Model year record

1999 Winnebago Chieftain recalls & problems

The 1999 Winnebago Chieftain has 3 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (5 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints13filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

EquipmentOct 26, 2010

Equipment

Recall 10V52500018,461 vehicles

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.
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.
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.

EquipmentJun 13, 2008

Recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 08V265000930 vehicles

Problem: 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 COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK.
Risk: EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.
Fix: 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 NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

EquipmentDec 3, 2002

Recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 02V276006631 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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 IN THE BURNER AREA.
Risk: THE CONSEQUENCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: 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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NORCOLD SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-667-3005 OR WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
StructureBody; Frame and members	5	1	0	0	—
EquipmentRecreational vehicle/trailer	2	0	0	1	—
Tires	2	0	0	0	—
SteeringLinkages › Drag › Link › Connection; Linkages › Tie rod assembly	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery	1	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash	1	0	1	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights › Switch	1	0	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Structure › Body
THE LEFT SIDE THE ROOF CAME LOOSE SITTING IN STORAGE FROM WINDS OF A LESSER SPEED THAN IF ONE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THERE HAS BEEN CASES WHERE THE ROOF ON THESE MODELS HAVE CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. THE ROOF MEMBRANE IS BIG ENOUGH TO BLOCK A FOLLOWING VEHICLES VIEW IF IT WERE TO COME OFF IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. IT IS CAUSED BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTIONING BODY PART. LAWS IN SOME STATES ARE VERY STRICT IN SECURING LOADS, THIS MALFUNCTION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY WINNEBAGO. *TR
Apr 11, 2012 · 78,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
JUNE 2005 MY WIFE AND I WERE LEAVING ROSWELL NM IN OUR 1999 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I CALLED OUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CARRIER AND WAS DIRECTED TO A REPAIR FACILITY A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. AFTER LISTENING TO THE NOISE AND LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED IT MUST BE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK. THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET LOCALLY AND HAD TO ORDER ONE. WE LEFT THE MOTOR HOME WITH THEM AND PROCEEDED TO CARLSBAD NM IN OUR TOWED VEHICLE. UPON OUR RETURN A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE MECHANIC WAS JUST COMPLETING THE GASKET REPLACEMENT. WHEN HE FINISHED, HE STARTED THE ENGINE ONLY TO DISCOVER THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. FURTHER…
Jul 6, 2006 · 29,605 miles
Steering › Linkages › Drag › Link › Connection
I DOWNLOADED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V246111, WHICH REFERS TO A DEFECT IN THE STEERING LINKAGE ON MY 1999 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME WHICH IS BUILT ON A 1999 FORD HEAVY DUTY CHASSIS. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO LOCAL FORD DEALERS, FORD'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, FORD'S TRUCK CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, AND WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY ALL CLAIM THAT NO SUCH PROBLEM EXISTS, AND NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS HAVE EVER BEEN ISSUED. THE PERSON TAKING MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT FILED BY PHONE (NHTSA ODI#10160922) MIS-CHARACTERIZED THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT. FORD AND WINNEBAGO DO NOT CLAIM THAT IT DOESN'T APPLY TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BY YEAR OR VIN, RATHER THAT NO SUCH…
Jun 25, 2006
Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dashFire
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE SMOKE WAS A RESULT OF FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DASH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE BEFORE IT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A SHORT IN HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE REPLACEMENT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06
Nov 25, 2005 · 54,000 miles
Structure
DEFECTS INVOLVING 1999 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN'S DUCT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL FRESH WATER TANK AND THE MOTORHOME.*MR THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE OPENING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MOTORHOME ALLOWED DIRT, WATER, INSECTS AND RODENTS COMPLETE ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE MOTORHOME. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
Jan 1, 1901
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
ROOF BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. REAR STRUCTURE HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO FAULTY STEEL AND CONSTRUCTION. *JB
Oct 24, 2002 · 12,000 miles
Tires
THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TIRE BLOWOUTS ON 2 OF THE 6 TIRES.*JB
Mar 25, 2002 · 28,470 miles
Tires
2 OF 6 OF THE ORIGINAL TIRE HAVE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS (MICHELIN 235/80 X 22.5 XRV TIRES). FIRST TIRE BLEWOUT ON RIGHT HAND INSIDE REAR DUAL (TIRE DOT # B6BJBVJX078, TIRE DEPTH REMAINING IS 12/32 INCHES), THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON OCT. 27, 2002 WITH 30770 MILES, THIS BLOWOUT WAS ON THE LEFT REAR INSIDE DUAL BETWEEN THE REAR DUALS (TIRE DOT# B6BJBVJX078, TIRE DEPTH REMAINING IS 12/32 INCHES), CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL ORIGINAL TIRES . *NLM
Mar 25, 2002 · 28,470 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.