2003 Winnebago Brave Recalls & Complaints

Incident: August 10, 2018 · Filed: August 16, 2018

MY 2003 WINNEBAGO ONLY HAS 9800 MILES ON IT AND IS KEPT UNDER SHELTER. OBVIOUSLY IT HAS HAD LITTLE USE. THERE IS A WINDSHIELD LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WITH RUST PARTICLES FALLING ON THE DASH. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE WINNEBAGO/ ITASCA CLASS A MOTORHOMES. I SUSPECT THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO RECALL AND HELP CUSTOMERS WITH WHAT COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY FEAR IS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY,HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND HAVING THAT WINDSHIELD FALL IN ON MY WIFE OR ON THE HIGHWAY, NOT TO MENTION THE WATER DAMAGE OR MOLD POTENTIAL. THIS IS MY 3RD WINNEBAGO. I BOUGHT IT NEW AT A COST OF OVER $100K. I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT , KEEPING IT UNDER ROOF WHEN NOT IN USE. THE COMPANY TOLD MA THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ALREADY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AFTER IT CRACKED MYSTERIOUSLY. I THINK WINNEBAGO/ITASCA OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL, AND THE WINDSHIELDS SHOULD BE REPAIRED OF RUST ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD FRAME, AND THE GLASS RESEALED AND REINSTALLED. I KNOW OF MANY SAFETY ISSUES THAT NHTSA HAS TAKEN CARE OF IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY. THIS SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. RV MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE HELD AS RESPONSIBLE AS THE AUTO COMPANIES. FOR THE MONEY THAT IS SPENT ON THEM, THE CUSTOMERS DESERVE BETTER CONSIDERATION. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU

Incident: May 2, 2017 · Filed: May 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO BRAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND HESITATE BEFORE SUDDENLY STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. DURING THE INCIDENT, AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES CONNECTING THE IGNITION SWITCH WERE FAULTY AND A PROTECTION KIT WAS INSTALLED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,462.

Incident: October 22, 2012 · Filed: November 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT 2003 WINNEBAGO BRAVE CLASS A. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING HIS VEHICLE HE APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. HE IMMEDIATELY GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH FOR THE PARKING BRAKE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,018. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,518.

Incident: October 1, 2006 · Filed: February 28, 2009

I PURCHASED A NEW WINNEBAGO BRAVE MOTORHOME IN 2003 WITH A WORKHORSE CHASSIS. IN OCTOBER OF 2006 I BEGAN FEELING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO THE MOTORHOME. I REMOVED THE FRONT WHEELS AND DISCOVERED HUGE CRACKS IN THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. I REPLACED THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND THE DISC PADS ON 10-31-2006 (I HAVE RECEIPT). I ALSO DISCOVERED, WHILE REPLACING THE BRAKE PARTS, THAT THE CALIPERS WERE BINDING AT THE SLIDE PIN. I CLEANED THE PINS AND APPLIED SOME WHITE LITHIUM GREASE SO THE CALIPERS WOULD MOVE SMOOTHLY AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 1 AND A HALF YEARS LATER I DISCOVERED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND BINDING OF THE REAR CALIPER. ON 03-10-2008, I REPLACED THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. I ALSO LUBRICATED THE REAR CALIPER PINS. THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE APPROXIMATELY $600(I DID THE LABOR MYSELF). LAST WEEKEND (02-22-2009) I SAW THAT THE LEFT REAR CALIPER WAS LEAKING FROM THE PISTON BOOT. I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND ASKED THEM FOR A PRICE OF A CALIPER REBUILD KIT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CALIPERS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW CALIPERS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD GELLED FROM THE EXTREME HEAT OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. AT THIS POINT I WAS COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE MOTORHOME. ALMOST EVERY PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I LOOKED UP MY PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH WORKHORSE CHASSIS BETWEEN 2001-2005 I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHASSIS, "WORKHORSE" AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BRAKE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY MOTORHOME DID NOT HAVE A VIN # THAT WAS PART OF THEIR RECALL. EVEN THOUGH IT FELL IN THE 2001-2003 YEAR. THE TECH MANAGER AT WORKHORSE, GREG DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME WITH THE REPAIR OF MY MOTORHOME AND DID NOT WANT TO DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING OTHER MOTORHOMES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

