2000 Winnebago Chieftain recalls and problems

The 2000 Winnebago Chieftain has 5 recalls and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2000 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

5recalls

4complaints

0crashes

1fires

0injuries

45,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

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5 recalls

Equipment

Oct 26, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V525000 · 18,461 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Equipment

Jun 13, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V265000 · 930 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.

Remedy & notes

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.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Equipment

Dec 3, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V276006 · 631 vehicles

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

THE CONSEQUENCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy & notes

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.

Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Seat Belts

Apr 30, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V128004 · 4,370 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Serious injury or death could occur if the vehicle occupant is not properly restrained.

Original NHTSA wording

SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy & notes

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 and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact am-safe at 1-219-266-8330 or Winnebago at 1-641-585-6939.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Seat Belts

Oct 13, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V273004 · 6,550 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Serious injury or death could occur if the vehicle occupant is not properly restrained.

Original NHTSA wording

SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and replace the defective buckle assemblies.

Owner notification began October 20, 2000.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 Winnebago at 1-641-585-6939 or am-safe commercial products at 219-266-8330. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2000 vs. other Winnebago Chieftain years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2000. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2000 Winnebago Chieftain have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2000 Winnebago Chieftain, the latest from Oct 26, 2010 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Winnebago Chieftain?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (1), equipment (1), seat belts (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.