Winnebago SIGHTSEER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
30 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2018 model years. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 53 complaints (18.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 39.6% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 17.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
Service Brakes: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Structure:Body: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Structure: 3; Suspension: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 17 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10039862 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)
NAR 9-8-03. DEALER UNABLE TO PERFORM THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR REPAIR. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446787 · 2012-02-06 (February 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER RV WITH A WORKHORSE CHASSIS, MODEL NUMBER: WPD27C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 2-3 HOURS BEFORE THE BRAKES COOLED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BENNIX BRAKE CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012397 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE ON THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE INSTABILITY PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN ISSUE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT BEING BUILT IN REARWARD OF THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OVER STEERING PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10270164 · 2009-05-28 (May 28, 2009)
IN TRYING TO START THE MOTOR HOME, I NOTED THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE KEY, IT STARTED. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A PUNGENT ODOR, INDICATIVE OF BURNING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND BURNT WIRING AND CONNECTORS BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. THE IGNITION SWITCH APPARENTLY OVERHEATED, DISTORTED AND CONTINUED BURNING IN PLACE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WORKHORSE, THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER, SELLS AN AFTERMARKET…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10270164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063030 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH WIRES MELTED. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK AUTO PARK SYSTEM FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, SPARK PLUG WIRES BURNED UP. IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A FAULT IN THE FUEL PUMP, BUT VEHICLE STILL MALFUNCTIONED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, ENGINE TEMPERATURE ROSE AROUND 210 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,479 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568864 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 33D. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE SHIFTED TO THIRD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,389. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022668 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OVER LOADED. *AK THE NEW TELEVISION WHICH OPERATED FROM A 12 VOLT INVERTER OVERLOADED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TELEVISION AND POWER INVERTER AND INSTALLED AN AUTO 25 AMP BREAKER. CONSUMER REMOVED THE AUTO RESET BREAKER AND INSTALLED A STANDARD 25 AMP FUSE. HOWEVER CIRCUIT WAS STILL OVERLOADED. DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO ASSIST ANYTHING FURTHER. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106718 · 2005-01-04 (January 4, 2005)
WHEN BEING SOLD THE BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE LP GAS TANK WAS LEAKING. DEALER HAS SINCE RE[PAIRED THE PROBLEMS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723282 · 2015-06-03 (June 3, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND A BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS EXTREMELY HOT AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE HEAT, THE CALIPERS WERE STICKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10723282 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
2002: 5; 2003: 8; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 10; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 3