Windshield Leak

[2-bone]

I am an owner of a previously owned 2004 34D Brave. I have been reasonably satisfied with this M.H. up until now. Yes I have had brake problems with the W2000 workhorse chassis and solenoid leveler problems with the HWH levelers but up until now did not blame Winnebago as a company. That is until I began experience water leakage around the windshield. After doing a windshield water leak search on this forum I discovered that this is a common problem that seems to be inherent in the design. Armed with this info., I took my Brave to a reputable glass installer to have the necessary repairs made. Upon removable of both sides of my windshield it was discovered that both frames had sustained extensive rusting thus causing the water leakage. It was necessary to grind the frame to remove as much rust as possible and then to actually fill in sections that had rusted away. My glass installer attributes the problem to a design flaw that allows water to accumulate under the rubber trim around the perimeter and never dry out. At a cost of $500.00 to me with no gaurantee they were able to temporarily inhibit the further invasion of oxidation. I have since conveyed my displeasure to Winnebago industries and here is there reply:
Thank you for identifying your motor home for us.

Winnebago Industries regrets any difficulties you have experienced with your 2004 Brave. Our sincere desire is to provide quality products and service to all Winnebago owners.

The Winnebago Industries new-vehicle limited warranty provides for repair or replacement of any part or parts proven to be defective in material or workmanship within a specific time and/or mileage, 12 months or 15,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date of original purchase or when the vehicle was placed into service as a demonstrator. Our records indicate the Winnebago basic warranty on your Brave expired on August 16, 2004.

We do appreciate the concern and sincerity that prompted you to bring this matter to our attention. However, we must decline any participation in the expense you outlined in view of the terms of our limited warranty.

[AFChap]

allows water to accumulate under the rubber trim around the perimeter and never dry out.

From what I have seen, water accumulating beind the rubber trim is likely due to a leak somewhere on the front cap ...mine was a clearance lamp (obvious from rusty screws into the fiberglass compared to all the other clearnace lamps where the screws were in like-new condition).

At $500 you got off way light!!! My repair then the coach was just 4 yr old was nearly $2,500 (including 2 new windshields at $750 each) ...Winnebago did assist with some of the cost. Do I understand that your glass company was able to remove the windshield glass without destroying it??? ...if so, that 's the first such success I have heard of!!

[2-bone]

I am quite sure the leakage was from around the glass. On a dry day i applied water around the glass only and with the inside trim removed I was able to determine where the leakeage originated. I made it a point to avoid the clearance lights.

[AFChap]

Let me clarify further ...yes, the entry point of water into the passenger compartment was at the top of the pax side windshield between the glass and metal frame due to bad rust on the frame at that point. HOWEVER, the water was coming from a leaking clearance lamp above that point, with the water traveling down the inside of the fiberglass cap to pool on the metal frame. Over a period of time, the water then rusted the metal until the water finally got inside. A leak at any point "uphill" from the windshield can do this ...lights, antennas, air horns, etc, etc. I've heard pretty much all of those confirmed as the point of water intrusion in one coach or another. My point is, don't automatically assume the rubber around the glass is the only or most likely point of intrusion. The windshield leak can be just the immediate symptom of a longer term and potentially more serious roof leak ...make sure you don't miss the real source of the water. It could be just the rubber molding, but it is very possible it is actually a roof leak instead.

[JTN50]

I would think this is as much of a safety issue as the brake problem Workhorse is experencing and they are stepping up to the plate and taking care of them. Winnebago is just not the type of company that makes good on ther mistakes.

[JTN50]

Originally Posted by AFChap

Let me clarify further ...yes, the entry point of water into the passenger compartment was at the top of the pax side windshield between the glass and metal frame due to bad rust on the frame at that point. HOWEVER, the water was coming from a leaking clearance lamp above that point, with the water traveling down the inside of the fiberglass cap to pool on the metal frame. Over a period of time, the water then rusted the metal until the water finally got inside. A leak at any point "uphill" from the windshield can do this ...lights, antennas, air horns, etc, etc. I've heard pretty much all of those confirmed as the point of water intrusion in one coach or another. My point is, don't automatically assume the rubber around the glass is the only or most likely point of intrusion. The windshield leak can be just the immediate symptom of a longer term and potentially more serious roof leak ...make sure you don't miss the real source of the water. It could be just the rubber molding, but it is very possible it is actually a roof leak instead.

I checked my clearance lights several times and I could not see the source of the leaks. I recaulked the windsheild with silcone and that seems to have stopped the problem for now anyway.

[AFChap]

Winnebago is just not the type of company that makes good on ther mistakes.

