RoadVitals

1997 Winnebago Adventurer

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.
11
Latest Mar 22, 2014
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 Oct 26, 2010
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Winnebago Adventurer, most frequently naming the brakes, other / unspecified and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 6 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

  • Brakes440.0%
  • Other / unspecified220.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Fuel system110.0%
  • Transmission110.0%

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
10V525000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 26, 2010
18,461 units potentially affected
The 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. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
The risk: 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 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.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
97V012000

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

Feb 3, 1997
10,590 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THE SPARE TIRE CAN CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A PRIMARY SPARE TIRE SUPPORT BRACKET.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 11
Brakes
Filed Mar 22, 2014

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 ON. I DROVE IT TO SOLDOTNA AK WHERE IT COST ME $800.00 TO REPAIR. THE AUTO BRAKE AGAIN FAILED THIS PAST SUMMER; I DID SOME RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS DISCOVERED TO BECOME DEFECTIVE AND THAT GM HAD CHANGED THE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT FAILED. I HAVE HAD TWO MOTOR HOME SALESMEN TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL. I CALLED GN AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF A RECALL! THE SYSTEM AS BUILT IS DOMED TO FAILURE AND IS DANGER TO DRIVERS WHO DO NOT KNOW THE AUTO PARK BRAKE CAN FAIL!!! . I HAVE CALLED GM AND RECEIVED NO HELPFUL INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574153
Incident
Jun 6, 2002
Mileage
25,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10044794
Incident
Jan 15, 2000
Mileage
17,036 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 26, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10019993
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Mileage
43,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 10, 2002
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
8011370
Incident
Mar 11, 2002
Brakes
Filed Aug 16, 2001

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.

NHTSA ID
9004368
Fuel system
Filed Jan 26, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
559205
Incident
Nov 19, 2000
Filed Jun 5, 2000

BUTANE TANK HANGS BELOW THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A CORRECT SIZE. YH

NHTSA ID
552481
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 1998
Fire reported

FUEL PUMP FAILED TWO TIMES, SECOND FUEL PUMP FAILED DUE TO FAULTY POWER LINE WHICH RESULTED IN PUMP FIRE.

NHTSA ID
541809
Incident
Jun 23, 1998

Manufacturer communications

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

7SB002-24-01A

Service Bulletin sent to all Winnebago dealers. Bulletin outlines the characteristics of new roof sealant being used.

7SB005-23-01A

STRUCTURE

Service Bulletin sent to all Winnebago dealers. Bulletin advises of a manufacturing change to the shower surround sealant process for all units.

7SB009-22-02A

EQUIPMENT

Service Bulletin sent to all dealers. This bulletin advises dealers they no longer need to email Winnebago the signed Vehicle Registration Form, but they should retain a copy for their records.

7SB009-21-02A

EQUIPMENT

Service Bulletin to dealers reminding them to understand their state's Lemon Law and to comply with Winnebago Motorhome mandates outlined in the Policy & Procedure Manual.

7SB010-21-01Z

EQUIPMENT

Service Bulletin to dealers advising them of part sales training opportunities.

7SB014-21-01A

EQUIPMENT

General Parts and Service Letter to dealers detailing the warranty part return procedure.

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

Winnebago Adventurer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025020—
2024020—
2023140—
2022430—
2021730—
2020140—
2019240—
2018050—
2017050—
2016180—
2015050—
2014030—
2013040—
2012030—
2011330—
2010140—
2009040—
2008730—
2007330—
2006350—
2005760—
20042230—
20031650—
20021820—
20011460—
20001450—
19991710—
1998620—
1997Viewing1120—
19961420—
19951320—
1994720—
1993310—
1992311—

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.