1998 Winnebago Adventurer recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. 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 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 1998 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> .
2. Fuel system
What's wrong, in plain English: Fuel lines, tank or pump. Fuel problems usually mean a leak, and leaks mean fire risk. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. A LIQUID PROPANE (LP) HOSE WAS INSTALLED IN THE RANGE BURNER BOX. THE ELEVATED TEMPERATURE THE HOSE IS EXPOSED TO INSIDE THIS BOX CAN PREMATURELY AGE THE HOSE CAUSING A POSSIBLE LP LEAK.
What could happen: LP GAS LEAKAGE COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN BODILY INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE FLEXIBLE HOSE OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE BOX.
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 1998 ADVENTURER.
- Book a repair at any authorized Winnebago dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 98V015000.
- 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: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. A LIQUID PROPANE (LP) HOSE WAS INSTALLED IN THE RANGE BURNER BOX. THE ELEVATED TEMPERATURE THE HOSE IS EXPOSED TO INSIDE THIS BOX CAN PREMATURELY AGE THE HOSE CAUSING A POSSIBLE LP LEAK.
Consequence: LP GAS LEAKAGE COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN BODILY INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE FLEXIBLE HOSE OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE BOX.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 16, 1998. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR MOTOR HOMES 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 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1998 Winnebago Adventurer owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Engine (3), Wheels / tires (1), Body / structure (1), Brakes (1), Electrical system (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (7)
08/01/2005 · Wheels / tires
DT: GOODYEAR TIRES BLEW OUT ON THE FRONT RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE AND 6 MONTHS LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE ALSO BLEWOUT. GOODYEAR, 1998, RADIAL TIRES, 245/70R19.5. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THEY BLEWOUT. THESE WERE THE RECOMMENDED SIZE TIRE FOR THE WINNEBAGO. CONSUMER NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES BL…
09/08/2003 · Body / structure
THE LAMINATION ON EACH SIDE NEAR THE REAR OF VEHICLE WAS PEELING OFF. CONSUMER FEARS THAT IF THE PEELING CONTINUES THE END CAPS THAT HOLD THE TWO CORNERS DOWN WILL EVENTUALLY SNAP OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
05/13/2003 · Brakes
PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED WHILE IN MOTION. SWITCH FAILED ON AUTO PARK BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND LOCKUP. LUCKILY WAS MOVING SLOWLY TO PARKING AREA, COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON A NARROW TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH ZERO SHOULDER. *JB
09/06/2000 · Engine
ON A FORD CHASSIS, V10 TRITON ENGINE; IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RAIN STORM, AIR FILTER GETS SATURATED WITH RAIN WHICH CAUSES FILTER TO GET CLOGGED UP, AND VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN DON'T DRIVE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN.*AK THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES BECAUSE P…
09/06/2000 · Engine
PLEASE NOTE THE WINNEBAGO MOTORHOME IS ON A 1999 FORD SUPER DUTY F CHASSIS WITH A 6.8L V-10 ENGINE. IN A MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN THE AIR FILTER BECOMES SATURATED WITH WATER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RUN ROUGH OR STALL. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE STALL ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASSIONS, I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE START TO RUN ROUGH AN…
09/06/2000 · Engine
PLEASE NOTE THE WINNEBAGO MOTORHOME IS ON A 1999 FORD SUPER DUTY F CHASSIS WITH A 6.8L V-10 ENGINE. IN A MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN THE AIR FILTER BECOMES SATURATED WITH WATER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RUN ROUGH OR STALL. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE STALL ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASSIONS, I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE START TO RUN ROUGH AN…
06/06/2000 · Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENLY SHUTDOWN. THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ADVENTURER STARTED AGAIN AFTER PULLING SOME OF THE FUSES WHICH WERE NOT BLOWN OUT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED AND STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML