1997 Winnebago BRAVE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
15,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Parking Brake:Conventional is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 66.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 66.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Parking Brake:Conventional: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Parking Brake:Conventional leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11102190 · 2018-06-15 (June 15, 2018)
THE SPARE TIRE HOIST MALFUNCTIONED AND ALLOWED THE SPARE TIRE TO LOWER ITSELF DOWN TO THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE DANGLING BY THE WIRE ALMOST ON THE ROAD WHEN I WAS STOPPED GETTING GAS. WAS ABLE TO UNHOOK THE SPARE FROM THE WIRE AND STORE THE SPARE INSIDE THE MOTOR HOME. SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO PROBLEM ON 1995 WINNEBAGOS FOR WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSUED. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR CAR FOLLOWING IF SPARE HAD RELEASED BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING TRIED TO GET WINNEBAGO TO FIX IT BUT THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 562290 · 2002-05-15 (May 15, 2002)
CONSUMER REQUESTS RECALL REPAIRS ON HIS P-30 CHASSIS MOTOR HOME WHICH IS ROLLING FORWARD WITH PARKING BRAKES APPLIED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER NOT TO PARK ON HILLS. *TT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEALS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE AUTO BRAKE SYSTEM NEVER WORKED. THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE SEALS, THE BRAKE SHOES AND ADJUSTED THE SYSTEM. FOR THE FIRST TIME, CONSUMER EXPLAINS, THE PARKING SYSTEM HOLDS. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 562290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 749799 · 2001-08-04 (August 4, 2001)
JULY 16, 2001 RECEIVED LETTER FROM CHEVROLET DIVISION-GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING CRASHES CAUSED BY AUTO BRAKE/PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM NOT HOLDING WHEN VEHICLES PARKED. MY AUTO BRAKE/PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVE SINCE VEHICLE FIRST DELIVERED, DEALER EXPLAINED AS SLOP/LAG IN TRANSMISSION PARK POSITION. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED VEHICLE DOES NOT ACTUALLY HAVE A PARKING PAWL IN TRANSMISSION, IT WAS REMOVED AT SOME TIME BY CHEVROLET. HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SEVICE, THEN HAVE BEEN NO HELP AND PEOPLE ARE NOT TRAINED TO FIELD CALLS FROM CUSTOMERS REGARD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 749799 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V525000 · Equipment
Reported: 2010-10-26 (October 26, 2010)
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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 457.1%ODI 10243293 · 8,272 miI HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED A 2 WEEK TRIP DRIVING APPROX 1800 MILES. WAS TAKING MY MOTORHOME TO A DEALER TO HAVE A ROCK GUARD INSTALLED WHEN IT STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND SHIFTING FUNNY. THIS WAS IN TOWN WITH EASY DRIVING. I QUICKLY NOTICED THE SMELL OF OVERHEATED BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE, PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK. I CARRY AN INFRARED THERMOMETER AND TOOK THE TEMPS OF ALL 4 WHEEL'S DISC BRAKES. THE FRONT RIGHT (PASSENGER) BRAKE WAS READING OVER 400 DEGREES AND THE 3 OTHERS WERE READING IN APPROXIMATELY THE 125… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 342.9%ODI 10681106 · 54,134 miTRAVELING NORTH ON I81 NEAR GREENCASTLE,PA. IN INCLEMENT WINTER CONDITIONS AND EXTREMELY ROUGH PAVEMENT ,THE ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC EMERGENCY BRAKE SUDDENLY CAME ON AT 65MPH NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND OF THE BRAKE ENGAGING THE DRIVESHAFT AND SMELLED HOT COMPONENTS. WE LIMPED OFF THE INTERSTATE AD FOUND KEYSTONE RV CENTER WHERE REPAIR/INSPECTION WAS PERORMED FOR $366.72. ADDITIONAL WORK WAS LATER PERFORMED AT FURTHER COST. *TR | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10658718 · 2,000 mi3 OF THE 4 BRAKE CALIPERS WERE FOUND HAVE SIGNIFICANT LEAKS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. *TR | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10658720 · 2,000 miWHILE CLIMBING A STEEP GRADE, ENTIRE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE DUE TO CONTINUOUS ENGINE POWER SURGE. VEHICLE IS STILL BEING DIAGNOSED, BUT IS BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY WIRING DAMAGED CAUSED DURING ASSEMBLE OF HOUSING TO CHASSIS. *TR | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Structure | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Parking Brake | 114.3%ODI 10351818 · 48,700 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO BRAVE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE AUTO PARK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT IF THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD MOST LIKELY LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,700. THE HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR STARTED LEAKING UPDATED 12/30/10 | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | Too few reports for a range | 15,800 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11102190 · 15,800 miTHE SPARE TIRE HOIST MALFUNCTIONED AND ALLOWED THE SPARE TIRE TO LOWER ITSELF DOWN TO THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE DANGLING BY THE WIRE ALMOST ON THE ROAD WHEN I WAS STOPPED GETTING GAS. WAS ABLE TO UNHOOK THE SPARE FROM THE WIRE AND STORE THE SPARE INSIDE THE MOTOR HOME. SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO PROBLEM ON 1995 WINNEBAGOS FOR WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSUED. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR CAR FOLLOWING IF SPARE HAD RELEASED BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING TRIED TO GET WINNEBAGO TO FIX IT BUT THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM. |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2017: 0 complaints · 2018: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Parking Brake:Conventional | Power Train:Clutch Assembly | Unknown Or Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parking Brake:Conventional | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 0 | — | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.