# 2004 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
> NHTSA complaint `678254` · 2008-07-15 · Winnebago Industries, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** WINNEBAGO
- **Model:** JOURNEY
- **Year:** 2004
- **Manufacturer:** Winnebago Industries, Inc.
- **Component:** SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- **Miles at failure:** 32,000
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR OUR 2004 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT    THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS EVIDENT. THE TWO HYDRAULIC LINES FOR THE REAR SLIDE WERE ROUTED AROUND THE FRAME IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE TURBO CHARGER AND REPEATED EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT OF THAT UNIT HAD CAUSED THEM TO DETERIORATE, BURST AND SPRAY HYDRAULIC FLUID. THAT FLUID, HITTING THE VERY HOT TURBO CHARGER QUICKLY IGNITED AND CAUSED THE FIRE.    I RETIRED IN 2003 AS THE MASTER MECHANIC FOR THE DENVER FIRE DEPARTMENT. AS SUCH I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE ENTIRE FLEET AND ALL EQUIPMENT FOR THE DENVER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS ARE AS A MASTER TECHNICIAN (ASE CERTIFIED) FOR TRUCK AND AUTOMOBILE AND I HAVE A DEGREE IN BUSINESS AS WELL.     I AFFECTED REPAIRS ON SITE THAT ALLOWED US TO GET TO DILLION, COLORADO WHERE I PULLED THE DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC LINES AND HAD NEW ONE'S MADE. I INSTALLED THE NEW LINES (RE-ROUTING THEM AWAY FROM THE HEAT SOURCE) AND REPAIRED ALL OF THE WIRING AND HOSES INVOLVED AS WELL. LUCKILY DAMAGE WAS NOT EXTENSIVE AND WAS LIMITED TO THE ITEMS I DESCRIBED.     MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL FAILURES AND FIRE HAZARDS ON THE ROAD WITH SIMILAR JOURNEY'S AND THOSE OWNERS MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE HOSE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SLIDES WAS, IN MY OPINION, A POOR ONE IN THAT IT IS NYLON REINFORCED AND PLASTIC COATED RATHER THAN THE STEEL REINFORCED ' HARD RUBBER COATED LINE USUALLY USED IN HYDRAULIC APPLICATIONS. THE ROUTING WAS ANOTHER
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*