Model year record

2004 Winnebago Brave recalls & problems

The 2004 Winnebago Brave has 5 safety recalls and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (4 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints7filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

EquipmentOct 26, 2010

Equipment

Recall 10V52500018,461 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.
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.
Fix: 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.

Fuel system, dieselApr 8, 2009

Storage › Tank assembly

Recall 09V1130002,331 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.
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.
Fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasolineDec 22, 2004

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 04V6090003,538 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.
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.
Fix: 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.

Seat beltsDec 18, 2004

Front › Buckle assembly

Recall 04V6080006,201 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON SOME MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOAD REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Risk: THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY UNLATCH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AMSAFE AT 1-574-266-8330 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-800-537-1885.

EquipmentOct 16, 2003

Recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 03V40500015,337 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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.
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.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulic	4	0	29,850 mi
Service brakes	3	1	29,000 mi
Suspension	1	0	—
Parking brake	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakesFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO BRAVE WORKHORSE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CALIBERS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CABLES WERE MELTED AND THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
Dec 24, 2017 · 29,000 miles
Service brakes
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE AUTOPARK PRESSURE SWITCH HAS FAILED AND LEFT US STRANDED FOR A TOTAL OF 10 DAYS WHILE THIS PART {KNOWN AS "THE ROTTEN GREEN SWITCH"} WAS ORDERED. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME ON 7/6/2009 THE REPAIR BILL TOTALED $463.83 IN ANCHORAGE, AL.. MANY OTHER RV OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR RESULTS AS DOCUMENTED IN "MOTORHOME" MAGAZINE. *TR
Jan 6, 2006 · 13,199 miles
Service brakes
TRAVELING NORTH ON I81 NEAR GREENCASTLE,PA. IN INCLEMENT WINTER CONDITIONS AND EXTREMELY ROUGH PAVEMENT ,THE ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC EMERGENCY BRAKE SUDDENLY CAME ON AT 65MPH NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND OF THE BRAKE ENGAGING THE DRIVESHAFT AND SMELLED HOT COMPONENTS. WE LIMPED OFF THE INTERSTATE AD FOUND KEYSTONE RV CENTER WHERE REPAIR/INSPECTION WAS PERORMED FOR $366.72. ADDITIONAL WORK WAS LATER PERFORMED AT FURTHER COST. *TR
Jan 13, 2012 · 54,134 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO BRAVE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE AUTO PARK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT IF THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD MOST LIKELY LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,700. THE HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR STARTED LEAKING UPDATED 12/30/10
Aug 19, 2010 · 48,700 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
I HAVE A 2004 WINNEBAGO THAT IS PART OF THE RECALL FOR HYDRAULIC BRAKES, RECALL 09V110000. THIS RECALL IS DUE TO "PISTON EXPANSION" IN THE CALIPER THAT CAUSE THE BRAKE PAD TO LOCK UP AND CREATE EXCESSIVE HEAT. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH WORKHORSE ON THIS MATTER AND I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE ON DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND I HAVE PAID OUT-OF-POCKET FOR REPAIRS WHICH INVOLVED ABS SENSORS AND WHEEL BEARINGS. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS - WHEN THE PISTON EXPANSION OCCURS AND/OR THERE IS EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FAILURE, IS THERE A HIGH PROBABLILTY OF IT OCCURING AGAIN SINCE THE EXPANSION DUE TO MOISTURE HAS ALREADY SWOLLEN…
Nov 3, 2009 · 50,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
2004 WORKHORSECHASSIS(BRAKES). *TR
Dec 27, 2008 · 11,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
I HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED A 2 WEEK TRIP DRIVING APPROX 1800 MILES. WAS TAKING MY MOTORHOME TO A DEALER TO HAVE A ROCK GUARD INSTALLED WHEN IT STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND SHIFTING FUNNY. THIS WAS IN TOWN WITH EASY DRIVING. I QUICKLY NOTICED THE SMELL OF OVERHEATED BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE, PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK. I CARRY AN INFRARED THERMOMETER AND TOOK THE TEMPS OF ALL 4 WHEEL'S DISC BRAKES. THE FRONT RIGHT (PASSENGER) BRAKE WAS READING OVER 400 DEGREES AND THE 3 OTHERS WERE READING IN APPROXIMATELY THE 125 DEGREE RANGE. I SAT FOR A WHILE AND LET IT COOL AND AS I WAS ONLY ABOUT 2 MILES OR SO FROM THE DEALER, I THEN PROCEEDED, AFTER DETERMINING THE BRAKE…
Jul 25, 2008 · 8,272 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.