2003 Winnebago Adventurer Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Adventurer years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Winnebago Adventurer. That ranks 4th out of 31 Adventurer model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (10 complaints, 63%), typically at around 29,925 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 16owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Winnebago Adventurer problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 63% | 29,925 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 19% | 1,363 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 13% | 226 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 6% | 226 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 6% | 226 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 6% | 226 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 6% | 12,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Winnebago Adventurer recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment
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.
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.
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.
Equipment
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.
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.
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.
Equipment:recreational vehicle/trailer
Problem: On certain motor homes, the roof vent for the optional 4-door refrigerator was incorrectly located.
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.
Fix: Dealers will relocate the roof vent. The recall began on september 9, 2005. Owners may contact winnebago at 1-641-585-6939.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:brake fluid low warning: lamp
Problem: 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: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other Winnebago Adventurer years
← 2002 Adventurer · 2004 Adventurer →
See all Winnebago Adventurer problems by year, every Winnebago model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Winnebago Adventurer?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, equipment, steering problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Winnebago Adventurer?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Winnebago Adventurer a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Adventurer model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.