2003 Winnebago Sightseer Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY SOFT AND HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MELTED ON THE BACKING PLATE OF THE FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500. UPDATED 09/06/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10882673

Incident

May 20, 2016

Mileage

25,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL. WHILE REVERSING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CALIPERS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WERE STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THE ABS SENSOR WAS ALSO MELTED AND DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ABS SENSOR ASSEMBLY, AND THE CALIPER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V186000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

10734463

Incident

Jul 14, 2015

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 33D. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE SHIFTED TO THIRD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,389. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568864

Incident

Sep 29, 2011

Mileage

18,000 mi

PREPARING TO GO CAMPING, I STARTED MY WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER AND POSITIONED IT TO ATTACH MY TOWED VEHICLE. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AT THAT POINT. AFTER COMPLETING THE HITCHING PROCEDURE, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY RV. IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL TRUCK DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND "THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ONE CONNECTOR WAS BURNT." THEY CALLED WINNEBAGO AND "FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN UPDATE RELAY HARNESS FOR THIS PROBLEM" WHICH THEY ORDERED AN INSTALLED. ALTHOUGH THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM (OTHERWISE WHY AN UPDATED KIT), THE SERVICE REP I THEN CONTACTED AT WINNEBAGO, CLAIMED TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR ADVISORY BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. I DID SOME RUDIMENTARY SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND AT LEAST 2 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS RE THIS SAME PROBLEM, ONE OF WHICH WAS ON A 2005 SIGHTSEER. I IN THOSE INCIDENTS IT SEEMS THAT THE SWITCH SHORTED OUT WHILE THE RIGS WERE UNDERWAY, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME. HOWEVER THE TOWING, LABOR AND PARTS CHARGE CAME TO OVER $1000, MUCH OF THE LABOR COST DUE TO THE TIME INVOLVED IN DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. THE WINNEBAGO SERVICE REP MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED WINNEBAGO SOONER, THE IMPLICATION BEING THAT WINNEBAGO KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS AGAIN BRINGS UP THE QUESTION WHY NO RECALL OR ADVISORY BULLETIN TO OWNERS? I HAVE THE DAMAGED SWITCH AND CONNECTOR IN MY POSSESSION AND HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THEM AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234920

Incident

Jul 6, 2008

Mileage

37,382 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2008. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,500. UPDATED 11/06/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10205948

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE LOADED AND TAKEN IN FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. WHILE HAVING THE FRONT END ALIGNED, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE FRONT LINKAGES, IDLER ARM AND RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THE PARTS MIGHT NOT BE HEAVY ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE AND COULD FAIL AGAIN. UPDATED 08/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10163985

Incident

Jul 2, 2006

Mileage

11,744 mi

BOUGHT 2003 WINNEBAGO/ SIGHTSEER MODEL 30B LEFTOVER FROM MEYERS SUPER STORE IN NEW YORK ON FEBRUARY 14, 2004. SINCE THEN HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DEFECTS ON UNIT. HYDRAULIC JACKS FAILED ON FIRST TRIP- LEAK ON JACK AT FITTING, JACK WOULD NOT RETRACT. TAKEN FOR SERVICE, COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. SERVICE DEALER REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS IN FIVE TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP (MANIFOLD REPLACED; SOLENOID REPLACED; SWITCHED WIRES; REPLACED SWITCH BOX INSIDE UNIT - TOUCHPAD). LEFT REAR JACK STILL DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK IN UNISON WITH OTHER JACKS WHEN USED. SECOND TRIP OUT - WATER HEATER FAILED TO IGNITE ON 2ND DAY. RESISTOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. OTHER PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED SO FAR: POD LEFT OF ENTRY DOOR LEAKS, STAIN ON CARPET BY TABLE WHEN SLIDE IS OUT - SHAMPOOED OUT TWICE - RETURNS; ENTRY DOOR HARD TO CLOSE - MUST BE SLAMMED TO CLOSE TIGHT; BORDER IN BATHROOM AND KITCHEN AREAS FALLING OFF; STAIN ON CURTAIN - PASSENGER SIDE - FRONT SHADE; 30 AMP PLUG SEPARATING FROM CORD ON LANDLINE FOR CAMPER - REPLACED WARRANTY. ENTRY DOOR RATTLES WHEN UNIT IS MOVING. ON 9-27-04, ON 2ND TRIP BACK TO SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF GENERATOR (NOT WORKING) ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WHEN JACKS WERE BEING PUT DOWN DUE TO HYDRAULIC FLUID HITTING EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM BROKEN HYDRAULIC LINE WHERE IT EXITS RACEWAY FOR HOSES BEHIND ENGINE. ON 10-8-04 , HEARD FROM SERVICE DEALER (SPITLER RV, MONTOURSVILLE, PA) THAT WINNEBAGO ACKNOWLEDGES SHARP EDGE OF RAIL CAUSED HOSE TO BE CUT AND AUTHORIZED SPITLERS TO DO NECESSARY REPAIRS. DO NOT FEEL THAT REPAIRS ARE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME DUE TO PROBLEMS AND FIRE ON UNIT. UNIT SHOULD BE REPLACED OR BOUGHT BACK AT ORIGINAL SALES PRICE & TRADE IN SHOULD BE REFUNDED IN CASH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093842

Incident

Feb 14, 2004

Mileage

5,738 mi

DROVE MOTORHOME FOR 1.25 HRS. TO DELIVER FOR REPAIR OF GENERATOR WHICH WAS NOT WORKING. UNIT APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS OLD - STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON ARRIVAL AT DEALER, ATTEMPTED TO PUT DOWN HYDRAULIC JACKS. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA FROM LEAK ON HYDRAULIC LINE THAT BROKE DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT. THIS WAS CONFIRMED ON 10-5-04 BY INSURANCE ADJUSTER INSPECTOR. UNIT HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HYDRAULIC JACK SYSTEM, STARTING ON 4-30-04 TO PRESENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093652

Incident

Sep 27, 2004

Mileage

5,738 mi

NUMEROUS DEFECTS INVOLVING 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. *MR PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD LEAK, DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD LEAK, SLIDE OUT LEAK BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT, COMPARTMENT TO LEFT OF THE ENTRY DOOR LEAKED, UNDER THE SLID OUT LEAKED, DINING CUSHION WAS COMING APART, THE DRIVER'S SEAT NOT ALIGNED SQUARELY WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, CHASSIS A/C DIDN'T GET COLD, KITCHEN SINK HAD A CRACK, KITCHEN FAUCET LEAKED, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE SENSOR DIDN'T WORK, THE LEAK IN THE BACK CORNER ON THE DRIVER;S SIDE, THE FRONT DRAPES WATER STAINED ON DELIVERY, ENTRY DOOR CONSTANTLY SQUEAKED, THE VENT FOR THE STOVE CONSTANTLY RATTLED, THE VINYL COMING OFF THE MOLDING TO THE SLIDE OUT FASCIA, THE TRIM ON THE REFRIGERATOR WAS POORLY ATTACHED, THE COLD BATH FAUCET HANDLED MARRED, THE WATER PUMP WAS NOISY IN THE BEDROOM AREA, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER HOSE HAD BROKEN, THE JACKS WERE NOT REPRESENTED WHEN THE UNIT WAS SOLD, FRONT ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, AND LEVELS SENSORS APPEARED TO BE VERY INACCURATE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10092757

Incident

Jan 25, 2004

WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED AND BOUNCED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HANDLING NORMALLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057942

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

Mileage

3,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE MOTORHOME TO A DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049997

Incident

Dec 3, 2003