2003 Itasca Sunova recalls and problems

The 2003 Itasca Sunova has 7 recalls and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2003 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 9 Sunova model years — the most of any year.

7recalls

4complaints

0crashes

1fires

0injuries

9,800median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

7 recalls

Equipment

Oct 26, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V525000 · 18,461 vehicles

Problem: Winnebago is recalling certain recreational vehicles equipped with 1200-SERIES norcold refrigerators. The population of refrigerators being addressed contains either a sensing algorithm or thermal switch to shut off power to the refrigerator when high temperatures are detected in order to prevent a potential fire. The response times of the sensor algorithm and thermal switch devices to stop power are not sufficient.

Original NHTSA wording

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Risk: The sensing algorithm or thermal switch installed to shut off power to the refrigerator when high temperatures are detected due to a possible hydrogen gas leak May not shut off in sufficient time to prevent a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Winnebago is working with norcold to identify and notify any affected owners. Owners will be instructed to contact norcold dealers to receive the remedy free of charge. Please see norcold's defect report 10E-049 for additional information. The recall began during December 2010. Owners May contact norcold at 1-800-767-9101 or Winnebago at 1-641-585-3535.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Fuel System

Dec 22, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V609000 · 3,538 vehicles

Problem: On certain motor homes built on a 20,700 GVWR or greater Workhorse chassis, there May not be sufficient clearance in the area where the fuel line crosses the frame cross member.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A 20,700 GVWR OR GREATER WORKHORSE CHASSIS, THERE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE IN THE AREA WHERE THE FUEL LINE CROSSES THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER.

Risk: Without clearance, a condition could develop where the cross member May wear into the fuel line and a fuel leak May develop. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

WITHOUT CLEARANCE, A CONDITION COULD DEVELOP WHERE THE CROSS MEMBER MAY WEAR INTO THE FUEL LINE AND A FUEL LEAK MAY DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will repair these motor homes by providing clearance between the fuel line and frame cross member. The fuel line will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced. The recall began January 7, 2005. Owners should contact Winnebago at 1-800-537-1885.

Winnebago recall no. 93. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Equipment

Jul 19, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V358000 · 5,645 vehicles

Problem: On certain motor homes equipped with samsung microwave ovens, models MR1031WB, MR1032BB, MR1033SB, MR1351WB, and MR1352BB, the microwaves were produced with a defective panel. An electrical short can occur between circuit patterns on the membrane panel, especially overlapped by a "jumper" or jump wire. This May cause the oven to activate without pressing any key pads.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, MODELS MR1031WB, MR1032BB, MR1033SB, MR1351WB, AND MR1352BB, THE MICROWAVES WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.

Risk: An electrical short can occur causing the oven to activate without pressing any key pads. This could result in excessive heat, smoke, or possibly a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Samsung will notify customers and repair the panel free of charge. In the meantime, consumers should unplug their microwave, if possible. If the consumer is unable to unplug the microwave, they should leave the door ajar until the panel is replaced. Consumers should never use the microwave oven for storage or leave any towels, paper, cloth or other products in the microwave after use. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact samsung at 1-800-932-3837 or Winnebago at 1-641-585-3535.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Equipment

Oct 16, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V405000 · 15,337 vehicles

Problem: On certain motor homes equipped with samsung microwave ovens, these units were produced with a defective panel. An electrical short can occur between circuit patterns on the membrane panel, especially overlapped by a "jumper" or jump wire. This May cause the oven to activate without pressing any key pads.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, THESE UNITS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.

Risk: An electrical short can occur causing the oven to activate without pressing any key pads. This could result in excessive heat, smoke, or possibly a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Equipment

Jul 8, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V243000 · 2,684 vehicles

Problem: On certain motor homes, when the cooking range and furnace are operating at the same time, the flame on the cooking range could be forced downward over the burner or flame outage could occur. This condition is due to the location of the furnace and cooking range whereby the furnace May draw air in from above the range burners and cause a downdraft.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, WHEN THE COOKING RANGE AND FURNACE ARE OPERATING AT THE SAME TIME, THE FLAME ON THE COOKING RANGE COULD BE FORCED DOWNWARD OVER THE BURNER OR FLAME OUTAGE COULD OCCUR. THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FURNACE AND COOKING RANGE WHEREBY THE FURNACE MAY DRAW AIR IN FROM ABOVE THE RANGE BURNERS AND CAUSE A DOWNDRAFT.

Risk: Should this occur, the flame May go out, and the liquid propane (lp) gas will continue to flow. This is a hazardous situation that could result in an explosion or fire.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE FLAME MAY GO OUT, AND THE LIQUID PROPANE (LP) GAS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install an air restrictor panel under the range. Owner notification began July 10, 2003. Owners should contact Winnebago at 1-641-585-6939.

Winnebago recall no. 89.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Feb 21, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V060000 · 8,532 vehicles

Problem: Certain motor home chassis fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105,"hydraulic and electric brake systems." the brake system warning indicator May not function as required by the standard.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105,"HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Risk: In some of the affected vehicles, the brake system warning indicator will not illuminate when the ignition is in the start position or for a low brake fluid condition, if the body builder relied solely upon Ford's ivm compliance statement for the system warning indicator.

Original NHTSA wording

IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will repair these vehicles. Owner notification began April 25, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Winnebago at 1-641-585-3535.

Winnebago recall no. 88.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Tires

Feb 20, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V049000 · 176 vehicles

Problem: On certain model D30B motor homes built on a Ford chassis, a plate, which is used to support the spare tire, was inadvertently left off a number of these motor homes.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MODEL D30B MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A FORD CHASSIS, A PLATE, WHICH IS USED TO SUPPORT THE SPARE TIRE, WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OFF A NUMBER OF THESE MOTOR HOMES.

Risk: Without this additional support, the spare tire could fall off the vehicle resulting in property damage and possibly personal injury.

Original NHTSA wording

WITHOUT THIS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, THE SPARE TIRE COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the spare tire mount and, if necessary, install a new support plate. Owner notification is expected to begin during March 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Winnebago at 1-641-585-6939.

Winnebago recall no. 87. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Electrical System3

Service Brakes2

Latches/locks/linkages1

Parking Brake1

Tires1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2003 vs. other Itasca Sunova years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Itasca Sunova have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Itasca Sunova, the latest from Oct 26, 2010 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Itasca Sunova?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (3), service brakes (2), latches/locks/linkages (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.