- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2003 Winnebago Chieftain Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2003 Winnebago Chieftain have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in October 2010 for the equipment.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Chieftain year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2003 Winnebago Chieftain 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
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
Be the first Chieftain owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 2003 Winnebago Chieftain yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Winnebago Chieftain: every year compared
All Chieftain years2003 Winnebago Chieftain vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Winnebago Chieftain | 0 | 2 | C | |
| 2003 Winnebago Adventurer | 16 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 2003 Winnebago Brave | 12 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Winnebago Sightseer | 11 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Winnebago Journey | 5 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 2003 Winnebago Minnie Winnie | 3 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Winnebago Minnie | 3 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2003 Winnebago Itasca Sunova | 2 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2003 Winnebago Itasca | 2 | 0 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2003 Winnebago Chieftain
Does the 2003 Winnebago Chieftain have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2003 Winnebago Chieftain: equipment (October 2010); equipment (July 2009). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2003 Winnebago Chieftain had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2003 Winnebago Chieftain a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Winnebago Chieftain 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 Winnebago Chieftain years have the most complaints?
1999 (13), 1998 (4), 2000 (4). See every Winnebago Chieftain year compared.
What should I do if my 2003 Winnebago Chieftain 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