RoadVitals

1998 Ultimate Advantage

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Dec 10, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Dec 3, 2002
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ultimate Advantage, most frequently naming the suspension, tires & wheels and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Suspension350.0%
  • Tires & wheels233.3%
  • Electrical116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
02V276006

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Dec 3, 2002
631 units potentially affected
The 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 PROPANE GAS TO ACCUMULATE IN THE BURNER AREA.
The risk: THE CONSEQUENCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The 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.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC.View on NHTSA.gov
00V378000

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Dec 4, 2000
87 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. THE FRONT AXLE AND/OR FRONT TIRES CAN ENCOUNTER UNEQUAL SIDE-TO-SIDE LOADING DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE LOADING OR THE VEHICLE'S LEVELING DEVICE BECOMING IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED.
The risk: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, ONE OR MORE OF THE FRONT AXLE COMPONENTS COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL CORRECT THIS OVERLOADING CONDITION BY REPLACING DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS INCLUDING TIRES, WHERE NECESSARY.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.Manufacturer number 77View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Suspension
Filed Dec 10, 2002

THE RECALL REMEDY IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS STILL UNABLE TO STEER OR CONTROL THEIR VEHICLE AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE FOR THE OVERLOADING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT "THEY DID ALL THEY CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM". TS

NHTSA ID
8024048
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 7, 2002

2 BLOW OUTS (ZIPPER) AT INSIDE DUAL RIGHT REAR WITH IN 3 WEEKS. TIRES AND MOTOR HOME HAD BEEN CHECKED PRIOR TO EACH BLOW OUT AND AFTER AND MEETS MICHELIN STANDARDS FOR PRESSURE AND WEIGHT.

NHTSA ID
765355
Incident
Jul 20, 2002
Suspension
Filed Mar 11, 2002

FRONT END WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. MANUFATURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED TRYING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM FORL 2 YEARS. FREIGHTLINER HAS OFFERED TO USE A NEW PART THAT MAY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. BUT, PART HAS NEVER BEEN USED, AND MAY ADD MORE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005288
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 2001
Fire reported1 injury reported

RELAY FOR SOLENOID HAS MALFUNCTIONED FOUR TIMES SINCE JUNE 2000. LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN CONSUMER TURNED GENERATOR ON ,AND RELAY FAILED, CAUSING A FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT, BUT BURNED HIS HANDS IN THE PROCESS. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE EACH TIME, AND HAS FAILED TO CORRECTLY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
896960
Incident
Jun 19, 2000
Suspension
Filed Feb 23, 2001

RECALL OO V 378 000/OVER LOADING: REPLACEMENT OF LARGER TIRES ON FRONT, BUT SMALLER TIRES REMAIN ON REAR. ASKING NHTSA TO SHARE SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAS CHANGED THE 2001 MODEL AND HAVE THE LARGER TIRES. *YH

NHTSA ID
881310
Incident
Feb 7, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 23, 2001

BODY VIN : 80Q91A224220, RECALL 00V378000 DONE, VEHICLE NO LONGER STEERS AS BEFORE, STEERING WHEEL IS 1/2 TURNED OFF, AND SENSITIVITY OF STEERING WHEEL IS NOT CORRECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
878786
Incident
Jan 22, 2001

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

7SB0020202A

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

INFORMATION REGARDING ENTRY DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT SERVICE CAMPAIGN. *YH

7SB0030101A

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ON SOME COACHES INCLUDING THE 2000 AND 2001 MODEL YEAR ULTIMATE ADVANTAGE / ULTIMATE FREEDOM, THE CENTRAL A/C UNIT MAY HAVE A MISALIGNED SEAL BETWEEN THE EVAPORATOR COIL AND THE RETURN AIR INTAKE PLENUM BENEATH THE RIGHT REAR AREA OF THE COACH. A GAP IN THIS SEAL COULD ALLOW UNFILTERED OUTSIDE AIR TO BE DRAWN INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS, REDUCING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM. A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION WILL REVEAL WHETHER THIS SEAL MISALIGNMENT EXISTS ON THE COACH. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ultimate Advantage by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004210—
2003100—
2002010—
2001010—
2000030—
1999010—
1998Viewing620—
1997120—
1996010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.