIPERS; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND PREVENTED THE DEALER FROM REPAIRING THE ROTOR FAILURE. ONCE THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE, BOTH THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY THE OWNER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 12/17/14*LJ UPDATED 6/2/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10650814

Incident

Jun 7, 2010

Mileage

25,000 mi

ON 09/13/13 I NOTICED AN ODOR OF GAS NEAR DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRES. I SLID UNDER MOTORHOME AND NOTICED WET AREA ON GAS TANK. I INSPECTED THE GAS TANK AND FOUND GAS LEAKING FROM A SPOT WELD FOR THE INTERNAL BAFFLE IN THE GAS TANK. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE, GENERATOR IS CLOSE BY. LEAK COULD ALSO BE IGNITED FROM A SPARK FROM A CAMPFIRE WHILE PARKED AT A CAMPGROUND. *JB

NHTSA ID

10544282

Incident

Sep 13, 2013

Mileage

30,630 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER RV. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A HOLE WITHIN AN INTERNAL WELD ON THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

10396911

Incident

Nov 18, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

I OWN A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER WPG38R. I INCURRED WHAT AMOUNTED TO A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON MY ON A GENERATOR, DIRECTLY CAUSED BY WINNEBAGO IGNORING ONAN'S "RECOMMENDED" INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. THOSE INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFICALLY STATE A SUPPORT BRACKET BE INSTALLED IF THE TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY IS MORE THAN 18" LONG. THE TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY ON THIS UNIT IS 25" LONG. THE FIX, IF CAUGHT EARLY ON COST ME $725.00. MY REAL CONCERN INVOLVES SAFETY. ONAN WARNS IN THEIR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS " A HOT EXHAUST PIPE CAN CAUSE ---- SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. I ALSO ASSUME IT CAUSE CARBON MOXIDE POISONING OR HEAT/ FIRE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR HOME. WINNEBAGO PUT IN WRITING TO ME THEY HAD ALL THEIR MODEL YEARS INSTALLATIONS APPROVED AND INSPECTED BY ONAN.. ONAN PUT IN WRITING TO ME THEY DIDN'T APPROVE OR INSPECT ANY INSTALLATIONS FOR ANY CUSTOMER. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THIS INFORMATION, A WINNEBAGO CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ( BRIAN) TOLD ME THEN THE LACK OF THE SUPPORT INSTALLATION MUST HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY WINNEBAGO'S ENGINEERS. THEY ( WINNEBAGO) CONTINUED TO DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY AS MY MOTOR HOME WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO ONAN'S WARRANTY THEY EXCLUDE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THEIR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. MY WARRANTY THEREFORE WAS VOIDED THE DAY WINNEAGO INSTALLED THE GENERATOR ON MY UNIT AND OTHERS OF SIMILAR LENGTH. A WINNEBAGO TECHNICAL SUPPORT MAN TOLD ME VERBALLY OVER THE PHONE THAT UNIT CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE A SUPPOPRT BRACKET INSTALLED. HE THEN WENT ON WINNEBAGO'S MANUFACTURING INSTRUCTIONS FOR MY MODEL AND STATED HE WAS SURPRISED IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THEIR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. ONE OF THEIR INITIAL STATEMENTS TO ME OVER THE PHONE WAS "IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF WINNEBAGO, THINK AGAIN". THEY MAINTAINED THAT STANCE EVEN WHEN I SUBMITTED TO THEM THE SUPPORT INFORMATION I HAD COLLECTED THAT STATED THEY WERE AT FAULT. IT TOOK A LETTER FROM MY ATTORNEY AND A LOCAL TV STATION TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND REIMBURSE ME THE $725. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381119

Incident

Jul 10, 2010

Mileage

26,000 mi

WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS SAFETY RECALL 51101-C, REPLACEMENT OF BOSCH SERVICE BRAKE CALIPERS. DEALER INTENTIONALLY FAILED TO HAVE CALIPERS REPLACED PRIOR TO SALE OF VEHICLE. PURCHASER OF VEHICLE COMPLAINED TO DEALER THAT TIRES WERE BAD AND, AFTER REMOVING TIRES, THAT BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS WERE ALSO BAD. DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY ANY OF THE COMPLAINTS AND NEGLECTED TO INFORM PURCHASER OF VEHICLE OF THE SAFETY RECALL FOR NEARLY 2 WEEKS AFTER SALE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368395

Incident

Oct 28, 2010

THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY CLASS A MOTORHOME,SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE, INCLUDING 1 MANUFACTURER RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM AND 2 RECALLS ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES. I HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THE RECALL ORDERS AND ALSO HAD INTERMITTENT INSPECTIONS ON THE BRAKES. THIS MORNING I HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT SLOWING THE VEHICLE AND I WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN, ACROSS A STATE HIGHWAY, OVER AN INCLINE AND THROUGH A FENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356202