Baloney!! Winnebago has gone well beyond their warranty obligations with me and many others I know of, and I have found their product to be far surperior to those I have seen around us ...'course, they are not perfect, but which mfg'er is?? ...you don't like their windshield installation?? ...at least Winnebago windshields don't pop out of the coach like so many do over and over again!! After a point, routine maintenance and leak control is the owner's respnsibility ...doesn't the Winnebago warranty require roof sealant to be checked twice a year?

[JTN50]

Originally Posted by AFChap

Baloney!! Winnebago has gone well beyond their warranty obligations with me and many others I know of, and I have found their product to be far surperior to those I have seen around us ...'course, they are not perfect, but which mfg'er is?? ...you don't like their windshield installation?? ...at least Winnebago windshields don't pop out of the coach like so many do over and over again!! After a point, routine maintenance and leak control is the owner's respnsibility ...doesn't the Winnebago warranty require roof sealant to be checked twice a year?

Paul,

I was told this is a frendly site, you sound very uptight on this subject I am sorry I upset you. I had to file a lemon law suit in Florida to get them to repair what was causing my unit to blow fuses and engine shut off right in the middle of the interstate 4 times and it was brand new. Traveling down the highway at 65/70 and the engine shuts off with no notice is quite distrubing. It spent a total of 4 months in 4 different shops in Florida & Virgina before it was repaired and if I had not filed the lemon suit I am not sure they would have ever fixed it.

As for the windshield Winnabego knew of the problem and did noting since it was not a recall requirement. I also had two windows fog up and the service manager at the dealer where we bought it said he gets them in all of the time with foged windows and the warranty does not cover glass.

As for inspecting the caulking every two years it is quite impossible since it is behind the glass and I would have to remove the windshield to inspect it.

When I wire brushed the grouve between the glass and the body and installed silcone the leaks stopped for now anyway.

Again you may have had great luck with Winnabeago but my experience has been luke warm.

[AFChap]

Sorry if my reply seemed a bit strong ...guess you caught be on a bad night...

you sound very uptight on this subject I am sorry I upset you. <snip> It spent a total of 4 months in 4 different shops in Florida & Virgina before it was repaired and if I had not filed the lemon suit I am not sure they would have ever fixed it.

I'm not "uptight" about it at all, but from what you say your problem has been with dealership service deptartments, not with Winnebago itself. I also had problems with dealers who could not/would not fix problems (some of whom were totally incompetent or worse), and with dealers who told me "Winnebago won't do such and such...", but when I communicated with Winnebago via telephone and/or email and gave them a chance to get involved, they always did, and sometimes beyond even my high expectations. In some cases, I found out the dealership was flat out lying to me! Yes, that is a problem when you can't trust the dealer network that is supposed to service your vehicle, but that's pretty much the way it is with vehicles, and especially with RVs. I don't take a dealership's word for ANYTHING.

As for the windshield Winnabego knew of the problem and did noting since it was not a recall requirement.

They "participated" substantially in my repair well after the warranty expired when I sent them pictures via email and explained to them why I felt the evidence indicated a long-lasting problem which probably started during the initial warranty period ...though I totally recognized that rust caused by MY failure to repair a roof leak that allowed water to trickle down the inside of the cap and eventually rust the windshield frame would be MY responsibility, not Winnebago's... Again, I did not believe what the dealer initially told me about Winnebago "flat refusing" any responsibility/involvement. By then I had learned that the dealer rarely tries to get the customer any support from Winnebago ...why would they want to wait for Winnebago to send them a check for repairs when they can charge you more for it today??

I also had two windows fog up and the service manager at the dealer where we bought it said he gets them in all of the time with foged windows and the warranty does not cover glass.

I've had only one fogged window that isn't bad enough to bother me enough to fix it yet, so have not dealth with that ...but you apparently took the dealership's word for it that Winnebago would not help...

As for inspecting the caulking every two years it is quite impossible since it is behind the glass and I would have to remove the windshield to inspect it.

I was referring to the sealant on the roof, around the rooftop items and along the side seam, NOT the windshield glass sealant/cement.

I'll give Winnebago their lumps when I believe they have earned them, but in my own experience, and that of many other owners I know personally, to say that "Winnebago is just not the type of company that makes good on ther mistakes" simply is not a fair or accurate statement ...especially when I compare what I know of their record with what I know of most other mfger's records. Winnebago has not been perfect, but I sincerely believe they have done, and continue to do, better than most other mfgers. But you do have to give them a chance to step up to plate, and not just trust a dealer to do that for you.

Sorry your Winniebago experience has not been all that great...