NHTSA Complaint #11628103 — 2021 WINNEBAGO EKKO

SUDDEN LOUD WHINE VARYING WITH ENGINE SPEED, COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, TRACED TO SECONDARY BALMAR ALTERNATOR. ALTERNATOR WAS EXTREMELY HOT, WE SHUT ENGINE OFF AND ELECTRICALLY DISCONNECTED ALTERNATOR. WE KNEW TO DO THIS BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE POSTED THIS INFORMATION, SOME HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THIS WAS CLOSE TO COMBUSTING AS WELL. NO NOISE IS PRESENT WHEN ELECTRICALLY DISCONNECTED, BUT NOISE RESUMES IF CONNECTED AND LOAD PLACED ON ALTERNATOR. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF WINNEBAGO PRIOR RECALL 174 (WHICH WAS PERFORMED IN 2024). WE BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS ALTERNATOR CONNECTED, THAT IT WILL RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.