2005 Winnebago Journey

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.

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.

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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE ROOF VENT FOR THE OPTIONAL 4-DOOR REFRIGERATOR WAS INCORRECTLY LOCATED.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

I HAVE A 2005 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY 39F MOTORHOME. SINCE THE MOTORHOME WAS TWO YEARS OLD (IT SAT ON THE DEALER'S LOT, IN THE OPEN, FOR ONE YEAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT) WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WATER DRIPS ONTO THE DASH FROM ABOVE THE LEFT (DRIVER'S) WINDSHIELD. I CONTACTED WINNEBAGO AND THEY SAID TO PUT SILICON AROUND THE LIGHTS ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH I DID. THE CONDITION REMAINS THE SAME. THE INTERNET HAS REPORTED THAT THE METAL FRAME AROUND THE GLASS RUSTS OUT CAUSING THE LEAKS. I WORRY THAT THE ENTIRE WINDOW FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WINDOW BREAKING OR COMING LOOSER. THE VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM LEADS TO THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND/OR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD FRAMES. THANK YOU *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MEDALLION INSTRUMENTATION CENTER WAS NOT READABLE DUE TO IMPROPER BACK LIGHTING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT MADE BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - THE CONSUMER HAS ORDER A UPDATED READ OUT UNIT FROM MEDALLION AND WILL PAY EXTRA TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER MENTIONED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AT LEAST A YEAR AGO. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING TOXIC FUMES FROM EITHER THE DIESEL ENGINE OR EXHAUST WERE COMING INTO THE MOTOR HOME. THIS CAUSED THE CONTACT TO BECOME NAUSEATED, AND HAVE EYE AND NOSE IRRITATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION HOLES WERE FOUND IN THE COACH AND REPAIRED. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE ENGINE'S RUBBER SEAL WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AND REPLACED. ON THE THIRD OCCASION THE AIR CONDITIONER DUCTS WERE RE DONE IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE FUMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARDS, QUESTIONABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH BATTERY FAILURE, IN COACH PORTION (NOT DRIVE TRAIN) OF 2005 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY, STARTING APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 20, 2005, AND WITH VISIBLE FIREBALL IN INVERTER/CHARGER ON OCTOBER 20, 2005. *JB

2005 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY MOTOR HOME DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*MR WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE DASH AREA. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE DASH AREA WAS MELTED AND NO ONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WAS INJURED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER MOTOR FAN. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE RV WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SAFETY FEATURE WHICH WOULD PREVENT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT WORK. *NM

2005 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. *MR THE FIRE HAD POSSIBLY ORIGINATED IN THE A/C AND OR HEATING MOTOR FAN AND MELTED THE DASH. *SC *JB