2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY SOFT AND HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MELTED ON THE BACKING PLATE OF THE FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500. UPDATED 09/06/16*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL. WHILE REVERSING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CALIPERS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WERE STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THE ABS SENSOR WAS ALSO MELTED AND DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ABS SENSOR ASSEMBLY, AND THE CALIPER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V186000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 33D. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE SHIFTED TO THIRD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,389. *TR

PREPARING TO GO CAMPING, I STARTED MY WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER AND POSITIONED IT TO ATTACH MY TOWED VEHICLE. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AT THAT POINT. AFTER COMPLETING THE HITCHING PROCEDURE, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY RV. IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL TRUCK DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND "THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ONE CONNECTOR WAS BURNT." THEY CALLED WINNEBAGO AND "FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN UPDATE RELAY HARNESS FOR THIS PROBLEM" WHICH THEY ORDERED AN INSTALLED. ALTHOUGH THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM (OTHERWISE WHY AN UPDATED KIT), THE SERVICE REP I THEN CONTACTED AT WINNEBAGO, CLAIMED TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR ADVISORY BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. I DID SOME RUDIMENTARY SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND AT LEAST 2 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS RE THIS SAME PROBLEM, ONE OF WHICH WAS ON A 2005 SIGHTSEER. I IN THOSE INCIDENTS IT SEEMS THAT THE SWITCH SHORTED OUT WHILE THE RIGS WERE UNDERWAY, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME. HOWEVER THE TOWING, LABOR AND PARTS CHARGE CAME TO OVER $1000, MUCH OF THE LABOR COST DUE TO THE TIME INVOLVED IN DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. THE WINNEBAGO SERVICE REP MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED WINNEBAGO SOONER, THE IMPLICATION BEING THAT WINNEBAGO KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS AGAIN BRINGS UP THE QUESTION WHY NO RECALL OR ADVISORY BULLETIN TO OWNERS? I HAVE THE DAMAGED SWITCH AND CONNECTOR IN MY POSSESSION AND HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THEM AS WELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2008. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,500. UPDATED 11/06/07 *TR