The 2012 Winnebago Sightseer has 3 recalls and 2 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is structure.
How the 2012 compares
Low
Fewest complaintsMost complaints
Low complaint count among 11 Sightseer model years — 8th most.
3recalls
2complaints
1crashes
0fires
1injuries
9,000median 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.
Problem: Winnebago Industries is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Minnie Winnie, Aspect, Sightseer, Adventurer, and Journey motorhomes; and model year 2012-2014 Itasca Spirit, Cambria, Sunova, Suncruiser, and Meridian motorhomes. The affected vehicles were manufactured January 10, 2012, through April 5, 2013 and may be missing a range enclosure.
Risk: A missing range enclosure may allow the gas range flame to be extinguished due to air flow. In such a case, propane gas will continue to flow without a flame. If propane continues to flow, in the presence of an ignition source, it may suddenly combust resulting in a fire and/or personal injury.
Remedy & notes
Winnebago notify owners and dealers will install a range enclosure, free of charge. The safety recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact Winnebago at 1-641-585-3535. Winnebago's recall campaign number is 128.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Equipment
Aug 8, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V389000 · 165 vehicles
Problem: Winnebago is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Winnebago and Itasca motor homes. A cutting machine may have scored the copper propane tubing resulting in unknown long-term reliability.
Risk: If the copper tubing fails, propane can escape leading to a fire or explosion which can result in property damage, personal injury, or death.
Remedy & notes
Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will replace the copper tubing, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2012. Owners may contact Winnebago Industries Owner Relations at 1-641-585-6939.
This is Winnebago recall no. 126. 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 www.safercar.gov.
Power Train
Feb 16, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V057000 · 2,841 vehicles
Problem: Winnebago is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Winnebago and Itasca motor homes built on a Ford f-53 chassis. The âprndlâ cable May break at the attachment to the transmission control selector arm assembly mounted on the steering column. If the cable breaks, the transmission gear indicator in the âprndlâ display in the instrument panel will remain in the first gear position regardless of the gear selected.
Original NHTSA wording
WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 WINNEBAGO AND ITASCA MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A FORD F-53 CHASSIS. THE ÂPRNDLÂ CABLE MAY BREAK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR ARM ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. IF THE CABLE BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR IN THE ÂPRNDLÂ DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL REMAIN IN THE FIRST GEAR POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SELECTED.
Risk: An incorrect gear indication in the instrument panel May prevent the driver from knowing if they are in park or reverse, increasing the risk of a crash.
Original NHTSA wording
AN INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM KNOWING IF THEY ARE IN PARK OR REVERSE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy & notes
Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission selector arm assembly and the âprndlâ cable assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 2, 2012. Owners May contact Winnebago industries owner relations at 1-641-585-6939.
Customers May 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.
Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations
Entry Step Failures
PE15011 · opened Apr 6, 2015 · closed Jan 8, 2016 · led to recall 15V866000
Summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) which reported an injury related to the unintentional deployment of the electric entry step on a subject vehicle.The owner reported to Winnebago that the steps extended while in motion.Service personnel from Winnebago instructed the owner to disconnect the wire harness at the steps to prevent them from extending while traveling and then reconnect when needed.The owner did this and was subsequently pinned beneath the steps when they extended upon reconnecting the wire harness.When deployed the steps extend approximately thirty (30) inches from the side of the vehicle.This reach facilitates easy entry into the motor home, but creates a hazard when unintentionally deployed in transit.The driver may not be immediately aware the stepsare extended which increases the possibility of striking another object or person.During the investigation, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to collect information from Winnebago.ODI analyzed this data and determined that a significant number of claims reported entry steps failures.Many of these claims specifically stated the steps extended while the vehicle was in transit. Winnebago service personnel offered multiple options to temporally disable the entry steps so that travelers could safely drive the vehicle.Depending on the situation fixes ranged from sending a field service technician, to instructing the individual to discon…
2012 vs. other Winnebago Sightseer years
Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2012. Click a bar to switch year.
Questions
Does the 2012 Winnebago Sightseer have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2012 Winnebago Sightseer, the latest from Apr 24, 2013 (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 2012 Winnebago Sightseer?
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention structure (2), equipment (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.
Recalls by Model