Incident

Sep 17, 2010

Mileage

9,314 mi

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO SAFETY RECALL 50901-C AN INTERIM NOTICE FROM WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS. MY MOTORHOME IS INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL. I EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEM (OVER HEATING) RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO VIRGINIA IN SEPTEMBER 2009. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME WITHOUT MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE MOTORHOME WAS REPAIRED WITH LIKE PARKS (SUBJECT TO FAILURE) PAID FOR BY WORKHORSE. WORKHORSE HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM GOING ON TWO YEARS AND CLAIMS TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS OBTAINING PARTS. IN THE MEAN TIME I AM RELUCTANT TO USE MY RV FOR FEAR OF BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN. I HAVE SPOKE WITH REPS FROM WORKHORSE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON (FIRST IT WAS LATE SUMMER THEN FALL OR LATE WINTER AND NOW THEY TELL ME IT MAY SPRING). IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY ARE STALLING AND IN THE MEAN TIME I AM UNABLE (BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE CONCERNS) TO USE MY RV. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290792

Incident

Sep 23, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY RV HOME FROM A TRIP WITH MY GRAND-DAUGHTER AND WAS TRAVELING ON A BUSY 2-LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING APPROX. 50-55 MPH AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR SLOWING TRAFFIC, THE PRIVACY CURTAIN (THE CURTAIN THAT COVERS THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT WHEN PARKED) PULLED LOOSE FROM THE WALL AND SLID FORWARD IN THE TRACK COVERING THE DRIVER'S HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD, BLOCKING MY VISION. I HELD THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ONE HAND AND MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO PULL THE CURTAIN BACK SO THAT I COULD SEE WHERE I WAS GOING. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SEE, I WAS ACROSS THE HIGHWAY CENTER LINE INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT. I HELD THE CURTAIN BACK WITH ONE HAND AND HAD TO DRIVE SEVERAL MILES BEFORE I FOUND AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO PULL OVER. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE CURTAIN STRAP WAS HELD IN PLACE WITH ONLY ONE SCREW INTO THIN WALL PANELING. THE SCREW WAS STRIPPED AND WHEN IT PULLED LOOSE FROM THE WALL THE CURTAIN RETAINING STRAP SLID TO THE FLOOR ALLOWING THE CURTAIN TO SPRING FORWARD IN THE TRACK. THERE WAS NO ANCHOR BEHIND THE WALL TO KEEP THE CURTAIN STRAP SECURED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10289900

Incident

Jul 5, 2009

Mileage

17,400 mi

2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER MHOME. W22 CHASSIS. 23,000 MILES LEFT REAR SIDE PASSENGER'S BRAKE SMOKING AND FROZE UP. TOOK TO WINNEBAGO DEALER -HAD IT CHECKED OUT ON 4/28/2009. ON MAY 14,2009 THE LEFT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SMOKED UP AND LOCKED UP. BRAKE FLUID BOILED AND CAUSED PLUG TO COME OUT OF HUB HOLDING AXLE GREASE. ON MAY 18, 2009 LEFT BRAKE SMOKED AND FROZE UP AGAIN -- SOFT MUSHY PEDAL WITH LEFT FRONT BRAKE SCREECHING NOISE. TOOK TO WINNEBAGO AUTHORIZED DEALER ON 20MAY2001. INSPECTED LEFT FRONT BRAKE AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK. PICKED UP VEHICLE ON MAY 22, 2001 AND LEFT FRONT BRAKE MUSHY AND BRAKE PETAL SUDDENLY DEPRESS ABOUT 3 INCHES AND THE LEFT FRONT BRAE GRABS AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. DEFINITELY A SERIOUS PROBLEM!!!!! SO MANY W22 WORKHORSE CHASSIS ON THE ROAD TODAY. WORKHORSE SHOULD REPLACE THE BRAKE CALIPERS IMMEDIATELY WITH THEIR IN STOCK REGULAR NEW CALIPERS UNTIL THE REFIT CALIPERS ARE READY IN THE FALL-2009. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269757

Incident

May 14, 2009

Mileage

23,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING N. BOUND ON I-25, , IN S. NEW MEXICO, RECENTLY, I BEGAN TO SMELL A FAINT, BUT PERSISTENT ODOR OF "SCORCHED" BRAKE/CLUTCH LINING. ( NO CLUTCH IN THIS VEHICLE THO) . THOROUGH TESTING OF THE BRAKES WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO HEAVY RAIN AND BUSY TRAFFIC, BUT A SLIGHT TEST FELT LIKE THE PEDAL WAS SOMEWHAT "SOFT"..ALSO, A SLIGHT "PULL" TO THE LEFT WAS EVIDENT, ( THO IT WAS "GUSTY WINDY") BY THE TIME I EXITED THE INTERSTATE, ABOUT 50 MILES LATER, THE BRAKES FELT "NORMAL" AND THE ODOR WAS NO LONGER DETECTABLE. I TRAVELED A FURTHER 1000 MILES ON THIS TRIP WITH NO FURTHER "ODOR". I WILL BE AGAIN TRAVELING IN A FEW WEEKS, AND I AM UNEASY ABOUT THE BRAKES. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259572

