RoadVitals

1986 Winnebago Chieftan

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.
3
Latest Nov 28, 2000
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.
1
Latest Oct 1, 1987
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

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Winnebago Chieftan, most frequently naming the fuel system and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 5 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

  • Fuel system266.7%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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

1 campaign 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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Oct 1, 1987
9,041 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.
The remedy: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL VENTING SYSTEM TO MAIN FUEL TANK TO VENT THE SUPPLEMENTAL PRESSURE.
WINNEBAGO IND., INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Nov 28, 2000

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A FUEL VENTING PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN TO DEALER BECAUSE OF RECALL 87V155, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *SLC

NHTSA ID
557627
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 9, 2000

ON A TRIP TO PENNSYLVANIA HAD ONE TIRE START TO SEPARATE, 3 OTHERS ACTUALLY LOST THE TREAD. ALL WERE RELATIVELY NEW TIRES WITH PROBABLY LESS THAN 5000 MILES. TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 75PSI (MAX 80) AND WERE NOT OVERLOADED. ALL TREAD LOSSES WERE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND AT LESS THAN POSTED SPEEDS. DAMAGE TO MOTOR HOME WAS EXTENSIVE, CAUSING HOLES IN THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE TIRES. THE FINAL TREAD LOSS CAUSED A FUEL LINE TO BE RUPTURED AND WIRE BUNDLES TO BE DESTROYED AND CREATED AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY HAZARD.( DOT NUMBER: UPORB37037 TIRE SIZE: 235/85R16 )

NHTSA ID
727252
Incident
Jul 17, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Aug 22, 1998
Fire reported

JULY 26, 1998 WAS WESTBOUND ON I-90 WAS OF STRUGIS, SD TO SEATTLE, WA WHEN A PASSING MOTORIST SIGNALED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH RV OR TOWCAR. UPON STOPPING IMMEDIATELY, EXITED VEHICLE AND STARTED VISUAL INSPECTION. HEARD A SOUND OF FUEL IGNITION FROM LEFT REAR SIDE OF VEHICLE UNDER FUEL FILL DOOR IMMEDIATELY ABOVE EXHAUST PIPE. FLAME CONSUMED VEHICLE IN ABOUT 25 MINUTES. WAS ABLE TO GET WIFE & TWO DOGS OUR AND UNHOOK TOWCAR. LOST AVERYTHING EXCEPT CLOTHES ON OUR BACKS, NO ID'S. FIRST TRIP IN VEHICLE. HEARD OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST WINNEBAGO IN LATE 80'S CONCERNING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ANY INFO AVAILABLE? PLEASE ADVISE WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFO. THANKS.

NHTSA ID
540231
Incident
Jul 26, 1998

Manufacturer communications

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

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 Chieftan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1992100
1991300
1990100
1989010
1988110
1987110
1986Viewing310
1985011
1982010
1981010
1980020
1979120
1972100

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.