RecallMyCar

Winnebago Chieftain Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 22 owner complaints across 17 model years of the Winnebago Chieftain (1994–2011). The most-complained-about year is 1999.

10
safety recalls, all years
22
owner complaints, all years
2000
year with most recalls
1999
year with most complaints

Pick your Winnebago Chieftain model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2011 Winnebago Chieftain10
2010 Winnebago Chieftain10
2009 Winnebago Chieftain10
2008 Winnebago Chieftain10
2007 Winnebago Chieftain10
2006 Winnebago Chieftain10
2005 Winnebago Chieftain30
2004 Winnebago Chieftain30
2003 Winnebago Chieftain20
2002 Winnebago Chieftain21
2001 Winnebago Chieftain40
2000 Winnebago Chieftain54
1999 Winnebago Chieftain313
1998 Winnebago Chieftain34
1997 Winnebago Chieftain20
1996 Winnebago Chieftain20
1994 Winnebago Chieftain10

What Winnebago Chieftain owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. The 1999 model year has the most, with 13.

All Winnebago Chieftain recalls (10)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Winnebago Chieftain, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Equipment

    NHTSA 10V525000 Reported 18,461 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

  2. Equipment

    NHTSA 09V300000 Reported 1,547 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    Winnebago is recalling 1,547 model year 2001-2003 recreational vehicles equipped with norcold model 1200lrim refrigerators, manufactured from march 1, 2001 to december 31, 2002, with serial numbers between 1273701 and 1536607, non-consecutively. A fatigue failure in the section of the cooling unit which contains the refrigerant could…

    Remedy: Winnebago is working with norcold and norcold will notify owners and the vehicle's refrigerator will be repaired free of charge (please see 09e-027). Owners may contact norcold's recall center at 1-800-767-9101.

    Model years: 2001, 2002, 2003

  3. Recreational vehicle/trailer (equipment)

    NHTSA 08V265000 Reported 930 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    Winnebago is recalling my 1999-2002 ultimate advantage, ultimate freedom, my 1999-2001 chieftain, my 2000-2001 brave, my 2001 journey my 2000 minnie winnie, my 2000-2002 itasca horizon, my 1999 suncruiser, my 2001 sunflyer, and my 2000 sunrise motor homes equipped with norcold refrigerators. A fatigue failure in the section of the…

    Remedy: Winnebago is working with norcold to repair these refrigerators. Norcold will provide thermal switch kits to owners along with the necessary forms and instructions. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner…

    Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001

  4. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 04V609000 Reported 3,538 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    On certain motor homes built on a 20,700 gvwr or greater workhorse chassis, there may not be sufficient clearance in the area where the fuel line crosses the frame cross member.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair these motor homes by providing clearance between the fuel line and frame cross member. The fuel line will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced. The recall began january 7, 2005. Owners should…

    Model years: 2004, 2005

  5. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 04V608000 Reported 6,201 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    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."

    Remedy: 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.

    Model years: 2004, 2005

  6. Recreational vehicle/trailer (equipment)

    NHTSA 02V276006 Reported 631 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC.

    Certain motor homes equipped with norcold refrigerator cooling units model numbers 442, 443, 452, ev452, 453, 462, ev462, 463, ev463, 482, ev482, 483, ev483, 874, and 875. These refrigerators can experience a break down in a rubber seal within the gas valve. As the rubber seal ages, a leak may occur, allowing propane gas to accumulate…

    Remedy: Norcold will notify its customers and provide a replacement gas valve free of charge. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

  7. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 01V128004 Reported 4,370 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    Vehicle description: class a motor homes equipped with safety belt assemblies built by am-safe. On some seat belts, the buckle and connector may unlatch during a collision.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lap belts and, if necessary, replace it with a new belt assembly. Owner notification began may 25, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date…

    Model years: 2000, 2001

  8. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 00V273004 Reported 6,550 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    Vehicle description: class a motor homes equipped with safety belt assemblies built by am-safe. On some seat belts, the buckle and connector may unlatch during a collision.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the defective buckle assemblies.

    Model years: 2000

  9. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 98V015000 Reported 741 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    Vehicle description: motor homes. A liquid propane (lp) hose was installed in the range burner box. The elevated temperature the hose is exposed to inside this box can prematurely age the hose causing a possible lp leak.

    Remedy: Dealers will relocate the flexible hose outside of the range box.

    Model years: 1998

  10. Carrier/rack (equipment)

    NHTSA 97V012000 Reported 10,590 vehicles potentially affected WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.

    The spare tire carrier hoist components can become loose while traveling and allow the spare tire to move from its stored position to the road surface.

    Remedy: Dealers will add a primary spare tire support bracket.

    Model years: 1994

Other Winnebago models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.