The following blog post documents the recalls affecting the Winnebago Ekko Class C motorhome, built in Forest City, Iowa.

Ekko GE Air Conditioners

NHTSA Campain Number: 24V-662

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 8, 2024.

Winnebago Campain number: 188

Summary

Winnebago has recalled approximately 840 2025 Winnebago View, Navion, and 2024-2025 Ekko recreational vehicles equipped with certain GE air conditioners. The air conditioner soft start device may fail in the impacted vehicles and overheat. An air conditioner soft start device that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Suburban 2 Burner Cooktop Recall

NHTSA Campain Number: 23V-049

Production Dates: MAR 12, 2020 – JAN 30, 2023

Summary

Suburban Manufacturing Company states, “[t]he internal aluminum burner tubes connecting the gas valves to the cooktop burners can fracture from excessive vibration or shock experienced through RV travel.”

Transit Ekko Balmer Recall

NHTSA Campain Number: 23V-234000

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,266

Winnebago Campain number: 174

Summary

Improper wire routing and loose electrical connections can lead to overloaded circuits and damaged equipment, including failure of the auxiliary alternator.

An overloaded circuit, resulting in equipment damage, can increase the fire risk.

Transit Ekko With Generator

NHTSA Campain Number: 23E030000

Summary

Cummins, Inc. (Cummins) is recalling certain Onan QG 2800i, and Onan QG 2800i EVAP generator sets. The fuel hose between the fuel filter and Injection Pump Module (IPM) may not be properly secured, which can cause a gas leak.

Sprinter Ekko Seat Wiring

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V318000

Summary

Ekko Solar Charging System May Melt Fuse July 18, 2024

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V541000

Potential Number of Units Affected 2,193

Summary

The solar charging system was incorrectly designed without sufficient over-current protection, which can allow the circuit to overheat and melt the fuse.

Mercedes Sprinter Rear Axle U-bolts

NHTSA Recall Number: 24V517

Recall Status Recall Incomplete, a remedy not yet available (As of 7/28/2024)

Summary

Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain Sprinter (907 platform) vehicles, the material properties of the spring U-bolts might not meet current specifications. The rear axle spring U-bolts may not have undergone hardness treatment, which could result in insufficient preload force for the U-bolts . This could cause a progressive tilt of the rear axle when subject to sufficient force or in certain driving situations. In this event, the guidance of the vehicle might be impaired, which could increase the risk of a crash. As a precautionary measure, Mercedes-Benz AG, via its Mercedes-Benz service partners, will replace the spring U-bolts on the affected vehicles.

I have been interested in the Ekko layout since they first came out, but I was happy with the Northern Lite pickup camper and Ford F350 truck combination I purchased in 2019. That said, having a camper with direct access to the living space that did not require 30 AMP AC power to run the Air Conditioner (AC) was a feature I desired. I have been following the Winnebago Ekko since its release, as it has many of the features of the Northern Lite that I enjoyed;

• Better than average insulation
• No slideouts
• Four seasons camper, water systems inside

With the ongoing issues with the Balmer charger of the Ford Transit-based Ekko and the propane cooktop, I waited for a new model that resolved these items. The Mercedes Sprinter Ekko resolved these issues and more. I ordered the Ekko from an out-of-state dealership and requested that I pick it up from the Winnebago Factory Service Center. At the end of June, I was told that the Ekko had been delivered to the dealer. I worked with another salesperson and decided to cancel the first Ekko and reorder with the delivery once again scheduled for the Winnebago Factory Service Center in Forest City, Iowa. I plan on calling my Ekko ‘Do-Over.’

On June 19, 2024, I traveled to Forest City, IA, to inspect the Ekko. We stayed overnight in the campground next to the service center. In the morning, I brought the list of findings to the service desk. I was considered a walk-in customer and was provided a form to list up to 7 items for repair. While my list of issues exceeded 7, I could categorize most of the findings to the required 7. The identified problems were resolved early in the afternoon.

As of this post, I have inspected over a dozen Ekkos, both the Ford Transit and the Mercedes Sprinter-based models. As an Ekko owner following Facebook Winnebago Ekko groups, I am uniquely qualified to perform detailed inspections of Winnebago Ekkos. The inspection report for my Ekko can be found here ->

Winnebago Ekko Recalls

By Wayne K.

Intro

The RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) full-time inspectors promote the enhancement of safety by monitoring adherence to the standards adopted by the Board of Directors for the construction of RVs and Park Model RVs. The team conducts more than 2,000 unannounced inspections of member company RV manufacturing plants annually and provides educational resources and hands-on training to manufacturer members to support their commitment to comply with these adopted codes and standards.

The RVIA seal is found on most recreational vehicles (RV) built by the major manufactures in the United States. The RV Industry Association (RVIA) represents over 450 manufactures and component and aftermarket suppliers who together produce 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States.

An NRVIA inspection is based on the NFPA 1192 requirements and is a visual inspection to verify functional operation of the equipment on a Recreational Vehicle (RV) as well as to check the manufactures compliance to the NFPA 1192 requirements.

In addition to following NFPA 1192 guidelines, RVIA manufacturers must pay high membership dues, own a dedicated manufacturing facility, provide a state vehicle manufacturing license, and submit to four random in-person facility inspections per year. These rules make it impossible for a DIY builder or small manufacturer to obtain an RVIA seal – which is exactly what the RVIA intends:

“The association works with federal and state lawmakers and regulators to pursue a favorable business environment for its members…”

Due to the RVIA there are some RV parks that will not allow a camper that does not have a RVIA seal on the coach.

By Wayne K.

