2022 Winnebago Ekko electrical system problems

Related recalls

• Recall 23V234000Mar 31, 20231,266 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ekko motorhomes. The 12-Volt charging system may have improperly routed wires and loose electrical connections, which can overload the electrical circuits and cause damage to electrical components, including the auxiliary alternator.

  Risk: Overloaded electrical circuits that damage components increase the risk of a fire.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and correct the wire routing and electrical connections, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2023. Owners may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-641-585-6939 or 1-800-537-1885. Winnebago's number for this recall is 174.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 12, 2026ALElectrical System

   Following recall repairs for NHTSA ID Number: 24V541000, melting wires were noticed coming out of the roof solar port. These are approximately 6” of 10 gauge wires taking current from the solar roof port to the upgraded wiring from the previous recall. This section of 10 gauge wiring is undersized for the peak electrical load.

   NHTSA complaint #11763793 · source
2. Filed Nov 2, 2025FLElectrical System

   The Balmar alternator installed on our RV, which provides electrical power to charge the coach battery started a noticeable whine at idle, it stopped providing a charge to the coach battery, and upon further inspection, after opening the hood, we noticed a faint burning electrical smell. To confirm that the Balmar alternator was failing, I checked its electrical output to the battery, and it was not charging. I then proceeded to unplug the regulator for the alternator to see…

   NHTSA complaint #11697004 · source
3. Filed Oct 11, 2025WIElectrical SystemEngine

   October 10, 2025. The vehicle is a 2022 Winnebago EKKO RV on a 2021 Ford Transit with 49,000 miles. The incident occurred after driving the vehicle for about 5 minutes with outside temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and noticed an unusual high pitch whine. When I opened the hood the Balmar MC-618 Alternator unit was extremely hot, smoking, and had a strong burning smell. Since the EKKO models have had numerous reports of secondary alternator/Balmar malfunctions I knew…

   NHTSA complaint #11692854 · source
4. Filed Mar 27, 2025PAElectrical System

   This is to report a failure after NHTSA campaign number 23V234000 was addressed by Winnebago through their campaign number 174. I had the fix performed by Winnebago at their factory service center about 20k miles ago and the alternator failed again with the exact same symptoms. This is my 5th alternator failure in 60,000 miles and 3 years.

   NHTSA complaint #11650999 · source
5. Filed Feb 3, 2025NJElectrical System

   1The stock Balmar alternator failed on or around [XXX]. That alternator was replaced on or about November 22, 2022 by a certified Winnebago service center in Connecticut. 2The second failed on or about [XXX] following Service Campaign 7303 work performed at Forest City. It was replaced under the 174 recall on or about February 7, 2024 at a certified Winnebago service center in Las Vegas. 3The third alternator failed on or about [XXX]. 4The fourth was installed October 7,…

   NHTSA complaint #11640521 · source
6. Filed Dec 15, 2024WAElectrical SystemEngine

   The vehicle is a 2021 Ford Transit with a 2022 Winnebago Ekko RV. The incident occurred when I started the engine and noticed an unusual high pitch whine. When I opened the hood the Balmar unit was extremely hot with a strong burning smell. Since the Ekko models have had numerous reports of secondary alternator / Balmar malfunctions I knew enough to disable the alternator by unplugging the 4 pin connector on the Balmar 618 regulator before traveling any further. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11630850 · source
7. Filed Nov 21, 2024COElectrical SystemEngine

   The Winnebago factory installed secondary alternator (manufactured by Balmar) responsible for charging the batteries in my motorhome started to whine and overheat. Luckily the week prior, I had read about another EKKO owner experiencing the same symptoms before it created enough smoke that caused the driver to immediately pull off the road and extinguish the engine bay with a fire extinguisher. In an effort to avoid that, I disconnected the Balmer until it was able to be…

   NHTSA complaint #11626738 · source
8. Filed Oct 8, 2024NJElectrical System

   8 October 2024 Winnebago Ekko owners are looking for clarification on NHTSA recall 23V-234. The number of owners who have experienced Balmar alternator failure after the recall work is growing. We are among them. A post-recall fire has also been reported (October 6 2024 in Washington State) Manufacturer's response to this situation has been, so far: 1) Replace the alternator at no charge 2) Replace the alternator at no charge, with a verbal warning that no more alternators…

   NHTSA complaint #11618741 · source
9. Filed Sep 28, 2024AZElectrical System

   Winnebago adds a 2nd alternator to the engine for charging the coach/house Lithionics batteries. This 2nd alternator is a Balmer brand. The Balmer alternator suddenly developed a high pitched whine. Once whining it ceased to charge the batteries. The Balmer regulator begins to smoke quickly once the alternator is whining. We’ve been told to disconnect the regulator quickly or a fire can happen (we’ve been told others have had fires). This is our 2nd Balmer alternator…

   NHTSA complaint #11616992 · source
10. Filed Sep 14, 2024TXFireElectrical SystemEngine

    Winnebago recall 174 (NHTSA campaign 23V234000) regarding improper electrical wiring design and installation by Winnebago was recently completed on my RV. After completion of this recall I experienced another electrical fire in the engine compartment (my alternator had previously caught fire due to wiring and design defects noted in Winnebago recall 174). After extinguishing the fire I observed the Winnebago recall 174 remedy had been completed in such a way that an engine…

    NHTSA complaint #11614645 · source
11. Filed Aug 1, 2024FLElectrical SystemEngineOther / Unknown

    Balmar alternator or regulator fails to work as designed. No charging of batteries when idling or driving. This is a Safety Issue because fires have been reported as a result of these electrical system failures. Lithionics (battery) app confirms no charge reaching the batteries, see attached screenshots. Potential Risk of Fire when not working properly as evidenced by others with Balmar failures as reported to NHTSA. This is the 3rd failure we have encountered: 1st failure…

    NHTSA complaint #11606008 · source
12. Filed Jul 24, 2024SDElectrical System

    The prior recall #174 was completed at the Winnebago Factory Service Center in September of 2023. The replacement alternator failed and has now been replaced as a warranty item but the Factory Service Center. This is the 3rd Balmar alternator for this unit. The first replacement was approximately in October of 2022, then the recall was performed in September of 2023 which included replacement of the Balmar alternator, now that has malfunctioned once again necessitating…

    NHTSA complaint #11604336 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology