The defect
WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 1,547 MODEL YEAR 2001-2003 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 1, 2001 TO DECEMBER 31, 2002, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.
The risk
IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 09E-027). OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Itasca Horizon | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Itasca Suncruiser | 2003 |
| Itasca Sunflyer | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Itasca Sunrise | 2002, 2003 |
| Winnebago Adventurer | 2001, 2003 |
| Winnebago Brave | 2002, 2003 |
| Winnebago Chieftain | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Winnebago Journey | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Winnebago Journey DL | 2002, 2003 |
| Winnebago Ultimate Advantage | 2002, 2003 |
| Winnebago Ultimate Freedom | 2002, 2003 |
Components: EQUIPMENT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itasca Horizon | 2001 | 1 | 6 |
| Itasca Horizon | 2002 | 0 | 5 |
| Itasca Horizon | 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Itasca Suncruiser | 2003 | 4 | 5 |
| Itasca Sunflyer | 2001 | 1 | 3 |
| Itasca Sunflyer | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Itasca Sunflyer | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Itasca Sunrise | 2002 | 1 | 5 |
| Itasca Sunrise | 2003 | 3 | 6 |
| Winnebago Adventurer | 2001 | 14 | 6 |
| Winnebago Adventurer | 2003 | 16 | 5 |
| Winnebago Brave | 2002 | 16 | 5 |
| Winnebago Brave | 2003 | 12 | 6 |
| Winnebago Chieftain | 2001 | 0 | 4 |
| Winnebago Chieftain | 2002 | 1 | 2 |
| Winnebago Chieftain | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Winnebago Journey | 2001 | 2 | 4 |
| Winnebago Journey | 2002 | 1 | 3 |
| Winnebago Journey | 2003 | 5 | 4 |
| Winnebago Journey DL | 2002 | 6 | 3 |
| Winnebago Journey DL | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Winnebago Ultimate Advantage | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Winnebago Ultimate Advantage | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Winnebago Ultimate Freedom | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Winnebago Ultimate Freedom | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
Other equipment recalls in 2009
89 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the equipment; WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. filed 125 campaigns in all.
| 09V495000 29 Dec 2009 | NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 09V492000 23 Dec 2009 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 09V486000 22 Dec 2009 | FLEETWOOD RV, INC. |
| 09V480000 17 Dec 2009 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 09V474000 15 Dec 2009 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V469000 4 Dec 2009 | ALUMA TOWER COMPANY, INC |
| 09V465000 2 Dec 2009 | BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO. |
| 09V452000 24 Nov 2009 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009