1997 Winnebago Adventurer recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Equipment
What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOIST COMPONENTS CAN BECOME LOOSE WHILE TRAVELING AND ALLOW THE SPARE TIRE TO MOVE FROM ITS STORED POSITION TO THE ROAD SURFACE.
What could happen: THE SPARE TIRE CAN CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES.
The fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A PRIMARY SPARE TIRE SUPPORT BRACKET.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1997 ADVENTURER.
- Book a repair at any authorized Winnebago dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 97V012000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
Summary: THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOIST COMPONENTS CAN BECOME LOOSE WHILE TRAVELING AND ALLOW THE SPARE TIRE TO MOVE FROM ITS STORED POSITION TO THE ROAD SURFACE.
Consequence: THE SPARE TIRE CAN CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A PRIMARY SPARE TIRE SUPPORT BRACKET.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 14, 1997.
NOTE: 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 1-515-582-6939. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
2. Equipment
What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. 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.
What could happen: 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.
The fix: 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-…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1997 ADVENTURER.
- Book a repair at any authorized Winnebago dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 10V525000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-767-9101.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EQUIPMENT
Summary: 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: 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.
Notes: 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> .
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1997 Winnebago Adventurer owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Brakes (4), Equipment (2), Transmission / drivetrain (1), Fuel system (1), Gasoline (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
03/22/2014 · Brakes
I HAD PARKED THE VEHICLE IN AUTO PARK IN A GAS STATION IN ANCHORAGE AK. GOTTEN OUT AND WENT TO THE PUMPS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL. I RACED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE; IT STOPPED, RELEASING THE BRAKE IT BEGAN TO ROLL INTO TRAFFIC. THE AUTO BRAKE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE AUTO BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOW…
12/02/2003 · Brakes
THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL WHETHER THE PARK BRAKE WAS USED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE GEAR WAS REPLACED 3-4 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET IN JANUARY 2001 ADVISING OF PARK BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK *SCC *JB
06/26/2003 · Brakes
THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE PARK BRAKE UNIT. *NLM PH *JB
06/10/2002 · Transmission / drivetrain · crash
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER UNSURE IF EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED.*AK
08/16/2001 · Brakes
PARKING BRAKES DOESN'T HOLD AS GOOD AS IT SHOULD, ADVISE R&R TRANS BRAKE & INSPECTED, ADJUST TRANS BRAKE SHOES, EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE & AUTO PARK CABLE.
01/26/2001 · Fuel system
ENGINE SIMPLY QUIT WITHOUT WARNING, HOWEVER IT RESTARTED FAIRLY QUICKLY EACH OF THE 6 OR 7 TIMES THAT IT QUIT, ON 11/25/00 THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY, WHICH REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS INOPERABLE, UNIT THE PUMP ATTACHES TO SHOWED INDICATION OF ELECTRONIC SHORTING AT THE PLUG IN AREA, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. CJ
06/05/2000 · Unknown Or Other
BUTANE TANK HANGS BELOW THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A CORRECT SIZE. YH
10/02/1998 · Electrical system · fire
FUEL PUMP FAILED TWO TIMES, SECOND FUEL PUMP FAILED DUE TO FAULTY POWER LINE WHICH RESULTED IN PUMP FIRE.