- The 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Itasca Meridian Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2004 Itasca Meridian with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (1) and the brakes (1). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in October 2010 for the equipment. For comparison, the 2003 has 2 and the 2005 has 1.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Meridian year, for its age
#284 most complained-about 2004 vehicle
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2004 Itasca Meridian problems
Share of all 4 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2004 Itasca Meridian recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain motor homes, the roof vent for the optional 4-door refrigerator was incorrectly located.
- The risk
- This can allow excessive heat buildup which has the potential to ignite surrounding materials, resulting in personal injury and/oi vehicle and property damage.
- The fix
- Dealers will relocate the roof vent. The recall began on september 9, 2005. Owners may contact winnebago at 1-641-585-6939.
- The 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."
- The risk
- The seat belt buckle may unlatch in the event of a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury to the seat occupant.
- The 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.
- The problem
- On certain motorhomes, the lp tank has stress on weld joints at the point where mounting brackets are welded to the tank.
- The risk
- This could cause stress cracks at the weld joints and lead to an lp leak and cause personal injury and/or vehicle damage.
- The fix
- Dealers will reinstall a cradle-style carrier, and, if necessary replace the lp tank. The recall began on march 25, 2004. Owners should contact winnebago at 641-585-6939.
What owners say
Be the first Meridian owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
4 complaints about the 2004 Itasca Meridian
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Our entire motorhome burned completely, we barely escaped with our lives, when the norcold refrigerator caught fire in the night while we were asleep. We were parked on remote private property. Consumer stated from 2004- 2020 there was no issues with the refrigerator. Original owners: [[redacted]]and [[redacted]] email: [[redacted]] @ aol.Com telephone [[redacted]] address [[redacted]] documents follow information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6)."
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 itasca meridian. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the fog headlights failed without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. The dealer did not provide a diagnosis for the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 35,000. *Tr
A propane leak odor, coming from my motorhome, was brought to my attention by a camper in an adjoining campsite. I used a water and soap solution and found my propane tank was leaking at the rear bracket weld. I contacted winnebago's 800 phone number listed in a recall listedon the internet as nhtsa recall 04v114/winnebago recall 90. Winnebago asvised me that my coach wasn't in the serial number range for this recall, they offered to send me mounting cradles under this recall but won't replace the propane tank. *Tt
The 2 rear air brake hoses to the air canisters on a 2004 freightliner rv chassis have rubbed together enough to make a pin hole leak in one of them and a partial wear-through in the other. With a warning from other users on an rv forum, a physical inspection caught this problem before a brake failure happened and possible property damage or loss of life could occur. Both of these hoses must be replaced and the hoses must be re-routed to keep this from recurring. *Tr
Itasca Meridian: every year compared
All Meridian years2004 Itasca Meridian vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Itasca Meridian | 4 | 4 | F | |
| 2004 Itasca Suncruiser | 6 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Itasca Horizon | 3 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Itasca Sunrise | 3 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Itasca Sunova | 1 | 6 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Itasca Sunstar | 1 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2004 Itasca Spirit | 1 | 5 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2004 Itasca Meridian
Does the 2004 Itasca Meridian have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2004 Itasca Meridian: equipment (October 2010); recreational vehicle / trailer (September 2005); buckle assembly (December 2004); tank assembly (March 2004). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Itasca Meridian?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (1), brakes (1), fuel system (1).
How many complaints has the 2004 Itasca Meridian had?
4 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on February 27, 2008 and the latest on May 11, 2021. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2004 Itasca Meridian a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 23 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Itasca Meridian year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Itasca Meridian years have the most complaints?
2004 (4), 2003 (2), 2013 (2). See every Itasca Meridian year compared.
What should I do if my 2004 Itasca Meridian has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data