2002 Winnebago Sightseer Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Winnebago Sightseer, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes535.7%
- Other / unspecified214.3%
- Electrical214.3%
- Steering17.1%
- Body & structure17.1%
- Suspension17.1%
- Driver assistance17.1%
- Engine17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
We were driving the Rv home immediately after purchase. I was in the vehicle with my two children. I was traveling down a flat road at roughly 40 mph when the brakes began to drag. I thought possibly it was simply because the rv was so large and I had never driven one that big before. Until the brakes would no longer work at all. I tried pumping them a few times and the pedal just hit the floor. Thank goodness I was safely able to put into neutral while using the e brake to coast off the road. I’m beyond grateful my family wasn’t harmed. I had to have the vehicle towed to my home and now I seriously worry about the safety of it. I have read in numerous forums upon searching that there have been many recalls on the brakes in workhorse chassis from 2001- 2007 I believe. I’ve called everyone I could think to call, checking for a recall as exactly per the recall states my vehicle malfunctioned. The dealer is not willing to help me. These brakes failed completely. Please advise
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V186000 (SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM WITH THE MANUFACTURER IF HIS PARTICULAR VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF UPDATED 03/12/2013 *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V243000 CONCERNING RECREATIONAL VEHICLE:LPG FURNACE COOKING RANGE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HIS VEHICLE. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. IT HAS BEEN NINE MONTHS AND NO ONE HAS CONTACTED HIM. CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE. *AK
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OVER LOADED. *AK THE NEW TELEVISION WHICH OPERATED FROM A 12 VOLT INVERTER OVERLOADED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TELEVISION AND POWER INVERTER AND INSTALLED AN AUTO 25 AMP BREAKER. CONSUMER REMOVED THE AUTO RESET BREAKER AND INSTALLED A STANDARD 25 AMP FUSE. HOWEVER CIRCUIT WAS STILL OVERLOADED. DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO ASSIST ANYTHING FURTHER. *TT *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN TRYING TO START THE MOTOR HOME, I NOTED THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE KEY, IT STARTED. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A PUNGENT ODOR, INDICATIVE OF BURNING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND BURNT WIRING AND CONNECTORS BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. THE IGNITION SWITCH APPARENTLY OVERHEATED, DISTORTED AND CONTINUED BURNING IN PLACE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WORKHORSE, THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER, SELLS AN AFTERMARKET KIT TO MITIGATE THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS SWITCH IS OVERLOADED AND THE LOAD SHOULD BE DECREASED ON IT, OR THE SWITCH SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH THE INCREASED LOAD COMPENSATION INCLUDED. WINNEBAGO/WORKHORSE SHOULD BE SUPPLYING A "FIX" FOR THIS PROBLEM AND INFORMING THE MOTORING PUBLIC OF THE DANGER INHERENT IN THE FLAWED DESIGN OF THIS IGNITION SYSTEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH WIRES MELTED. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK AUTO PARK SYSTEM FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, SPARK PLUG WIRES BURNED UP. IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE FUEL PUMP, BUT VEHICLE STILL MALFUNCTIONED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, ENGINE TEMPERATURE ROSE AROUND 210 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. INSTALLED NEW THERMOSTAT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHEN BEING DRIVEN UPHILL. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT SPARK PLUGS WHERE WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION WIRES. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE ON THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE INSTABILITY PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN ISSUE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT BEING BUILT IN REARWARD OF THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OVER STEERING PROBLEM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE ON THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE INSTABILITY PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN ISSUE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT BEING BUILT IN REARWARD OF THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OVER STEERING PROBLEM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V186000 (SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM WITH THE MANUFACTURER IF HIS PARTICULAR VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF UPDATED 03/12/2013 *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
2002 MOTORHOME WITH A RECALL FOR THE SCDS RECALL. CUSTOMER STATES THE MECHANIC UNPLUGGED THE ( SCDS) SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. MECHANIC ALSO STATED IT WOULD BE DECEMBER WHEN THEY COULD ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. *KB THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO THE KNOW THE STATUS OF VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/03/07 *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH WIRES MELTED. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK AUTO PARK SYSTEM FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, SPARK PLUG WIRES BURNED UP. IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE FUEL PUMP, BUT VEHICLE STILL MALFUNCTIONED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, ENGINE TEMPERATURE ROSE AROUND 210 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. INSTALLED NEW THERMOSTAT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHEN BEING DRIVEN UPHILL. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT SPARK PLUGS WHERE WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION WIRES. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .