2004 Winnebago Sightseer Recalls & Complaints

Incident: March 12, 2016 · Filed: March 21, 2016

WE HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. WE HAVE A WORKHORSE P32 AND I HAD TO APPLY THE E BRAKE TO STOP THE RV. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD TRUCK SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS WERE EITHER BURNT OR CRACKED. THIS SURE DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WORKHORSE W SERIES AND NOT THE P SERIES!

Incident: September 17, 2010 · Filed: September 21, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO WITH A WORKHORSE CHASSIS. THE MODEL WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE BRAKES AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IN HIS AREA, THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY SEND SIX KITS AT A TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR 8 MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BECAUSE THEY USE THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO TRAVEL SOUTH FOR THE WINTER AND THE BRAKE HAVE ALREADY FAILED WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56000.

Incident: March 1, 2010 · Filed: August 19, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES WOULD DRAG EXCESSIVELY AT ANY SPEED AND THE HUBCAPS WOULD OVERHEAT WHEN DRIVING AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CALIPERS WERE CLEANED AND LUBRICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY CLEANED AND LUBRICATED THE CALIPERS A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,121. UPDATED 11/11/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO CANCEL HIS COMPLAINT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 11/17/10.*JB

Incident: April 1, 2009 · Filed: April 7, 2009

THIS MAY PERTAIN TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN EA07016. 2004 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 35 N WITH WORKHORSE W22 (NOT SURE OF CHASSIS YEAR)CHASSIS. WHILE UNDERWAY NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LOSS OF POWER, STEERING WHEEL PULLING TO THE LEFT. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN/STOP COACH. PEDAL WAS NOT FIRM AND AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT I HAD LOST BRAKING. BURNING (SLIGHT) ODOR WAS NOTICED INSIDE THE COACH WITH WINDOWS CLOSED. STOPPED TWICE TO LOOK UNDER COACH FOR ANY EVIDENCE OF FLUID LEAKS (DARK OUT NO LIGHT) NO OBVIOUS LEAK. LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS WARMER THAN OTHERS. THIS WAS ALL HAPPENING RELATIVELY QUICKLY. I PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION FOR ABOUT 10 MILES WHERE I FOUND A SHOPPING CENTER, STOPPED (NOW DAYLIGHT) CHECKED MASTER CYLINDER LEVEL AND FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE NEEDING FLUID (RUBBER DIAPHRAGM UNDER CAP HAD EXPANDED) ADDED AT LEAST 3 MAYBE FOUR 9 OUNCE PAPER CUPS ABOUT 1/3 FULL AND RESERVOIR STILL HAD ROOM. NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKING. AFTER ABOUT 45 MIN. CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 100 MILES NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. BRAKES WORK BUT COULD BE BETTER. I STOPPED OVER NIGHT AT A FRIENDS HOUSE FOR 2 NIGHTS. HE WAS A SCHOOL BUS MECHANIC AND SUGGESTED THAT WE RAISE THE COACH (DID THAT WITH COACH JACKS) FIRST THE FRONT WHEELS AND FOUND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CALIPERS TO BE STICKING. WE EXERCISED THE PISTONS SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO FOUND THE PADS TO BE STICKING ON THE CALIPERS. A SMALL AMOUNT OF NEVERSEIZE WAS APPLIED BETWEEN THE PADS AND THE CALIPER CASTING SLIDING SURFACE. RAISED THE REAR OF THE COACH, AND REAR WHEELS SEEMED OK. HAVE CONTINUED ABOUT 200 MILES WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENCE. HAVE AROUND 23,500 ON COACH I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE ABOUT 1100 MILES TO GO TO RETURN TO MY HOME. *TR

Incident: September 21, 2006 · Filed: October 16, 2007

2004 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER ELECTRIC PARK BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAS HAD THE SENSOR, ACTUATOR, SWITCH, AND PUMP REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES IT BECAME DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIR. *KB THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED WERE LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID. *JB

