RoadVitals

2021 Winnebago Revel

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.
8
Latest Oct 2, 2024
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.
5
Latest May 7, 2024
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Winnebago Revel, most frequently naming the body & structure, electrical and other / unspecified categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 12 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

  • Body & structure325.0%
  • Electrical325.0%
  • Other / unspecified325.0%
  • Engine18.3%
  • Powertrain (other)18.3%
  • Steering18.3%

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

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

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
24V318000

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

May 7, 2024
15,572 units potentially affected
The defect: Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago) is recalling certain 2017-2025 Revel, 2020-2025 Navion, Porto, View, Vita, 2022-2023 Adventure Van, and 2024-2025 Ekko motorhomes. Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wires can be caught in the seat mechanism when the driver or passenger seats are adjusted.
The risk: Damaged wires can prevent air bags from deploying in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and re-route the wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2024. Owners may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-641-585-6939 or 1-800-537-1885. Winnebago's number for this recall is 185.
Winnebago Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number 185View on NHTSA.gov
23V663000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Sep 29, 2023
4,968 units potentially affected
The defect: Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Revel motorhomes. The cables near the lithium batteries may contact the battery hold-down brackets, which can damage the cables and cause a short circuit.
The risk: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will reroute the current carrying cables and secure them, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 28, 2023. Owners may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-641-585-6939 or 1-800-537-1885. Winnebago's number for this recall is 178.
Winnebago Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number 178View on NHTSA.gov
22V863000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Nov 21, 2022
4,521 units potentially affected
The defect: Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Revel motorhomes. The retractable awning may extend unintentionally during transit.
The risk: An awning extending unintentionally during transit may become a distraction or road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will install a power switch and a relay to the BT12 module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-641-585-6939 or 1-800-537-1885. Winnebago's number for this recall is 171.
Winnebago Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number 171View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureElectrical
Filed Oct 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Winnebago Revel built on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 chassis. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V863000 (Structure) and 23V663000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11617756
Incident
Oct 2, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Aug 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Winnebago Revel RV built on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V863000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11539162
Incident
Nov 1, 2022
Engine
Filed Jul 17, 2023

My engine’s cooling fan blade and clutch assembly became unscrewed from its belt-driven shaft. Once unscrewed, the assembly was suspended at its hub by 2 cables to the engine, one mechanical and one electrical. The suspended and swinging assembly then damaged the fan’s threaded shaft mount and the vehicle’s radiator. In other reported cases*, damage has also occurred to the radiator shroud, drive belts or other critical engine parts. Thankfully, in my case the failure occurred near my home on a quiet neighborhood street at low speed. Once I located the problem, I was able to temporarily suspend and anchor the fan and clutch assembly to the radiator shroud and drive the van home. Had the failure occurred on a busy highway at speed, much more damage could easily have occurred and potentially have led to a serious accident. * There are many cases of this occurring on Winnebago Revels which are built using a VS30 Mercedes Sprinter with a 2nd alternator. The issue affects the vans of several recent build years. See the ongoing discussion at this link: https://www.winnebagorevelforum.com/forum/revel-tech/problem-solving-owners-helping-each-other/other-revel-problems/5964-cooling-fan-self-destruct

NHTSA ID
11532882
Incident
Jun 29, 2023
Electrical
Filed Jul 17, 2023

The house battery bank in the rear of this RV contains two lithium Ion 125ma Batteries. The mounting system used to hold these batteries allows them to slide around, the movement of the batteries and hold-down brackets allows contact between the sharp metal hold-down brackets and the battery cables themselves. The resulting chaffing of the battery cables causes them to short out and catch fire. I caught mine barely in time, as you can see in the pictures the cable coating is being worn through and is compromised. Others have posted on this and have had fires.

NHTSA ID
11532649
Incident
Jul 17, 2023
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 21, 2022

Awning self deployed while parked (thankfully) On inspection of the motor parts found that the housing tabs had broken allowing the awning to self deploy. The motor also acts as the ‘brake’ for the awning

NHTSA ID
11494453
Incident
Aug 15, 2022
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 3, 2022

2021 Winnebago Revel - When starting the engine, the Carefree awning automatically deployed and the awning motor never turned off, violently extending awning arms. I had to turn the engine off to disengage the awning motor from trying to extend. I was able to manually reel in the awning and zip tie it together. After being instructed to do this by a carefree awning customer service representative, I was able to do so, and make an appointment to my local Winnebago dealer for repair.

NHTSA ID
11492194
Incident
Nov 3, 2022
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 3, 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Winnebago Revel built on a 2020 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter Chassis. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, a load noise was heard coming from the vehicle and suddenly the passenger’s side awning inadvertently deployed and extended out from the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 24,000.

NHTSA ID
11487708
Incident
Sep 29, 2022
Mileage
24,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 12, 2021

THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 20V-474) FROM AUGUST 12 2020. I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY VEHICLE AFTER THIS DATE AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED. IN TWO CALLS TO WINNEBAGO CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY ALSO CLAIM MY VEHICLE IS UNAFFECTED AND WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO SALE. HOWEVER, MY ALTERNATOR BELT IS CLEARLY MISALIGNED AND IS RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT SQUEALING WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. I HAVE COMPARED MY VEHICLE WITH THE POSTED PHOTOS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE FIX PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED SHIMS TO ENSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT. SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE INCORRECT CONFIGURATION (TOP) COMPARED TO MY VEHICLE (BOTTOM). AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY ARE IDENTICAL, MEANING THAT THE NEW SHIM WAS NOT INSTALLED AND THE BELT IS STILL MISALIGNED. WINNEBAGO HAS REFERRED ME TO SEVERAL 'AUTHORIZED SERVICE' LOCATIONS BUT NONE WILL ACCOMMODATE THIS ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM, THEY CANNOT ACCEPT MY VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION UNTIL MID-APRIL. THREE MONTHS AWAY IS A LONG TIME TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A SAFETY DEFECT THAT WAS KNOWN PRIOR TO DELIVERY (AND WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SOLD AFTER THE AUGUST 12 2020 NHTSA NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 49 U.S.C. 30112(A)(3)).

NHTSA ID
11387741
Incident
Dec 21, 2020
Mileage
5,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

7SB002-26-01A

ENGINE

This Technical Service Bulletin provides guidance for replacing or retrofitting the alternator on certain Winnebago Revel and Ekko motorhomes equipped with Balmar alternators.

7SB009-24-01A

Service Bulletin sent to dealers advising of the required legal verbiage each RO should document.

7SB002-24-01A

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

12-08-22-MB

PARKING BRAKE

Notification sent to all Winnebago Era, View, Navion & Revel Dealers advising of interest reimbursement on all units affected by the stop sell recall issued by Mercedes Benz.

11-18-22-MB

PARKING BRAKE

Letter to all Winnebago dealers notifying them of the Mercedes Benz recall affecting Winnebago and dealer inventory and that effective immediately Winnebago and dealers are unable to ship, sell or deliver affected products until recall is remedied.

2019-2022 Sprint

PARKING BRAKE

Notification to all dealers advising them of a Mercedes-Benz recall regarding the park lock function.

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 Revel by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026020—
2025020—
2024330—
2023540—
2022430—
2021Viewing850—
2020420—
2019030—
2018140—
2017020—
2016010—
2015010—
2014010—
2013010—

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.