2003 Winnebago Adventurer
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Winnebago › Adventurer › 2003
These records cover every 2003 Winnebago Adventurer. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 2003 Winnebago Adventurer. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
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…
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
On certain motor homes, the roof vent for the optional 4-door refrigerator was incorrectly located.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This can allow excessive heat buildup which has the potential to ignite surrounding materials, resulting in personal injury and/oi vehicle and property damage.
Remedy
Dealers will relocate the roof vent. the recall began on september 9, 2005. owners may contact winnebago at 1-641-585-6939.
On certain motor homes built on a 20,700 gvwr or greater workhorse chassis, there may not be sufficient clearance in the area where the fuel line crosses the frame cross member.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Without clearance, a condition could develop where the cross member may wear into the fuel line and a fuel leak may develop. fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will repair these motor homes by providing clearance between the fuel line and frame cross member. the fuel line will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced. the recall began january 7, 2005. owners should contact winnebago at 1-800-537-1885.
Certain motor home chassis fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105,"Hydraulic and electric brake systems." the brake system warning indicator may not function as required by the standard.
Risk and remedy
Risk
In some of the affected vehicles, the brake system warning indicator will not illuminate when the ignition IS in the start position or for a low brake fluid condition, if the body builder relied solely upon ford's ivm compliance statement for the system warning indicator.
Remedy
Dealers will repair these vehicles. owner notification began april 25, 2003. 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 winnebago at 1-641-585-3535.
Owner complaints
16 complaints1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer. While driving approximately 55 mph the contact felt a vibration in the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. The contact did not find any problems. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer. While driving approximately 55 mph the contact felt a vibration in the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. The contact did not find any problems. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic stated that the rear calipers locked up and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received recall notice nhtsa campaign ID number: 03v060000, service brakes, hydraulic:switches:brake warning. The manufacturer advised the contact that when the parts became available he would be notified. The manufacturer was contacted after the failure occurred and stated they would not reimburse the contact for the repairs because they were not done by an authorized dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 29,849.
- Service brakes, hydraulic
I have experienced brake drag for a third time on my motor home and am filing a third complaint. travel was on level roads in urban area traffic (low speed stop and go) when the front brakes began to drag. I found a safe place to pull off the road surface and had to wait hours for the brakes to…
I have experienced brake drag for a third time on my motor home and am filing a third complaint. travel was on level roads in urban area traffic (low speed stop and go) when the front brakes began to drag. I found a safe place to pull off the road surface and had to wait hours for the brakes to cool down. I was able to proceed home by being very cautious with applying brakes and avoiding any congested areas. I had the workhorse authorized service center inspect the brakes and they found no external cause for the drag (corroded slides, etc.) rotors were replaced after the first occurrence (mar 2009) and brake fluid was changed to make sure moisture retention was not a problem. I have been forced to pay for all of the work to date - workhorse IS not inspecting their brakes after problems have been experienced as stated in your "defect investigation ea07016 dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components free of charge" the owner IS responsible for all diagnostic charges. *Tr
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer rv. the contact stated that the caliper on the front brakes locked up. workhorse chassis issued recall number 50901-c and stated that the parts would not be available until the fall of 2009. the contact was advised to bring in the vehicle for a…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer rv. the contact stated that the caliper on the front brakes locked up. workhorse chassis issued recall number 50901-c and stated that the parts would not be available until the fall of 2009. the contact was advised to bring in the vehicle for a brake replacement if any failures began to occur. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer, but they currently do not want to replace the brakes. the failure mileage was 18,000.
- Service brakes, hydraulic
My 2003 winnebago adventurer 38G with workhorse chassis had a rear brake failure that was identical to brake failures covered by a workhorse recall through the 2002 models. after considerable correspondence with workhorse & finally with winnebago, workhorse reluctantly agreed to pay 1/2 of the…
My 2003 winnebago adventurer 38G with workhorse chassis had a rear brake failure that was identical to brake failures covered by a workhorse recall through the 2002 models. after considerable correspondence with workhorse & finally with winnebago, workhorse reluctantly agreed to pay 1/2 of the cost. on january 19, 2009, the front brakes failed on this same motor home. I am now looking at over $2,000 in repairs. it IS suppose to be completed by coggin chevrolet at the avenues, jacksonville, fl. On monday, january 26, 2009. miraculously, we were only about 5 miles from coggin when the front brakes failed. they otherwise would have caught on fire prior to getting to coggin. the front brakes were so hot that the brake sensors were melted. the coggin (workhorse) mechanic said this has happened on other 2003 winnebago adventurer 38G motor homes. *Tr
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer. while driving 40 mph, the brake calipers began to stick when the brake pedal was depressed. the failure caused other braking issues. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the heat from the brakes was over 1,000…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer. while driving 40 mph, the brake calipers began to stick when the brake pedal was depressed. the failure caused other braking issues. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the heat from the brakes was over 1,000 degrees. the repair would cost approximately $4,000. the contact IS contemplating on whether or not to repair the vehicle. the failure mileage was 40,000.
- Service brakes, hydraulic
While traveling on the highway I could not go any faster than 40 mph. the ABS warning light then lit up on the instrument panel of my motorhome with a workhorse W-20 chassis. I then began to smell burning brakes. I then slowed and traveled a mile or so to the nearest exit. While on the exit ramp…
While traveling on the highway I could not go any faster than 40 mph. the ABS warning light then lit up on the instrument panel of my motorhome with a workhorse W-20 chassis. I then began to smell burning brakes. I then slowed and traveled a mile or so to the nearest exit. While on the exit ramp I lost all brakes, the pedal going to the floor. As I was not going very fast, I used the transmission to slow down and pull onto the shoulder. The vehicle was then towed to a local winnebago dealer where it was necessary for them to replace all calipers and pads, rear ABS sensors, and brake fluids as it had boiled the system. A zerk fitting was also installed into the brake bar. After reading numerous other complaints about similar incidents I thought it best to file a complaint. *tr
- Trailer hitches
2003 winnebago adventurer tow-bar receiver became unbolted on the left side while driving. Consumer states that the tow bar was also bent backward and down since the right side was still securely bolted. *kb the owner of the welding shop stated the bolts were never tightened properly. *Jb
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer. while driving approximately 40 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the contact smelled a strong burning odor. the dealer repaired his vehicle according to nhtsa campaign ID number 03v060000 (service brakes, hydraulic:switches:brake warning).…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer. while driving approximately 40 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the contact smelled a strong burning odor. the dealer repaired his vehicle according to nhtsa campaign ID number 03v060000 (service brakes, hydraulic:switches:brake warning). fifteen months later, the ABS warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel accompanied by the burning odor. he took the vehicle back to the dealer and they repaired the front hub seals, brake pads, and ABS sensors. one year later, while attempting to apply pressure to the brakes, the brake pedal extended completely to the floor without stopping the vehicle. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they flushed out the brake fluid and installed two new brake sensors. the powertrain, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. the failure mileage was 20,634 and current mileage was 40,396.
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer 203wfg35u. while driving approximately 50 mph under dry conditions, the vehicle began to decelerate on its own. the contact stated that he could feel the vehicle downshifting and he began to smell something burning. next, the ABS light, warning…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 winnebago adventurer 203wfg35u. while driving approximately 50 mph under dry conditions, the vehicle began to decelerate on its own. the contact stated that he could feel the vehicle downshifting and he began to smell something burning. next, the ABS light, warning buzzer, and brake light illuminated. he pulled off the road and noticed that the rear tires were too hot to touch due to the brakes locking up. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that there was extensive damage to the rotors, calipers, brake pads, and hoses due to the heat. the current and failure mileages were 37,000.
- Visibility › Glass, side/rear
Driver side windows on my 2003 winnebago adventurer have fogged up, limiting visibility and begun to leak. these windows were thermo-paned glass. *jb
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
For the third straight year I have had to take it my 2003 winnebago adventurer to an authorized workhorse service center because the dashboard air conditioning wasn't cooling. Each time the refrigerant was gone, they said no leaks could be found and they just recharged the system. They said the…
For the third straight year I have had to take it my 2003 winnebago adventurer to an authorized workhorse service center because the dashboard air conditioning wasn't cooling. Each time the refrigerant was gone, they said no leaks could be found and they just recharged the system. They said the "o" rings might be drying up over winter and then the refrigerant IS lost. I have contacted general motors because much of the air conditioning IS mounted on their engine. They told me in a phone conversation that workhorse has to rectify the problem. I then e-mailed workhorse with my problem. This IS the response I received from them: thank you very much for your email and for contacting workhorse custom chassis. Workhorse supplies the condenser, compressor and dryer, winnebago supplies the rest of the a/c. You might also try contacting winnebago. For our technical assistance group (workhorse), please feel free to call 877 246. next I contacted winnebago, after all, it IS their name on the side of the motor home. My response from them was that there was nothing they could do and told me to contact workhorse. *nm
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
The consumer feels that the cooling system installed by the workhorse factory IS inadequate. *nm the consumer stated that workgorse should do the upgrade free of charge. the consumer also stated that the new workhorse leather steering wheel for better grip should be installed free of charge. *tc
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Brake fluid low warning › Lamp
03 v 060 000/brake system warning indicator:the dealer was unable to honor the recall because no parts were available. *jb
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Consumer complained about brake problem. when applying the brakes, sometimes they worked, and some times they didn't operate properly. also, at times had to pump them. she took vehicle to several dealers, and one dealer rotated the drums, and found no problem. Consumer stated that she will take the vehicle to the manufacturer.*ak
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system · Equipment · Steering · Suspension › Front
Ref: 10042704. nvs 216 gmh. New motor home with numerous safety issues. the following items have not been fixed: alignment, travel direction (tracks to the right when going down the road), banging in the front end, electronic problems in dash, tail pipe installed incorrectly, easy chair that…
Ref: 10042704. nvs 216 gmh. New motor home with numerous safety issues. the following items have not been fixed: alignment, travel direction (tracks to the right when going down the road), banging in the front end, electronic problems in dash, tail pipe installed incorrectly, easy chair that continuously rocks and IS distracting. the following items have been repaired: hole in dust cap on left front wheel, water in left front head light, sound on back up monitor, florescent light covers falling off, broken cupboard latch, gas leak on generator, rusty lp gas lines, and clamps broken on lp gas lines. I have been trying for months to get a "new" motor home properly repaired. some of the items are appearance related but most of them are safety issues. I will enclose copies of files that include lists of issues and some things that have been done to attempt repairs. I believe this motor home should not be used for long distance travel until properly repaired. my family and friends feel I was taken advantage of. for me to get out of this situation, I will have to sell or trade to another unsuspecting consumer just as happened to me. if this had been a used motor home, I would have thought it had been in an accident. the stress to my family and me and the disappointment experienced by us and our grandchildren are indescribable. we planned on traveling to the south this winter but have decided not to chance the travel with this motor home.*ak
- Unknown or other
William couch vs. Winnebago industries.*mr consumer only used the motorhome for two weeks after purchase. The rest of the time it was awaiting repairs. The vehicle had over 30 safety and quality issues. Consumer sent in a cd and pictures to the ceo; numerous emails to the employees and the…
William couch vs. Winnebago industries.*mr consumer only used the motorhome for two weeks after purchase. The rest of the time it was awaiting repairs. The vehicle had over 30 safety and quality issues. Consumer sent in a cd and pictures to the ceo; numerous emails to the employees and the consumer has heard nothing. Consumer wants the motorhome replaced plus reimburse expenses or refund money and reimburse expense and trade in value of original motorhome. *ph *nlm
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10252834Service Bulletin sent to dealers advising of the required legal verbiage each RO should document.
- 10251128Service Bulletin sent to all Winnebago dealers. Bulletin outlines the characteristics of new roof sealant being used.
- 10226724Service Bulletin sent to all Winnebago dealers. Bulletin advises of a manufacturing change to the shower surround sealant process for all units.
- 10213593Service Bulletin sent to all dealers. This bulletin advises dealers they no longer need to email Winnebago the signed Vehicle Registration Form, but they should retain a copy for their records.
- 10199382Service Bulletin to dealers reminding them to understand their state's Lemon Law and to comply with Winnebago Motorhome mandates outlined in the Policy & Procedure Manual.
- 10199381Service Bulletin to dealers advising them of part sales training opportunities.
- 10199380General Parts and Service Letter to dealers detailing the warranty part return procedure.
Every Winnebago Adventurer model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.