2008 Itasca ELLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-10-18 (October 18, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.' THE REAR AND REAR-SIDE RED REFLECTORS ARE LOCATED ABOVE THE 60-INCH HEIGHT LIMIT.

Consequence: NON-STANDARD SIDE MARKER AND REFLECTOR LIGHTS COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD REFLEX REFLECTORS IN COMPLIANT LOCATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.

Reported: 2008-05-19 (May 19, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 1,699 MY 2005-2009 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY, TOUR AND ITASCA MERIDIAN AND ELLIPSE MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON THE FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS CONTAINS STEERING FILTERS THAT CAN PLUG DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SCREEN ADHESION TO THE FILTER HOUSING CAUSING A RISE IN RETURN LINE PRESSURE POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A HOSE SEPARATION FROM THE FILTER OR STEERING GEAR FITTING RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING FLUID AND POWER ASSIST.

Consequence: SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING INVOLVING A MOTOR HOME COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR CERTAIN DRIVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL AND WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED FILTERS WITH A LARGER FILTER (PLEASE SEE 07V570). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2008-05-19 (May 19, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 306 MY 2007-2008 JOURNEY, DESTINATION, TOUR AND ITASCA MERIDIAN, LATITUDE, AND ELLIPSE MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE FASTENERS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING ARM OR TIE ROD ARMS TO THE SPINDLE MAY BE OVER OR UNDER-TIGHTENED.

Consequence: INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED STEERING ARM FASTENERS MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V306). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2008-10-30 (October 30, 2008)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 594 MY 2008-2009 DESTINATION, JOURNEY, TOUR, VECTRA, AND ITASCA LATITUDE, MERIDIAN, ELLIPSE, AND HORIZON MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND ADL SERIES REAR SUSPENSIONS. IN SOME INSTANCES THE TRANSVERSE BEAM WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE WELD.

Consequence: IF THE WELD FAILS, VEHICLE STABILITY WHILE CORNERING COULD BE AFFECTED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING SPARKS THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH DAIMLER TRUCKS/SAF-HOLLAND TO HAVE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ADL TRANSVERSE BEAM PERFORMED. IF A WELD DEFECT IS IDENTIFIED, SAF-HOLLAND WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE REPLACEMENT KIT THAT CONTAINS A NEW TRANSVERSE BEAM, ALL NECESSARY INSTALLATION HARDWARE, BEAM REPLACEMENT, AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 08V269 AND 08E031). OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712, SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-231-773-3271, OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

Reported: 2010-10-26 (October 26, 2010)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.