NHTSA Complaint #11555144 — 2022 WINNEBAGO EKKO

After numerous prior repairs & recalls related to the Balmar Aux. charging system installed in our Ekko model RV by Winnebago, we again returned to the factory service center for the second time this year to have the latest recall, NHTSA 23V-234 WGO Recall 174 completed. After the third day in the shop for the Balmar recall & other repairs the vehicle was returned to me. The tech advised me that 1 lithium battery from the dual set had to be replaced. After a quick visual inspection in the tech’s presence I pointed out several workmanship issues that required the coach to go back into the shop to correct before shop closing. That evening I drove the coach onto blocking to visually inspect their unseen work. I found several issues including a loose terminal connection of a high current 3/0 B+ battery cable at the newly installed alternator and an unsecured cable bundle dangling under the engine. I informed the service supervisor of my findings via email that evening & the next morning our coach was again taken into the shop for further recall corrections. That afternoon WGO insisted that I inspect the coach before they released it back to me for the third time. The coach was on the ground limiting my abilities so I accepted the vehicle with their assurance of a job done right. I next discover since the recall & one battery replacement, the batteries discharge at an uneven rate. After my emailing Lithionics it was decided to have WGO recharge each battery individually to try to balance the chemistry. That required a weekend stay & on Monday the tech completed the request. After returning the coach to me for the fourth time, I asked if he verified the batteries operation, he said he had not & we left in disbelief. Now, while discharge testing at about 1.9kw on our 2kw inverter the old batt discharge is 101A, the new is 50A, which is a serious problem. WGO tells me to go the local dealer which is no option. Looked like a good upgrade just very poor execution