IllustrationTREAD OR PLY SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES. (DOT NUMBER: 457 (1997) TIRESIZE: 215/70R15C)
1998 Rialta Rialta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rialta years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsORIGINAL TIRES RECALLED AND REPLACED AT 5300 MILES. BELT SEPARATION ON BOTH REPLACEMENT REAR TIRES AFTER 16,000 MILES. WINNEBAGO NOTIFIED JULY AND OCT 1998 OF OUR CONCERNS WITH REPLACEMENT TIRES. WE SUGGESTED ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. THEY RESPONDED THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE WHEELS ALIGNED. CONTINENTAL HAS REPLACED THE…
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ORIGINAL TIRES RECALLED AND REPLACED AT 5300 MILES. BELT SEPARATION ON BOTH REPLACEMENT REAR TIRES AFTER 16,000 MILES. WINNEBAGO NOTIFIED JULY AND OCT 1998 OF OUR CONCERNS WITH REPLACEMENT TIRES. WE SUGGESTED ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. THEY RESPONDED THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE WHEELS ALIGNED. CONTINENTAL HAS REPLACED THE CONTRANS TIRES WITH THEIR VANCO TIRES. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT OTHERS ARE STILL DRIVING WITH THE DANGEROUS CONTRANS TIRES. WINNEBAGO SEEMS TOTALLY UNCONCERNED ABOUT THIS SAFETY MATTER. THE BELT SEPARATION ON OUT TIRES WAS DISCOVERED BY ACCIDENT WHILE HAVING OUR VEHICLE SERVICED ON AN EXTENTED TRIP. THE MECHANICS AND TIRE SERVICE REPS ALL AGREED THAT WE ARE LUCKY WE DID NOT HAVE A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE HAS THAT ACCIDENT. (DOT NUMBER: LM8X 4574 TIRESIZE: 215/70R15C)
VEHICLE HAD RECALL REPAIR WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACEMENT ONE OF THE REAR TIRES BLEW OUT PREMATURELY. (98V-081) *MJS
RIGHT AXLE FLANGE, SEALS, CENTER AXLE AND AXLE SUPPORT. RIGHT FRONT BUMPER LOOSE--REPLACED.
Official recalls
204V107000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Mar 4, 2004
ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES BUILT ON VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS, THE ENGINE COOLING FANS COULD FRACTURE AND BREAK APART.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE FAN FRACTURES OR BREAKS THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FANS USING A CRADLE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987 OR WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.
98V081000 · Tires
Apr 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRES. CERTAIN TIRES, WHEN INSTALLED ON THESE MOTOR HOMES, CAN EXPERIENCE PREMATURE TIRE DETERIORATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE TIRE TO DEFLATE AND PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRE, WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THESE TIRES WITH NEW TIRES AND NEW VALVE STEMS. THE FRONT TIRES AND SPARE TIRE WILL BE THE SAME SIZE AS THE EXISTING TIRES. THE REAR TIRES WILL BE SIZE 215/70R15C AND HAVE A HIGHER LOAD RATING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA03013 · Engine Cooling Fan Blade Failure
Opened Aug 13, 2003 · Closed Mar 11, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TWO ELECTRONIC COOLING FANS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE ENGINE RADIATOR.THE RIALTA MOTORHOME IS BUILT ON A VW EUROVAN INCOMPLETE CHASSIS AND SHARES THE SAME ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING FANS AS THE EUROVAN.DATA INDICATES THAT THE COOLING FAN BLADES FAIL PREDOMINATELY ON RIALTA VEHICLES IN MODEL YEARS (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2000.THESE VEHICLES ACCOUNT FOR 77 PERCENT OF THE WARRANTY, FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS FOR ALL MY 1996-2003 RIALTA VEHICLES.ALTHOUGH THE EUROVAN HAS THE SAME COOLING FANS AS THE RIALTA, IT ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 17 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EUROVAN AND RIALTA REPORTS.IN ITS FEBRUARY 11, 2004 DEFECT REPORT, VW STATED, THE AFFECTED WINNEBAGO RIALTA VEHICLES DIFFER FROM VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME COMPONENT DUE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED DUTY CYCLE OF THE COOLING FAN AND SERVICE METHODS THAT MAY AFFECT THE COOLING FAN.RIALTA VEHICLES ARE LARGER AND APPROXIMATELY 1,700 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN EUROVAN VEHICLES, AND THEREFORE THE COOLING FAN CAN SEE INCREASED DUTY CYCLES IN SEVERE OPERATING CONDITIONS SUCH AS DRIVING IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OR IN STEEP MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.ACCORDINGLY, VW WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE 1998-2000 RIALTA POPULATION TO REPLACE THE COOLING FANS.THE COOLING FANS IN MY 1996 AND 1997 ARE A DIFFERENT DESIGN WITH A SMALLER FAN MOTOR AND BLADE.IN MODEL YEAR 2001 THE ENGINE SIZE WAS INCREASED FROM 140 HP TO 204 HP IN BOTH VEHICLES.THE LARGER ENGINE REDUCES THE DUTY CYCLE OF THE COOLING FAN IN SEVERE OPERATING CONDITIONS.VW WILL ALSO SEND TO OWNERS A WARNING LABEL TO AFFIX TO ALL RIALTA AND EUROVAN VEHICLES.THE LABEL ADVISES TECHNICIANS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO APPLY FORCE ON THE COOLING FANS WHILE SERVICING THESE VEHICLES.VW WILL RECALL 2,563 MY 1998-2000 RIALTA VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 138 WARRANTY, FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS FOR THESE VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 04V-107.