The 1999 Winnebago Chieftain has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 20,022 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the equipment. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT10V5250002010-10-2618,461 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. …
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 DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT…
EQUIPMENT08V2650002008-06-13930 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.
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 NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR WINNEBAGO AT…
EQUIPMENT02V2760062002-12-03631 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…
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 SHOULD CONTACT NORCOLD SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-667-3005 OR WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.
Complaints by component
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
2
1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
TIRES
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
1
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
1
STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
1
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1
STRUCTURE
1
Total complaints15
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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.…”
“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…”
“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,…”
“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,…”
“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…”
“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…”
“Roof blew off while driving down the highway. Rear structure had to be rebuilt due to faulty steel and construction. *jb”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Winnebago Chieftain as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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