U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Winnebago CHIEFTAIN: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

41,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	1	100.0%

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.

Structure:Frame And Members

Structure:Frame And Members: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 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.

2010

2010: 1

Pattern summary

Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10334390 · 2010-06-03 (June 3, 2010)

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE HAVE A 2002 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN MOTOR HOME AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY STUCK OR LOCKED UP. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND ONE SET OF ROTORS WERE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL AND WE PAID FOR ANOTHER SET. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WORK HORSE CHASSIS FOR OUR MOTOR HOME IS TO BE OR HAS BEEN RECALLED AND TO DATE THERE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NO PARTS ARE YET AVAILABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD LAST YEAR PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO PARK THEIR MOTOR HOMES UNTIL THE PARTS WE…

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334390 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

09V300000 · Equipment

Reported: 2009-07-29 (July 29, 2009)

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 1,547 MODEL YEAR 2001-2003 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 1, 2001 TO DECEMBER 31, 2002, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.

Consequence: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 09E-027). OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

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 ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

100.0%Usable mileage1 / 1 records

100.0%Valid incident date1 / 1 records

100.0%Valid filing date1 / 1 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 1 records

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.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Structure:Frame And Members	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 744634 I WILL FAX COMPLETE DETAIL AS IT EXCEEDS 2000 CHARACTERS 04/27/01 AM PLEASE ATTACH TO THIS FORM FAX TO [phone removed]. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK Look up ODI 744634 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 8001310 SLIDE OUTS ON THE MOTOR WILL AT TIMES AUTOMATICALLY SLIDE OUT. THIS PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.AK SLC Look up ODI 8001310 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10334390 · 41,000 mi INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE HAVE A 2002 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN MOTOR HOME AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY STUCK OR LOCKED UP. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND ONE SET OF ROTORS WERE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL AND WE PAID FOR ANOTHER SET. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WORK HORSE CHASSIS FOR OUR MOTOR HOME IS TO BE OR HAS BEEN RECALLED AND TO DATE THERE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NO PARTS ARE YET AVAILABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD LAST YEAR PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO PARK THEIR MOTOR HOMES UNTIL THE PARTS WE… Look up ODI 10334390 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 566404 WHILE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WITH THE HANDLE SUPPORT, THE HANDLE ON THE MOTOR HOME GAVE WAY-CAUSING CONSUMER TO FALL. *YD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOUNTING BRACKETS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC AND OBVIOUSLY UNDER DEIGNED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRACKETS SHOULD BE MADE FROM METAL. Look up ODI 566404 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Parking Brake	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	250.0% ODI 10101366 · 1,767 mi WHILE PARKED AND EMERGENCY AND WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED IT DISENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF CONTROL. AK THE BRAKE PADS HAD BURNED OUT WITH NO WARNING. SC *JB Look up ODI 10101366 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Structure:Body	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 10454923 · 78,000 mi THE LEFT SIDE THE ROOF CAME LOOSE SITTING IN STORAGE FROM WINDS OF A LESSER SPEED THAN IF ONE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THERE HAS BEEN CASES WHERE THE ROOF ON THESE MODELS HAVE CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. THE ROOF MEMBRANE IS BIG ENOUGH TO BLOCK A FOLLOWING VEHICLES VIEW IF IT WERE TO COME OFF IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. IT IS CAUSED BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTIONING BODY PART. LAWS IN SOME STATES ARE VERY STRICT IN SECURING LOADS, T… Look up ODI 10454923 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Tires	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 10002327 · 28,470 mi 2 OF 6 OF THE ORIGINAL TIRE HAVE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS (MICHELIN 235/80 X 22.5 XRV TIRES). FIRST TIRE BLEWOUT ON RIGHT HAND INSIDE REAR DUAL (TIRE DOT # B6BJBVJX078, TIRE DEPTH REMAINING IS 12/32 INCHES), THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON OCT. 27, 2002 WITH 30770 MILES, THIS BLOWOUT WAS ON THE LEFT REAR INSIDE DUAL BETWEEN THE REAR DUALS (TIRE DOT# B6BJBVJX078, TIRE DEPTH REMAINING IS 12/32 INCHES), CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL ORIGINAL TIRES . *NLM Look up ODI 10002327 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 10139250 · 45,000 mi DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD OF MOTOR HOME. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE CABLE HARNESS. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER TOOK INFORMATION AND OFFERED NO HELP AT THEIR EXPENSE. *AK Look up ODI 10139250 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 10145065 · 54,000 mi DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE SMOKE WAS A RESULT OF FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DASH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE BEFORE IT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A SHORT IN HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND THE REPLACEMENT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06 Look up ODI 10145065 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 10164710 · 29,605 mi JUNE 2005 MY WIFE AND I WERE LEAVING ROSWELL NM IN OUR 1999 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I CALLED OUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CARRIER AND WAS DIRECTED TO A REPAIR FACILITY A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. AFTER LISTENING TO THE NOISE AND LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED IT MUST BE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK. THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET LOCALLY AND HAD TO ORDER ONE. WE LEFT THE MOTOR HOME WITH THEM AND PROCEEDED TO CARLSBAD NM IN OUR TOWED VEHICLE. UPON OUR RETURN A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE MECH… Look up ODI 10164710 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No 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 failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Structure:Frame And Members	Too few reports for a range	41,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10334390 · 41,000 mi INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE HAVE A 2002 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN MOTOR HOME AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY STUCK OR LOCKED UP. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND ONE SET OF ROTORS WERE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL AND WE PAID FOR ANOTHER SET. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE WORK HORSE CHASSIS FOR OUR MOTOR HOME IS TO BE OR HAS BEEN RECALLED AND TO DATE THERE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NO PARTS ARE YET AVAILABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD LAST YEAR PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO PARK THEIR MOTOR HOMES UNTIL THE PARTS WE… Look up ODI 10334390 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

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

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2010: 0 complaints · 2011: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2010	0	0	0
2011	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2010	0	0	0
2011	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 co-occurrence matrix
Component	Structure:Frame And Members
Structure:Frame And Members	—

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.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.