2006 ITASCA NAVION — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I RESPONDED TO A RECALL NOTICE (S91) ABS BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS DONE AS A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER ON MY SPRINTER MOTOR HOME. THE WORK WAS DONE BY ARRIGO DODGE.. HOWEVER, THE NEXT TIME I USED THE MOTOR HOME, THE ABS BREAK SYSTEM FAILED (WHILE EVACUATING HURRICANE IRMA) THUS CAUSING THE MOTOR HOME TO GET STUCK IN 2ND GEAR WITH NO ABS BRAKES.. THE TOTAL BILL FOR PARTS AND LABOR WAS $5,054.26. THE GRAND TOTAL WAS $7678.49 AFTER ALL OTHER EXPENSES. AT THIS TIME, THE MOTOR HOME DOES NOT HAVE A WORKING ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR PEOPLE ADVISED ME THAT IF I PUT THE UPDATED SOFTWARE INTO THE NEW COMPUTER, THERE IS A 1 IN 3 CHANCE IT WOULD BLOW OUT THE COMPUTER AGAIN. MY MECHANIC STATED, IN WRITING, THAT THE REPAIR WAS DIRECTLY CAUSED BY UPDATE. AFTER SPEAKING TO JOHN ARRIGO AND ADVISING HIM OF PROBLEM, MR. ARRIGO DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. HE REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR MAKE GOOD. MR. ARRIGO STATED HE DID NOT WRITE THE FAULTY SOFTWARE AND THEREFORE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. THIS ATTITUDE PRESENTS AS UNPROFESSIONAL AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DANGER FOR CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC. ALL OTHER COMPANY'S CONTACTED REFUSED RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING DEALERS AND ALL PARTS MANUFACTURES OF THE MOTORHOME.

THIS WAS THE THIRD TURBO FAILURE SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THIS RV VEHICLE: 2006 ITASCA NAVION, WITH THE DODGE/MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN SEPT. , '05, ABOUT 1 1/2 MONTHS AFTER OUR PURCHASE. THE SECOND WAS IN AUGUST, '06. EACH TIME, IT LOST POWER SUDDENLY, WHILE WE WERE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DECREASING OUR SPEED IMMEDIATELY TO APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH IF ON A DOWNHILL OR STRAIGHT ROAD. IT HAD NO POWER TO CLIMB EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE. EACH TIME, THE RESONATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE MET OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. ALL HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THIS MOTOR WAS A POOR DESIGN; THAT WE COULD PURCHASE AND CARRY A SPARE RESONATOR WITH US FOR FUTURE FAILURES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WILL CERTAINLY NOT KEEP US SAFE ON THE ROADS. *TR

CRACKED TURBO RESONATOR TUBE RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" RESULTING IN VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND SPEED BELOW POSTED MINIMUM ON UPHILL EXPRESSWAY GRADES. *TR

CRACKED TURBO RESONATOR TUBE RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" RESULTING IN VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND SPEED BELOW POSTED MINIMUMS, PARTICULARLY ON UPHILL EXPRESSWAY GRADES. *TR

THE TURBO RESONATOR/MANIFOLD OF MY ITASCA NAVION MOTORHOME FAILED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC RESONATOR PART. WHEN THEFAILURE OCCURS (RANDOMLY) THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER MAY PLACE THE MOVING VEHICLE IN DANGER OF BEING REAR ENDED OR HEAD ON COLLISION IF IN THE ACT PF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THIS FAILURE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET AT "TOPIX" AND "DODGE FORUM". I AM UNABLE TO GET ANY SUPPORT OR HELP FROM THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER (WINNEBAGO ITASCA) OR FROM DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE FAILURE IS EPIDEMIC AND BECOMING A HAZARD UNLESS A FIX IS DESIGNED TO RETROFIT THIS FAILING PART. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT ACTIONS I CAN TAKE AS A CONSUMER AND WHAT ACTIONS IF ANY THAT THE NHTSA CAN TAKE. THANKYOU *TR