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1999 Winnebago Chieftain

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 6 of 13 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.

  • Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2006
Steering

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, AND WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES SERVICE…

Read full complaint

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, AND WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY ALL CLAIM THAT NO SUCH PROBLEM EXISTS, AND NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS HAVE EVER BEEN ISSUED. THE PERSON TAKING MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT FILED BY PHONE (NHTSA ODI#10160922) MIS-CHARACTERIZED THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT. FORD AND WINNEBAGO DO NOT CLAIM THAT IT DOESN'T APPLY TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BY YEAR OR VIN, RATHER THAT NO SUCH PROBLEM DOES OR DID EXIST ON FORD'S HEAVY DUTY TRUCK CHASSIS, FOR 1999, 2000, OR ANY OTHER MODEL YEARS. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #00V246111. FAILURE OF THE DESCRIBED PARTS WOULD RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IN A 22,000LB VEHICLE IN WHICH I AND MY FAMILY WERE RIDING, PROBABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE ANY CONSIDERATION TO MY REQUESTS FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION TO THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL CALLS TO NHTSA HAVE RESULTED IN THE ADVICE THAT I FILE THIS COMPLAINT ON-LINE, AND THEN TAKE IT UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161297

Official recalls

3

10V525000 · Equipment

Oct 26, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

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 1-800-767-9101 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

08V265000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Jun 13, 2008

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.

Consequence & remedy

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 1-641-585-3535.

02V276006 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Dec 3, 2002

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 & remedy

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.