ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR OUR 2004 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS EVIDENT. THE TWO HYDRAULIC LINES FOR THE REAR SLIDE WERE ROUTED AROUND THE FRAME IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE TURBO CHARGER AND REPEATED EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT OF THAT UNIT HAD CAUSED THEM TO DETERIORATE, BURST AND …
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ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR OUR 2004 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS EVIDENT. THE TWO HYDRAULIC LINES FOR THE REAR SLIDE WERE ROUTED AROUND THE FRAME IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE TURBO CHARGER AND REPEATED EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT OF THAT UNIT HAD CAUSED THEM TO DETERIORATE, BURST AND SPRAY HYDRAULIC FLUID. THAT FLUID, HITTING THE VERY HOT TURBO CHARGER QUICKLY IGNITED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. I RETIRED IN 2003 AS THE MASTER MECHANIC FOR THE DENVER FIRE DEPARTMENT. AS SUCH I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE ENTIRE FLEET AND ALL EQUIPMENT FOR THE DENVER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS ARE AS A MASTER TECHNICIAN (ASE CERTIFIED) FOR TRUCK AND AUTOMOBILE AND I HAVE A DEGREE IN BUSINESS AS WELL. I AFFECTED REPAIRS ON SITE THAT ALLOWED US TO GET TO DILLION, COLORADO WHERE I PULLED THE DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC LINES AND HAD NEW ONE'S MADE. I INSTALLED THE NEW LINES (RE-ROUTING THEM AWAY FROM THE HEAT SOURCE) AND REPAIRED ALL OF THE WIRING AND HOSES INVOLVED AS WELL. LUCKILY DAMAGE WAS NOT EXTENSIVE AND WAS LIMITED TO THE ITEMS I DESCRIBED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL FAILURES AND FIRE HAZARDS ON THE ROAD WITH SIMILAR JOURNEY'S AND THOSE OWNERS MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE HOSE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SLIDES WAS, IN MY OPINION, A POOR ONE IN THAT IT IS NYLON REINFORCED AND PLASTIC COATED RATHER THAN THE STEEL REINFORCED ' HARD RUBBER COATED LINE USUALLY USED IN HYDRAULIC APPLICATIONS. THE ROUTING WAS ANOTHER POOR CHOICE IN THAT THERE IS AMPLE ROOM AND PROVISION FOR AVOIDING HEAT SOURCES, ESPECIALLY THE TURBO IN THAT IT IS THE GREATEST HEAT SOURCE IN THE AREA. I AM COPYING THIS LETTER TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES BUILT IN THIS MANNER UTILIZING THESE HOSES. IN FAIRNESS I AM NOTIFYING YOU OF THE PROBLEM AND MY INTENTIONS. *TR
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 & remedy
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.
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE ROOF VENT FOR THE OPTIONAL 4-DOOR REFRIGERATOR WAS INCORRECTLY LOCATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN ALLOW EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IGNITE SURROUNDING MATERIALS, RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/OI VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE ROOF VENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-6939.
CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON SOME MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOAD REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AMSAFE AT 1-574-266-8330 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.
ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE LP TANK HAS STRESS ON WELD JOINTS AT THE POINT WHERE MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE STRESS CRACKS AT THE WELD JOINTS AND LEAD TO AN LP LEAK AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINSTALL A CRADLE-STYLE CARRIER, AND, IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE LP TANK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-6939.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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