2002 Winnebago Brave recalls and problems

The 2002 Winnebago Brave has 5 recalls and 16 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2002 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 6 Brave model years — the most of any year.

5recalls

16complaints

0crashes

3fires

0injuries

28,796median 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.

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5 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> .

Equipment

Jul 29, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V300000 · 1,547 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Fuel System

Apr 8, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V113000 · 2,331 vehicles

Problem: Winnebago is recalling 2,331 my 2002-2004 brave and Itasca sunrise my 2005 2006 Winnebago voyage, adventurer, Itasca sunrise and suncruiser motor homes. The propane tank mounting bracket May have an incomplete or improper weld.

Original NHTSA wording

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 2,331 MY 2002-2004 BRAVE AND ITASCA SUNRISE MY 2005 2006 WINNEBAGO VOYAGE, ADVENTURER, ITASCA SUNRISE AND SUNCRUISER MOTOR HOMES. THE PROPANE TANK MOUNTING BRACKET MAY HAVE AN INCOMPLETE OR IMPROPER WELD.

Risk: Should the weld fail, the propane tank can tip or fall, possibly releasing propane which has the potential to ignitea fire, resulting in personal injury and/or vehicle and property damage.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE WELD FAIL, THE PROPANE TANK CAN TIP OR FALL, POSSIBLY RELEASING PROPANE WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IGNITEA FIRE, RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and properly weld the bracket free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during May 2009. Owners May contact Winnebago at 800-537-1885.

Winnebago recall no. 112.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> .

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

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 800-932-3837 or Winnebago at 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).

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).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Unknown or other1

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

Complaints by year filed

2002 vs. other Winnebago Brave years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 Winnebago Brave have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Winnebago Brave, 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 2002 Winnebago Brave?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (4), equipment (3), service brakes (3). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.