Incident

Feb 5, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON BUSINESS HIGHWAY 17 IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC (LEVEL ROAD) ,WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF LEAVING OUR CAMPSITE A DEFINITE SMELL OF BRAKE LINING WAS PRESET IN THE MOTORHOME. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INVESTIGATED THE SMELL THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE; BACKING AND BREAKING SEVERAL TIMES. I THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED FORWARD AND BRAKING SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY I PUT MOTORHOME IN DRIVE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR TO SEE IF IT WOULD ROLL FREELY FORWARD . I ALSO VERIFIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIME. DURING ALL TESTS THERE WAS NO APPARENT DRAG ON THE BRAKES. IT APPEARED THAT THE PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF. I CONTINUED MY DRIVE HOME WITHOUT ANY BRAKE PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT AFTER READING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA SITE I AM VERY CONCERNED. REVIEWING YOU SITE, I HAD NOT PEDDLE DROP OR ABS LIGHT NOTIFICATION. AT THE TIME OF THE BRAKE DRAG, ALL ELSE APPEARED NORMAL

NHTSA ID

10250205

Incident

Nov 28, 2008

Mileage

11,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD OVERHEAT AND BEGIN TO SMOKE. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CALIPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD OCCASIONALLY SMELL THE BRAKES BURNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,500. UPDATED 11/26/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10246845

Incident

Oct 8, 2008

Mileage

23,500 mi

2004 ITASCA SUNCRUISER, 8.1 CHEVY, ALLISON 1000. GOING 55 MPH ENGINE LOSS ALL POWER BUT KEPT RUNNING IN IDLE SPEED. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND CHECKED EVERYTHING, TEMPERATURE, FLUIDS ALL OK. DEALER SAID NO CODES AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES ABOUT 1 WEEK APART. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED BUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL 5 TIMES HAS BEEPED AND ALL GAUGES GO TO 0 BUT ENGINE AND POWER IS GOOD, THIS LASTS ABOUT 15 SECONDS THEN ALL IS OK. THE MECHANIC SAID WINNEBAGO KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DOSE NOT HAVE A FIX YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228089

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

Mileage

15,575 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE BECAUSE IT WAS SKIPPING. WHILE THE DEALER WAS TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DRUM INCREASED TO OVER 60 DEGREES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE ENGINE SIZE, SPEED, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, MILEAGES, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10214788

Incident

Jan 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WORKHORSE CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO DECELERATE AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED ALL THE REAR BRAKES, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE WEEKS LATER. HE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,500. THE CONSUMER STATED FLOORING WAS COMING APART, CEILING IS SAGGING, RECLINER IS COMING APART, CRACK IN PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, A/C STICKS, SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, DRIVER'S SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT, AND BEDROOM SLIDE NOT COMING OUT. UPDATED 10/16/17 *TR

NHTSA ID

10201951

Incident

Jun 14, 2007

Mileage

10,200 mi

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE SEAT BELT INERTIA LOCK WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE USE OF THE BELT. HAD TO RETURN TO DEALER 3 TIMES TO HAVE THEM REPAIR, BY RELEASING THE LOCK. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THE RV UNIT SERIAL NO. FROM WINNEBAGO IS 10G87E283069. *JB

NHTSA ID

10175085

Incident

Mar 14, 2006

Mileage

5,600 mi

CONSUMER STATED: VEHICLE BLEW A FUSE. ALSO, HAD TROUBLE WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS EXTRA HARD TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO GO OFF. THEN HAD TO USE THE BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL. NO LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT POWER BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. *AK IT WAS FOUND THAT A WIRE UNDER THE DASH RUBBED AND HAD BECOME BARE. THIS SHORTED OUT A FUSE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10121886

Incident

May 22, 2005

Mileage

10,953 mi

FUSE ON CRUISE CONTROL BLOWS AND THE CRUISE WILL NOT SHUT OFF WITH JUST A TAP ON THE BRAKES. IF YOU STOMP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WILL SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ID

10122564

Incident

May 22, 2005

Mileage

10,622 mi

DT: VALVE STEM ON TANNOM WHEELS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE BECAUSE THE PRESSURE AIR HOSE DROPS DOWN IN BETWEEN THE DUAL TIRES. THE OUTSIDE VALVE STEM IS FACING INWARD THEREFORE , THE CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE THE VALVE. THE MOTOR HOME WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO GET THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED WHEN GETTING READY TO GO ON A TRIP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10119938

Incident

Apr 12, 2005

Mileage

2,100 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE BOUNCES WILDLY AND WILL NOT HOLD CENTER POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATES THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS PARTIALLY CORRECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS INSTALLATION OF FRONT SHOCKS. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SHOCKS, RIGHT REAR SEAL, THE REAR SHOCKS NEEDED REPLACING AND EXCESSIVE BOUNCING. AT 5436K MILES, FRONT SHOCKS AND A RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEAL WAS INSTALLED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10115649

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

5,436 mi

REPORTED GAS ODORS TO DEALER AND MFGR. NO ACTION TAKEN. FIRE DESTROYED MOTORHOME. I WAS INJURED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10104722

Incident

Oct 27, 2004

Mileage

9,000 mi