Incident: December 20, 2008 · Filed: January 5, 2009

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 WINNEBAGO ON A WORKHORSE CHASSIS THROUGH AUSTIN TEXAS ON A HIGH TRAFFIC EVENING I HAD A BAD OVERHEATING PROBLEM IN THE FRONT BRAKES TO THE POINT THAT BOTH WHEELS WERE SMOKING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WAITED HOURS FOR THE BRAKES TO RELEASE SO THAT I COULD PROCEED TO MY DESTINATION. AFTER READING THE BLOGS ON VARIOUS SITES I AM SURE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHER WORKHORSE CHASSIS OWNERS ARE HAVING. I KNOW THAT I AM LOOKING AT A BIG REPAIR BILL THAT WILL NOT NECESSARILY SOLVE MY PROBLEM... PLEASE LETS GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SITUATION. I DON'T HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON REPAIRS YET. THANKS *TR

Incident: August 18, 2008 · Filed: September 12, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO BRAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE WORKHORSE CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AND THE BRAKES LOCKED ABRUPTLY. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED SO UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS RELATED TO THE BOSH BRAKE CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,612 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,631. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CALIPERS WERE STICKING OR OCKING UP WHICH WAS CAUSED BY EXTREME HEAT WHICH DAMAGED THE ROTORS AND PADS. UPDATED 10/15/08 *JB

Incident: September 10, 2008 · Filed: September 12, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO BRAVE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LEVEL OF THE PROPANE TANK AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE BRACKET. THE BRACKET WAS DAMAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,631. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB

Incident: July 25, 2008 · Filed: August 6, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO BRAVE. FIVE MILES AWAY FROM HOME, WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A HORRIBLE BURNING SMELL AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR CALIPERS WERE BURNED, THE COMPRESSOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BURNED, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V06000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE WARNING) AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,109. UPDATED 10/08/08. *LJ THE AC FAILED DUE TO A LEAK IN LINES. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SPLIT. UPDATED 10/10/08. *JB

Incident: August 15, 2005 · Filed: November 3, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE AUTOMATIC PARKING BRAKE FAILED, LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE BRAKE WAS ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

Incident: September 4, 2005 · Filed: October 24, 2005

THE ENTRY DOOR LOCK IS FAULTY TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE BEEN "LOCKED OUT" OF OUR RIG OVER 20 TIMES DURING OUR PAST TRIP! WE ASK SUNCOAST OF OCALA TO FIX IT BEFORE WE TRAVELED IN DEC. OF 04 BUT FOUND THAT IT WASN'T FIXED WHEN WE TOOK A MONTH LONG TRIP THIS PAST SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE CONTACTED WINNEBAGO AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OUR LOCK WAS NOT ON ANY RECALL LIST SO THEY CAN DO NOTHING. THEY DID HAVE ENTRY DOOR LOCKS RECALLED AND WE ASSUME THAT OURS MUST BE A PART OF THAT AS THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL ANY LONGER AND TO FIX IT A NEW LOCK HAS GOT TO PURCHASED FROM WINNEBAGO. WE PURCHASED OUR WINNEBAGO BRAVE NEW IN OCTOBER OF 03 AND HAD NOT USED IT MUCH BEFORE OUR RECENT TRIP. PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH WINNEBAGO. WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT OUR SMALL GRANDCHILDREN WERE NOT INSIDE WHEN WE WERE UNABLE TO REENTER THE RIG! I ENTERED SEP 4, 2005 BECAUSE THAT WAS THE DAY OF OUR DEPARTURE. THE INCIDENTS WERE ON GOING THE ENTIRE MONTH LONG TRIP. THANK YOU, DOTTIE AND LARRY RYHERD. *JB