COVID’s affect on RV Production

The last few years have brought changes to the RV market place with COVID-19 affecting this market like many others. Initially RVs were purchased to allow people and families to get out and feel safe. These purchases cleared out dealership lots. COVID-19 has also affected the manufactures; shutting them down for a time and then the supply chain shortages and issues maintaining and hiring qualified personal have affected RV production. The RVIA indicates that “total RV shipments ended the month with 49,135 units, a new record for the month of November 2021 and an increase of 15.6% compared to the 42,513 units shipped during November 2020, the previous record for November. Year to date, 559,743 RVs have been produced, the most RVs ever built in a single year (2021).”

A blogging couple, the Morton’s, indicated that 2021 is not a good year to buy an RV.

Unlike automobiles that are built in automated factories, RV are for the most part handle built. The quality of the new RV is dependent on materials being used and the personal that are responsible for building out the RV.

While the RV manufactures have quality checks at the end of the production process and the dealerships do PDI’s it is clear from doing inspections of new RV’s in 2021 that the factory and dealers are not able to find all of the equipment and production defects.

New Class A Diesel Pusher

I recently inspected a prospective customer’s 2022 Class A Diesel pusher motorhome that had a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) complete sticker in the windshield of the coach. There were 26 Major issues identified on this new coach! The Life Safety issues found were low tire pressure and Emergency Windows that required excessive force to open.

Social Media Post

“What a mess! First trip in our brand new 2022 RED 33AA. On the first cold night we fired up our Aqua-Hot furnace. Middle of the night a strange odor, next morning find much fluid dripping on the pad under passenger side slide out. Oily fishy smell…antifreeze!! Aqua-Hot shut down with low fluid reading. Called selling dealer, LazyDays in Tampa to see if they could get in to see the local LazyDays dealer. They would check but said most likely it would be next month!! Never called back. To shorten this read Aqua-Hot gave us the name of a certified local mobile tech who arrived an hour later. After dismantling the under sink cabinets he found the tube leading to the heat exchanger NEVER had a clamp put on the connection. A gallon and half of oily smelling antifreeze pink solution under cabinets and soaked into the carpet. Two hours later and $958 we have the system up and running. Now what to do with the ruined smelly carpet? He also found the three heat exchangers under cabinets were never wired up. Suspect a trip to Red Bay is in our future. Just a small oversight during installation caused this major inconvenience. Anyway Merry Christmas to all, and if this is the worst thing we have to deal with, Life is Good.”* This story was edited to remove personal details.

By Wayne K.

Pre-Delivery Inspection (performed by dealership personnel)

A Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) is typically performed on a new or used RV when purchasing from a dealer. Dealers pass on the charge for the PDI service via the sales department. Since it may be internally charged, the hourly rate that the service department gets may be significantly lower than warranty or customer repair work. 

Most new RV’s arrive at the dealership with a few issues due to manufacturing oversites or damages that occur during transit from the manufacturer to the RV dealership. The new RV is really put to the test when it is transported from the RV manufacturer to the RV dealership.

The initial transport trip may bring out issues with cabinet doors, drawers, and trim moldings. These defects are easily seen upon inspection. Other issues like slideout seals, plumbing and wiring may not be evident without close inspection of the coach.

The PDI is performed by an employee at the participating dealership using a short checklist (50 to 130 items) to make sure systems are functioning properly. After the PDI and before that customer arrives to finalize the purchase of the RV, it is cleaned and cosmetic issues are repaired.

RV Dealership Service departments are too over booked on repairs to take RV’s from other dealerships. Due to many dealerships being short staffed it is critical if purchasing an RV from an out of state dealership to have the RV inspected before purchasing. The employee doing the inspection on your new RV only has a short window of time to complete the PDI.

The time that a dealer will spend on a PDI very much depends on the dealership and the employee given the task of inspecting a coach. A PDI at a dealership can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes to complete. A more thorough inspection, such as one done by a certified RV inspector can take anywhere from 6-12 hours, depending on the age, make, and model of the RV. Issues may be identified that are beyond the scope of a typical dealer-provided pre-delivery inspection.

Some dealers are hesitant to facilitate a 3rd party RV inspection. Some questions that should be raised if the dealer takes this approach could be;

1. If the manufacturer’s quality is 100% then why is a PDI needed? Ask to see the PDI inspection list. Does the dealer get on the roof and look at all of the sealant joints?
2. If the RV manufacturer is making a quality product why is it that most RV manufacturers only provide a 1 year warranty?

Private party versus Dealership Purchase of a used RV

Similar to buying from a dealership, buying from a private party also presents risks. Private sellers may not be aware of issues or may not convey issues that are know. Many used private coaches do not have maintenance documentation available to understand the history of the coach and the problems that have occurred.
Be aware that all RV coaches will need constant maintenance, and that all RV’s will need repairs as they age.

Independent NRVIA Inspection (performed by a Certified Inspector)

A NRVIA Certified Inspector will use the same inspection software many home inspectors use. After completing an RV inspection, they will use this software to generate a professional report with photos.
As a NRVIA Certified Inspector and RVIA Certified Technician Level 2, I am trained to provide the most advanced and thorough inspections in the industry.
NRVIA inspections have 600 to 750 items depending on the type of coach being inspected, from travel trailers, 5th wheels to large Class A diesel pusher Motorhomes. The inspection report will provide you with a list of issues that should be addressed before you sign on the dotted line along with photos to help identify the problems.
An NRVIA Certified Inspection will take 6 to 12 hours on site testing and checking. It will take another 2 to 3 hours to complete the comprehensive 50 plus page report which is viewable online as well as downloadable.

	Dealership PDI	NRVIA Inspection
Inspectable Items	60 to 130	600 to 750
Time spent on Inspection	< 4 hours	6 – 12 hours
Report Available	Rarely	+50 page report with photos
Problems found shared with customer	No	Yes
Certified Inspector	No	Yes – NRVIA
Independent Inspection	No	Yes