Warn Winch Recall

[Wolf Island Diver]

Here’s some more food for thought. Suppose your winch doesn’t spool in, suppose it does the opposite. Suppose that 100ft or a 50ft loop (if you’ve clipped off the hook to a tow point) of 27000lb breaking strength rope is slowly unfurling under your truck while you’re driving down the interstate. I personally would be interested in every possible mode of failure that could result in that situation, and again a power cutoff is a simple way to mitigate that. Replacing the wireless remote with a wired one is an incomplete solution if the winch still has power.

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[Gvsukids]

Here’s some more food for thought. Suppose your winch doesn’t spool in, suppose it does the opposite. Suppose that 100ft or a 50ft loop (if you’ve clipped off the hook to a tow point) of 27000lb breaking strength rope is slowly unfurling under your truck while you’re driving down the interstate. I personally would be interested in every possible mode of failure that could result in that situation, and again a power cutoff is a simple way to mitigate that. Replacing the wireless remote with a wired one is an incomplete solution if the winch still has power.

Leave your clutch disengaged.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Leave your clutch disengaged.

Leaving your clutch disengaged is not a good idea. Many users have things like Factor55 flat links, pulled gently against the fairlead with the rubber feet protecting both. Driving around with a disengaged clutch would allow that to loosen, and potentially drop to the road over time.

 

[WILDHOBO]

To me, switching to a wired only winch for $100 in Warn dollars wasn’t ok with me. I’m also not ok with keeping a winch in service that could malfunction during use. I understand that at some unknown point in the future, they might replace the wireless remotes. I prefer not to wait without a set date. Therefore, I replaced mine with a model that doesn’t have this issue, and has a paired wireless remote. I worked with Warn on a solution to make this work. I did replace it with another Warn.

 

[Gvsukids]

Leaving your clutch disengaged is not a good idea. Many users have things like Factor55 flat links, pulled gently against the fairlead with the rubber feet protecting both. Driving around with a disengaged clutch would allow that to loosen, and potentially drop to the road over time.

Definitely agree. I guess either way you could have the winch randomly on spool itself.

To me, switching to a wired only winch for $100 in Warn dollars wasn’t ok with me. I’m also not ok with keeping a winch in service that could malfunction during use. I understand that at some unknown point in the future, they might replace the wireless remotes. I prefer not to wait without a set date. Therefore, I replaced mine with a model that doesn’t have this issue, and has a paired wireless remote. I worked with Warn on a solution to make this work. I did replace it with another Warn.

Glad you found a solution that worked for you. I just won't go around dunking my wireless remote in water.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Definitely agree. I guess either way you could have the winch randomly on spool itself.


Glad you found a solution that worked for you. I just won't go around dunking my wireless remote in water.

Mine was dry as well, but battery corrosion was also a factor as I understand it. So even dry ones like mine were potentially flawed.

My new one doesn’t allow the clutch to be disengaged unless it’s actively working in use. It automatically engages when winching in or out, and when it’s turned off. There is also a switch on the winch that turns on/off the remote transmitter/receiver. So even with batter power to the winch, it won’t function with that off.

I didn’t know much of this until I replaced it, but now definitely see the feature and quality differences between the Evo VR and Zeon lines. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t have any issues with my Evo, but I like the new one better.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

Leave your clutch disengaged.

The weight of my flat-link actually unspools the winch slowly with the clutch disengaged so that won’t work. Besides I’ve always understood that a winch should be stowed with the clutch engaged and the rope under slight tension, flatlink or not. I don’t think disengaging the clutch is an acceptable mitigation for a winch that’s capable of inadvertently turning on and spooling out.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

Mine was dry as well, but battery corrosion was also a factor as I understand it. So even dry ones like mine were potentially flawed.

My new one doesn’t allow the clutch to be disengaged unless it’s actively working in use. It automatically engages when winching in or out, and when it’s turned off. There is also a switch on the winch that turns on/off the remote transmitter/receiver. So even with batter power to the winch, it won’t function with that off.

I didn’t know much of this until I replaced it, but now definitely see the feature and quality differences between the Evo VR and Zeon lines. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t have any issues with my Evo, but I like the new one better.

Your new one is a Zeon?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Your new one is a Zeon?

It is. It’s installed, but I haven’t tensioned the line yet. It’s a nice piece of equipment.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

It is. It’s installed, but I haven’t tensioned the line yet. It’s a nice piece of equipment.

It was between that and the Evo and I got the Evo figuring that it would just sit on the front of the truck for years like every other winch I’ve had and get used maybe a few times. Like most people probably were thinking, the Evo was good enough for “insurance.”

I’m glad the Zeon has these additional features but it also bothers me that you’ve got to pay a lot more for stuff that’s basically safety related. Obviously, Warn is concerned about the wireless receiver so you can turn it off on the Zeon, but if you paid for the cheaper model, you don’t and now we have this safety recall.

 

[Burghardphotography]

To me, switching to a wired only winch for $100 in Warn dollars wasn’t ok with me. I’m also not ok with keeping a winch in service that could malfunction during use. I understand that at some unknown point in the future, they might replace the wireless remotes. I prefer not to wait without a set date. Therefore, I replaced mine with a model that doesn’t have this issue, and has a paired wireless remote. I worked with Warn on a solution to make this work. I did replace it with another Warn.

what kind of solution were you able to work out with Warn?

