1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
5
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN
The 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN has received a total of 5 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Winnebago Industries, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Parking Brake (2 complaints), Fuel System Gasolinecarburetor System (1 complaint), and Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscpads (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN, potentially affecting up to 19,833 vehicles.
Recall 10V525000 — EQUIPMENT
| 18,461 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
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 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING...
View full details →Recall 98V015000 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 741 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: LP GAS LEAKAGE COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN BODILY INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE FLEXIBLE HOSE OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE BOX.
View full details →Recall 02V276006 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 631 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THE CONSEQUENCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
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 REASONABLE TIME...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parking Brake | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinecarburetor System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscpads | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
PARK BRAKE SYSTEM IS PERIODICALLY ADJUSTED, IF NOT FULLY ENGAGE, ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND RESERVOIR FOR THE FLUID EMPTY AND THE CONVERTER TO THE PUMP WAS FLUID OF FLUID AND NOT MAKING CONNECTIONS, ALSO THE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS LEAKING. A NEW SWITCH, DRUMS SHOES AND SHAFT WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER IN APRIL 2001, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE FRONT BRAKE SHOE. *JB
WHILE PARKED AND EMERGENCY AND WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED IT DISENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF CONTROL. *AK THE BRAKE PADS HAD BURNED OUT WITH NO WARNING. *SC *JB
WHILE PARKED AND EMERGENCY AND WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED IT DISENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF CONTROL. *AK THE BRAKE PADS HAD BURNED OUT WITH NO WARNING. *SC *JB
CONSUMER STATES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MONOXIDE CARBON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS
WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN THE AIR FILTER INTAKE PULLS WATER INTO THE AIR FILTER CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND RUN POORLY, UNABLE TO FIND CORRECTION FOR CONDITION AT THIS TIME. MJS
Safety Rating for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN
Winnebago Industries, Inc. has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
7SB0029802A — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
INFORMATION REGARDING THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE HOLES ON THE SPECIFIED UNITS MAY NOT ACCOMMODATE ALL STATE LICENSE PLATES. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN
- 1994 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 0 complaints
- 1996 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 0 complaints
- 1997 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 0 complaints
- 1998 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN (current)
- 1999 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 15 complaints
- 2000 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 4 complaints
- 2001 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 0 complaints
- 2002 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 1 complaint
- 2003 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN — 0 complaints
Other WINNEBAGO Models
- WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER — 271 total complaints
- WINNEBAGO WINNEBAGO — 192 total complaints
- WINNEBAGO EKKO — 157 total complaints
- WINNEBAGO VIEW — 136 total complaints
- WINNEBAGO BRAVE — 96 total complaints
- WINNEBAGO MINNIE WINNIE — 76 total complaints
- WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER — 76 total complaints
- WINNEBAGO JOURNEY — 62 total complaints