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1998 Winnebago Chieftain Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1998 Winnebago Chieftain has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 19,833 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the parking brake. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

EQUIPMENT 10V525000 2010-10-26 18,461 affected
Defect

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. …

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…

EQUIPMENT 02V276006 2002-12-03 631 affected
Defect

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…

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 98V015000 1998-01-26 741 affected
Defect

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.

Complaints by component

PARKING BRAKE
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints5

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“While parked and emergency and with the brake applied it disengaged. As a result, the vehicle rolled out of control. *ak the brake pads had burned out with no warning. *sc *jb”

PARKING BRAKE · reported 1998-03-25

“While parked and emergency and with the brake applied it disengaged. As a result, the vehicle rolled out of control. *ak the brake pads had burned out with no warning. *sc *jb”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS · reported 1998-03-25

“Park brake system is periodically adjusted, if not fully engage, allowed the vehicle to roll. *bf the consumer stated the dealer found reservoir for the fluid empty and the converter to the pump was fluid of fluid and not making connections, also the pressure switch was leaking. A new switch,…”

PARKING BRAKE · reported 1998-03-12

“While driving in rain the air filter intake pulls water into the air filter causing engine to misfire and run poorly, unable to find correction for condition at this time. Mjs”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

“Consumer states having problems with monoxide carbon. Dealer was contacted. Ts”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Winnebago Chieftain as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.