 

[WILDHOBO]

It was between that and the Evo and I got the Evo figuring that it would just sit on the front of the truck for years like every other winch I’ve had and get used maybe a few times. Like most people probably were thinking, the Evo was good enough for “insurance.”

I’m glad the Zeon has these additional features but it also bothers me that you’ve got to pay a lot more for stuff that’s basically safety related. Obviously, Warn is concerned about the wireless receiver so you can turn it off on the Zeon, but if you paid for the cheaper model, you don’t and now we have this safety recall.

I don’t think it’s that simple. First, I use mine a lot. It’s not insurance. It’s a required tool in my bag. The Zeon is more feature rich, has a faster line speed, has wired ports to control lights or 2 other accessories from the remote, and has an electric clutch. That’s why it’s more expensive. The remote shows you winch temperatures, etc. it’s just higher end. But I agree. I would have kept the Evo if the remote didn’t have the recall. The Zeon was the next model up that still is wireless and still has the capacity I require for my rig. I like warn. I have for many years. I also like having their winch on their bumper. No fitment issues and they guarantee the bumper to not distort under 12k of pulling force.

 

[JRobes]

Is everyone aware that Warn intends to replace all current wireless (and the temporary non-wireless replacement) remotes with the redesigned weatherproof one they're currently designing/making? I submitted my online claim and should have the temp non-wireless one by end of week, and will then also get the redesigned weatherproof wireless (along with everyone else) at a later date which I'm fine with. The $100 warn.com gift card for disabling my current remote's wireless capability is an acceptable trade to lose the wireless function for a few months.

I know some of you may require the wireless functionality 100% of the time, but that's gotta be a VERY small portion of users.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

I don’t think it’s that simple. First, I use mine a lot. It’s not insurance. It’s a required tool in my bag. The Zeon is more feature rich, has a faster line speed, has wired ports to control lights or 2 other accessories from the remote, and has an electric clutch. That’s why it’s more expensive. The remote shows you winch temperatures, etc. it’s just higher end. But I agree. I would have kept the Evo if the remote didn’t have the recall. The Zeon was the next model up that still is wireless and still has the capacity I require for my rig. I like warn. I have for many years. I also like having their winch on their bumper. No fitment issues and they guarantee the bumper to not distort under 12k of pulling force.

I agree. It’s definitely a better more feature rich winch but I’ve got almost $100k in my truck at this point and I haven’t even touched the axles or belly skid yet. When I bought the EVO I made the decision based on my past usage with winches. Warns marketing actually pushed me over the edge to the EVO despite my concerns over the drum and other design differences. Their marketing pushed the Evo for my expected use. Considering all the other stuff I was buying, the Evo didn’t appear to be that much of a compromise. The winch was actually one of the first things I bought and I agree it’s a basic part of a recover kit and responsible off roading.

What bothers me isn’t that Warn makes higher end and lower end winches. There’s some thoughtful discussions on this forum from people discussing the pros and cons of each or other cheaper brands and their motivation in choosing what they did. Most people make the assertion that you can’t go wrong with any Warn winch. I would generally agree with that. But what we see now is that the Evo lacks what their recall and my testing proves is a basic safety feature, I.e the ability to disable the wireless receiver. Still the mitigation is a disconnect and I’m not concerned about my situation. I am concerned about other folks that don’t get the memo. I registered my winch with Warn and have received zero correspondence about this recall.

Personally, Warn may have a bigger problem on their hands with this winch and this remote recall might be just the start. I won’t be surprised if the whole winch gets recalled. These things take time to play out.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I agree. It’s definitely a better more feature rich winch but I’ve got almost $100k in my truck at this point and I haven’t even touched the axles or belly skid yet. When I bought the EVO I made the decision based on my past usage with winches. Warns marketing actually pushed me over the edge to the EVO despite my concerns over the drum and other design differences. Their marketing pushed the Evo for my expected use. Considering all the other stuff I was buying, the Evo didn’t appear to be that much of a compromise. The winch was actually one of the first things I bought and I agree it’s a basic part of a recover kit and responsible off roading.

What bothers me isn’t that Warn makes higher end and lower end winches. There’s some thoughtful discussions on this forum from people discussing the pros and cons of each or other cheaper brands and their motivation in choosing what they did. Most people make the assertion that you can’t go wrong with any Warn winch. I would generally agree with that. But what we see now is that the Evo lacks what their recall and my testing proves is a basic safety feature, I.e the ability to disable the wireless receiver. Still the mitigation is a disconnect and I’m not concerned about my situation. I am concerned about other folks that don’t get the memo. I registered my winch with Warn and have received zero correspondence about this recall.

Personally, Warn may have a bigger problem on their hands with this winch and this remote recall might be just the start. I won’t be surprised if the whole winch gets recalled. These things take time to play out.

My concern wasn’t the ability to disable the receiver. As everyone has said, it’s disabled if there is no power to the winch with a disconnect. M issue is possible malfunctions while it’s enabled, meaning it’s actively in use. If it malfunctions while I’m winching up a steep grade, disabling the receiver wouldn’t have helped.

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