Rialta Rialta 1999
Model Rialta made in 1999 by Rialta got 17 consumer complains, 1 investigation there is 1 recall as well as 3 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electrical system, engine and engine cooling and equipment. Technical service bulletines regarding engine and engine cooling. The car had one investigation (engine and engine cooling). There was one recall concerning engine and engine cooling .
Model 1999
Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | ||||||||||||||||
| 04V107000 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. | from 03/31/1998 to 06/05/2001 | V (Vehicle) | 2563 | 04/05/2004 | ODI | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. | 03/04/2004 | 03/11/2004 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | On certain motorhomes built on volkswagen eurovan chassis, the engine cooling fans could fracture and break apart. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | If the fan fractures or breaks this could increase the risk of personal injury or damage to the vehicle. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace the engine cooling fans using a cradle assembly. owner notification is expected to begin during march or april 2004. owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987 or winnebago at 641-585-3535. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Vw recall no. wb.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 0402 | 04/15/2004 | 10007297 | Radiator fan damaged caused by improperly supporting the radiator assembly when repairs require the radiator to be pivoted forward. *tt | 06/09/2004 | |
| 0401 | 02/06/2004 | 10006055 | Radiator fan damaged caused by improperly supporting the radiator assembly when repairs require the radiator to be tipped forward. *tt | 04/13/2004 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 7SB0010201A | 02/22/2002 | 632447 | Subject regarding volkswagen eurovan chassis oil filter access improvement. *tt | 07/16/2002 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | ||||||
| EA03013 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. | 08/13/2003 | 03/11/2004 | ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FAILURE | 04V107000 | |
| The subject vehicles are equipped with two electronic cooling fans located in the engine compartment immediately behind the engine radiator.the rialta motorhome is built on a vw eurovan incomplete chassis and shares the same engine and engine cooling fans as the eurovan.data indicates that the cooling fan blades fail predominately on rialta vehicles in model years (my) 1998 through 2000.these vehicles account for 77 percent of the warranty, field and consumer reports for all my 1996-2003 rialta vehicles.although the eurovan has the same cooling fans as the rialta, it accounts for only 17 percent of the total eurovan and rialta reports.in its february 11, 2004 defect report, vw stated, the affected winnebago rialta vehicles differ from volkswagen eurovan vehicles that use the same component due to a substantially increased duty cycle of the cooling fan and service methods that may affect the cooling fan.rialta vehicles are larger and approximately 1,700 pounds heavier than eurovan vehicles, and therefore the cooling fan can see increased duty cycles in severe operating conditions such as driving in high ambient temperatures or in steep mountainous areas.accordingly, vw will conduct a safety recall on the 1998-2000 rialta population to replace the cooling fans.the cooling fans in my 1996 and 1997 are a different design with a smaller fan motor and blade.in model year 2001 the engine size was increased from 140 hp to 204 hp in both vehicles.the larger engine reduces the duty cycle of the cooling fan in severe operating conditions.vw will also send to owners a warning label to affix to all rialta and eurovan vehicles.the label advises technicians to be careful not to apply force on the cooling fans while servicing these vehicles.vw will recall 2,563 my 1998-2000 rialta vehicles.odi is aware of a total of 138 warranty, field and consumer reports for these vehicles.the recall is identified by nhtsa number 04v-107. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 10/01/2000 | 4000 | 2 | 06/01/1999 |
| Water system line failure due to incorrect routing of various lines in engine compartment led to loss of coolant. local volkswagen dealer unable to fix problem. returned to mn and after two tries finally had problem fixed. starter positive side electrical was rubbed through and shorted out causing the cable to weld itself to the case ruining the starter and the solenoid. the failure happened when parked but could have occurred on i35 the evening before at 65 mph in heavy traffic. mfg. volkswagen both deny any problem exist. *ts *jb ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis***761427 | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||
| 04/16/2004 | |||
| Consumer received a recall letter on the cooling fan. dealers refused to honor the recall letter, indicating they didn't have the facilities to perform recall repairs. manufacturer suggested to drive the vehicle 260 miles away from home for recall repairs. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 04/28/2000 | |||
| While driving vehicle stalled out and died without warning. dealer has inspected vehicle. *ak | |||
| EQUIPMENT - RECREATIONAL VEHICLE | |||
| 1 | 10/12/1999 | ||
| Consumers have experienced a serious design defect wherein the sanitary sewer dumpchute is positioned midway between the front and rear wheel, as a result when the vehicle goes over any high spot in the road or surface the dumpchute strikes the road or ground causing damage with the odvious potential of dumping human waste onto public highways, campgrounds and wilderness areas (attorney for client). nlm | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/16/2003 | 27000 | 1 | 02/22/2002 |
| The consumer was able to remove the key from the ignition switch, when the vehicle was not in park. *jb *sc *jb | |||
| 01/22/2002 | 3 | ||
| Transmission locks up in low gear. transmission is able to shift if vehicle jerks and engine would race. have taken to dealer three times, but was not able to duplicate. problem is getting worse. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 04/15/2004 | 15000 | 3 | 10/15/2000 |
| Dt: caller has a mini motor with home front wheel drive. the rear wheel axles bent causing the tires to wear on the inside. the consumer could see the metal beading on the tire. after approx 15,000 miles the consumer had to put new tires on. this made the third set of new tires since the vehicle was purchased. the outside of the tires looked new. *nm *nm | |||
| 08/10/2004 | 28000 | 2 | 05/12/1999 |
| Rear axle bending due to insufient capacity. this resulted in sudden tyre failure. vehicle now unuseable on advice of tyre dealer and alignment shop on safety concearns. axle breakage a probabilaty, more tyre failure a certainty. many simular cases reported, two axle failures reported.*ak | |||
| 08/10/2004 | 27332 | 2 | 05/10/1999 |
| Rear axles on some winnebogo rialta motorhomes are grossly overloaded leading to sudden, premature trye failure. two cases of axle breaking resulting in wheel coming off.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | |||
| 1 | |||
| The abs system and the edl(electronic differential lock) were removed from the vehicle prior to the vehicle being purchased, winnebago stated that vw was responsible for the abs and edl omission, the removal of these two systems makes it difficult for the vehicle to manuver a slight uphill grade on wet grass. nlm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 1 | |||
| The abs system and the edl(electronic differential lock) were removed from the vehicle prior to the vehicle being purchased, winnebago stated that vw was responsible for the abs and edl omission, the removal of these two systems makes it difficult for the vehicle to manuver a slight uphill grade on wet grass. nlm | |||
| 1 | 06/02/1999 | ||
| The motor home does not come with the abs system, in removing the abs system they disabled the electronic differnetial lock (edl) as it is operated from the abs system, the edl system is critical for the operation of the vehicle, this design is poor for operation of the vehicle. *mjs | |||
| STEERING | |||
| Steering becomes difficult when driving on uneven roads. dealer realizes problem, but has no solution. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - AXLE - NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/01/2004 | 28000 | 1 | |
| 1999 winnebago rialta tire failure.*mr the continental tires failed because the non drive rear axle tubular axle flexed. this design caused both tires to wear o the inner edge of the tread. both rear tires separated and made noise which caused the consumer to stop the vehicle. two tire and alignment shop expert told the consumer that the vehicle should not be driven until the axle is changed or modified. *nm | |||
| TIRES | |||
| 09/14/2001 | 3 | 03/20/1999 | |
| Left and right continental tires, 195/70r15c, cupped and caused thumping, while driving, another tire went flat, consumer had trouble finding a dealer to service the vehicle and had trouble replacing the tires, consumer is also concerned that the front tires are 195/70r15 and the back tires are 215/70r15, it states in the manual to have the tires different sizes. *yh | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | |||
| 01/22/2002 | 3 | ||
| Transmission locks up in low gear. transmission is able to shift if vehicle jerks and engine would race. have taken to dealer three times, but was not able to duplicate. problem is getting worse. *ak | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IA | FOREST CITY | 50436 | LICHTSINN MOTORS | 515 582 3213 |
| OH | WASSIAN | EXICUATIVE TRAILOR |