- The problem
- Certain motor homes equipped with norcold refrigerator cooling units model numbers 442, 443, 452, ev452, 453, 462, ev462, 463, ev463, 482, ev482, 483, ev483, 874, and 875. These refrigerators can experience a break down in a rubber seal within the gas valve. As the rubber seal ages, a leak may occur, allowing propane gas to accumulate in the burner area.
- The risk
- The consequence can result in a fire, possibly causing serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Norcold will notify its customers and provide a replacement gas valve free of charge. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact norcold service center at 1-800-667-3005 or winnebago at 641-585-3535.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Ultimate Advantage Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 1998 Ultimate Advantage with NHTSA, most often about the suspension (3) and the wheels & tires (2). Those complaints describe 1 fire and 1 injury. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in December 2002 for the recreational vehicle / trailer. For comparison, the 1997 has 1 and the 1999 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Advantage year, for its age
#195 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 6
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1998 Ultimate Advantage problems
Share of all 6 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1998 Ultimate Advantage recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Vehicle description: motor homes. The front axle and/or front tires can encounter unequal side-to-side loading due to inappropriate loading or the vehicle's leveling device becoming improperly adjusted.
- The risk
- Should this occur, one or more of the front axle components could fail increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will correct this overloading condition by replacing defective components including tires, where necessary.
What owners say
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6 complaints about the 1998 Ultimate Advantage
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The recall remedy is not fixing the problem. Consumer is still unable to steer or control their vehicle after the recall was done for the overloading. The manufacturer stated that "they did all they can do to fix the problem". Ts
2 Blow outs (zipper) at inside dual right rear with in 3 weeks. Tires and motor home had been checked prior to each blow out and after and meets michelin standards for pressure and weight.
Front end wanders all over the road. Manufaturer and dealer have been contacted trying to resolve the problem forl 2 years. Freightliner has offered to use a new part that may remedy the problem. But, part has never been used, and may add more problems. *Ak
Relay for solenoid has malfunctioned four times since june 2000. Last incident occurred when consumer turned generator on ,and relay failed, causing a fire. Consumer was able to put fire out, but burned his hands in the process. Dealership has examined vehicle each time, and has failed to correctly remedy the problem. Please provide any additional information / attachments.*Ak
Recall oo v 378 000/over loading: replacement of larger tires on front, but smaller tires remain on rear. Asking nhtsa to share some light on this matter. *Ak the manufacturer has changed the 2001 model and have the larger tires. *Yh
Body vin : 80q91a224220, recall 00v378000 done, vehicle no longer steers as before, steering wheel is 1/2 turned off, and sensitivity of steering wheel is not correct.*Ak
Ultimate Advantage: every year compared
All Advantage yearsQuestions about the 1998 Ultimate Advantage
Does the 1998 Ultimate Advantage have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 1998 Ultimate Advantage: recreational vehicle / trailer (December 2002); front (December 2000). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ultimate Advantage?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the suspension (3), wheels & tires (2), electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 1998 Ultimate Advantage had?
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 23, 2001 and the latest on December 10, 2002. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 1998 Ultimate Advantage a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 11 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Ultimate Advantage year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ultimate Advantage years have the most complaints?
1998 (6), 2004 (2), 1997 (1). See every Ultimate Advantage year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Ultimate Advantage has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data