Incident: August 22, 2005 · Filed: August 28, 2005

MAKE: WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER MODEL: 2004 WFD30B SERIAL NO: [XXX] (WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES) CHASSIS VIN: [XXX](WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS) DELIVERY DATE: JAN. 24, 2004 (PURCHASED NEW) CURRENT MILEAGE: 14,000 1. GAS TANK LEAK ~RIGHT SIDE OF GAS TANK LEAKING FUEL; NOTICED FUEL POURING FROM REAR OF TANK WHEN FILLING UP AT STATION 2. SAFETY RECALL ~SEAT BELTS (WINNEBAGO ISSUE NOT CORRECTED, WAITING FOR PARTS)3. SWAY BAR ~BOLTS FELL FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (APRIL 2005) 4. SAFETY RECALL ~INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (APRIL 2005) 5. AIRBAG ~RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG IN SUSPENSION SYSTEM DEFLATED AFTER ONLY 49 DAYS OF USE (AUGUST 2005) 6. DIFFERENTIAL ~DEFECT CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK FROM AXLE TUBE IN REAR-END (AUGUST 2005) 7. SHOCK BRACKET ~MANGLED AND TWISTED, CAUSING SHOCK TO FALL (AUGUST 2005) UNDETERMINED CAUSE; NOT A ROADHAZARD 8. DASH AIR ~BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR AT IDLE; OVERHEATS AND LEAKS ANTIFREEZE REQUIRED NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS: FOUR IN 2004 AND THEN AGAIN FOUR IN 2005 TOTAL DAYS IN SHOP FOR THIS DEFECT ALONE: 45 (26 IN 2004 AND 19 IN 2005) WORKHORSE REPS STATED TO ME THAT "CERTAIN MODELS" OF MOTORHOME HAVE "FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM" THAT THE ENGINEERS OF BOTH CORPORATIONS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY KNOWINGLY SELL A PRODUCT THAT IS EXPECTED TO FAIL. SINCE MOST OF THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE ELDERLY (RETIRED) AND COMPLACENT, THE COMPANY BANKS ON NOT HEARING FROM THEM. WHEN THEY DO, THE CUSTOMER IS FORCED TO NEGOTIATE REPAIRS. WORKHORSE REPS EXCUSE POOR PERFORMANCE OF SYSTEMS ON THEIR CHASSIS BY STATING THAT IT IS NOT DESIGNED FOR MOTORHOME USE; YET THEY SELL THEIR PRODUCT TO MOTORHOME MANUFACTURERS. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THEIR CUSTOMERS AND FAMILIES BUT EVERYONE SHARING THE ROAD WITH THEIR VEHICLES. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: August 26, 2004 · Filed: January 4, 2005

WHEN BEING SOLD THE BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE LP GAS TANK WAS LEAKING. DEALER HAS SINCE RE[PAIRED THE PROBLEMS. *AK

Incident: November 9, 2003 · Filed: November 10, 2003

THERE IS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF VIBRATION THAT CAUSES THE DASHBOARD TO BOUNCE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT HARD TO READ THE GAUGES. THIS VIBRATION IS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS THE FLOOR. THE VIBRATION IS VERY FATIGUING ON OUR HANDS. *AK ALSO THE UNIT HAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH SWAY IN TURNS AND PASSING OTHER TRUCKS AND CARS. OUR COMMENTS-LET'S TAKE IT FROM THE TOP. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE HEARD MANY OF YOUR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER, SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD. THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS MODEL IS POOR HANDLING IN THE WIND AND WE WOULD SUGGEST BOTH SWAY BAR AND SHOCK UPGRADES. THAT WILL TAME SOME OF THE WANDER. YOU ALSO WILL WANT TO GET YOUR COACH WEIGHED TO BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH WEIGHT ON THE FRONT AXLE. REMEMBER, 1/3 OF THE GW ON THE FRONT AXLE, 2/3S ON THE BACK AXLE. OKAY, NOW ONTO THE VIBRATION. BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT DO NO GOOD IF THE WHEELS ARE OUT OF ROUND, AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD CHASSIS, OR ALSO A POSSIBILITY, THE TIRES ARE OUT OF ROUND. SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK THE RUN-OUT ON THE TIRES. FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE DRIVEN THE FORD CHASSIS SEVERAL TIMES IN TYPE AS AND VIBRATION IS NOT NORMALLY PART OF THE MENU. YOUR CD PLAYER IS ALMOST SURELY SKIPPING DUE TO VIBRATION, IF IT IS AS BAD AS YOU DESCRIBE. UNLESS YOUR DEALER IS A CERTIFIED FORD SERVICE CENTER, WE WOULD TRY WORKING WITH A FORD DEALER THAT ROUTINELY DEALS WITH MOTORHOMES. SOME NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BE NORMAL. IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH. ARE YOU HAVING ANY PROBLEM WITH IT? AGAIN, WHY NOT HAVE FORD CHECK IT RATHER THAN YOU DEALER? AS A FINAL NOTE, YOUR CHASSIS IS WARRANTED BY FORD, WHY DO YOU CARE WHAT YOUR DEALER WANTS? IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT, GET TO SOMEONE THAT CAN!! VIBRATION OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAY BE DANGEROUS. FILE A REPORT WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THANKS FOR WRITING THE STAFF @ MRO