U.S. public vehicle records

Winnebago CHIEFTAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

12 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1972 to 1992 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 12 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	4	33.3%
Steering behavior	2	16.7%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch

Parking Brake:Conventional

Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic:Actuator

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	2
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System	2
Engine And Engine Cooling	1
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch	1
Parking Brake:Conventional	1
Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic:Actuator	1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	1

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional: 1; Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic:Actuator: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 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: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 12 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.

1995

1996

1998

1999

2000

2005

2006

1995: 3; 1996: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 3; 2000: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 483364 · 1995-08-25 (August 25, 1995)

LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE SWELLS INSIDE, CAUSING BRAKES TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN VEHICLE PULLING TO THE LEFT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483364 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10122092 · 2005-05-25 (May 25, 2005)

AUTO PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 1991 CHEVY P30 MOTOHOME

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122092 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 483416 · 1995-08-23 (August 23, 1995)

STEERING ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483416 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 959491 · 1995-02-02 (February 2, 1995)

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WHEN FIXED BRAKES LAST FOR 20 TO 500 MILES AND THEN FADE AGAIN, REPLACE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE UNIT/BOOSTER 5 TIMES. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959491 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1979

1980

1981

1982

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1979: 2; 1980: 2; 1981: 1; 1982: 1; 1985: 1; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Winnebago CHIEFTAN model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1972	1	0	Not available
1979	1	2	Not available
1980	0	2	0
1981	0	1	-1
1982	0	1	0
1985	0	1	Not available
1986	3	1	0
1987	1	1	0
1988	1	1	0
1989	0	1	0
1990	1	0	-1
1991	3	0	0
1992	1	0	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 12 records

83.3%Valid incident date10 / 12 records

100.0%Valid filing date12 / 12 records

83.3%Ordered incident and filing dates10 / 12 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	1979	1980	1981	1982	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 548806 ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS Look up ODI 548806 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	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.	266.7% ODI 540231 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 AGA… Look up ODI 540231 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	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.	133.3% ODI 483416 STEERING ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK Look up ODI 483416 at NHTSA ↗	1100.0% ODI 959491 BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WHEN FIXED BRAKES LAST FOR 20 TO 500 MILES AND THEN FADE AGAIN, REPLACE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE UNIT/BOOSTER 5 TIMES. TT Look up ODI 959491 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	1100.0% ODI 10176423 1979 CHIEFTAN CAUGHT ON FIRE. TS THE RV BURNED TO THE GROUND. JB Look up ODI 10176423 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 834377 MOTORHOME HAS A FORD INSTRUMENT PANEL WITH A BAD HEADLIGHT RELAY SWITCH THAT TRIPS, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK Look up ODI 834377 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Parking Brake:Conventional	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	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.	133.3% ODI 854378 AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT ROLLED AWAY DUE TO A FAULTY PARKING BRAKE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK Look up ODI 854378 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic:Actuator	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	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.	133.3% ODI 10122092 AUTO PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 1991 CHEVY P30 MOTOHOME Look up ODI 10122092 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 483364 LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE SWELLS INSIDE, CAUSING BRAKES TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN VEHICLE PULLING TO THE LEFT. *AK Look up ODI 483364 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% 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
No usable records for this analysis.

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

1991: 0 complaints · 1992: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1991	0	0	0
1992	1	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1991	2	1	0
1992	1	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	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System	Engine And Engine Cooling	Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch	Parking Brake:Conventional	Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic:Actuator	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Parking Brake:Conventional	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic:Actuator	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	0	0	0	0	0	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.

Search patterns

2 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 16.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10122092

AUTO PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON 1991 CHEVY P30 MOTOHOME

Look up ODI 10122092 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 959491

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WHEN FIXED BRAKES LAST FOR 20 TO 500 MILES AND THEN FADE AGAIN, REPLACE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE UNIT/BOOSTER 5 TIMES. TT

Look up ODI 959491 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 8.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 959491

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WHEN FIXED BRAKES LAST FOR 20 TO 500 MILES AND THEN FADE AGAIN, REPLACE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE UNIT/BOOSTER 5 TIMES. TT

Look up ODI 959491 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b