Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1998 Chevrolet Motor Home with NHTSA between 1998 and 2010.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 32
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Motor Home. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 37
7.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1998 compares with every other Chevrolet Motor Home
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1998 Chevrolet Motor Home
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
428.6%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 33,150 mi
Engine & Cooling
428.6%
Tires
214.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
214.3%
Suspension
17.1%
Electrical System
17.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 1998peak 4Mar 2010
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 25,150 milesColumbus, OHCrash
PARKING BRAKE
THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED ON MY 1998 WINNEBAGO ITASCA SUNCRUISER MOTORHOME. THE MOTORHOME WAS PARKED IN A FLAT PARKING LOT, PLACED IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET. AFTER ALL PERSONS EXITED THE MOTORHOME, IT ROLLED ACROSS THE FLAT PUBLIC PARKING LOT AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER UNOCCUPIED CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE PARKED CAR AND LEFT SIDE REAR DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR HOME. NO PERSONS WERE HURT OR INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT AS BOTH VEHICLES LUCKILY WERE UNOCCUPIED. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE DID PAY FOR THE CLAIM TO THE VICTIMS CAR. THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CREATING AS OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. HAD THE MOTORHOME NOT HIT A PARKED CAR, IT WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CHASSIS OF THE MOTORHOME WAS BUILT BY GM, AND THE FAILED SYSTEM IS PART OF THE CHASSIS ACCORDING TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR. THE MOTORHOME WAS TAKEN TO A GM DEALERSHIP - BOB MCDORMAT CHEVROLET (614) 837-3421 FOR REPAIR PER GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. AFTER A $1575.00 REPAIR TO THE PARKING GEAR AND BRAKE SYSTEM, THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN CAUSING THE MOTORHOME TO ROLL UNEXPECTEDLY. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE SECOND INCIDENT AS THE FOOT BRAKE WAS APPLIED, WHICH DID HOLD THE MOTORHOME UNTIL THE TIRES COULD BE BLOCKED. PARTS WERE REPAIRED AND REPLACED BY THE GM DEALERSHIP. PARTS WERE SAVED BY MY FAMILY. GM CENTRAL CLAIMS UNIT IS INVESTIGATING THESE INCIDENTS, BUT HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE DEFECT AT THIS TIME. THERE ARE GM SERVICE BULLETINS DETAILING THIS PROBLEM - 010701, AND NHTSA BULLETIN # 626597.
NHTSA complaint #10165303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 33,150 milesKernersville, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE CALIPERS ON THE FRONT DID NOT FULLY RELEASE. THE BRAKES GOT REAL HOT ,BOILING THE BRAKE FLUID OUT OF THE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED GOING ALMOST TO FLOOR , CAUSING ME TO HAVE A HARD TIME STOPPING. IT RUINED THE BRAKE PADS, MELTED THE ABS SENSORS, AND RUINED THE BEARING. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, PADS, BEARING AND ABS SENSORS.
NHTSA complaint #10316696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,695 milesPensacola, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE CALIPERS DRAG, OVERHEAT, AND LOCK UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY LINKAGE BINDING, CAUSING INADEQUATE RELEASE OF CALIPERS. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP WITH MY MOTORHOME, AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING ALL CALIPERS, AND PADS IN BRAKE SYSTEM. BRAKE FLUID ALSO BOILED. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10219135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,150 milesColumbus, OHCrash
PARKING BRAKE
THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED ON MY 1998 WINNEBAGO ITASCA SUNCRUISER MOTORHOME. THE MOTORHOME WAS PARKED IN A FLAT PARKING LOT, PLACED IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET. AFTER ALL PERSONS EXITED THE MOTORHOME, IT ROLLED ACROSS THE FLAT PUBLIC PARKING LOT AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER UNOCCUPIED CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE PARKED CAR AND LEFT SIDE REAR DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR HOME. NO PERSONS WERE HURT OR INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT AS BOTH VEHICLES LUCKILY WERE UNOCCUPIED. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE DID PAY FOR THE CLAIM TO THE VICTIMS CAR. THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CREATING AS OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. HAD THE MOTORHOME NOT HIT A PARKED CAR, IT WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CHASSIS OF THE MOTORHOME WAS BUILT BY GM, AND THE FAILED SYSTEM IS PART OF THE CHASSIS ACCORDING TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR. THE MOTORHOME WAS TAKEN TO A GM DEALERSHIP - BOB MCDORMAT CHEVROLET (614) 837-3421 FOR REPAIR PER GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. AFTER A $1575.00 REPAIR TO THE PARKING GEAR AND BRAKE SYSTEM, THE PARKING GEAR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN CAUSING THE MOTORHOME TO ROLL UNEXPECTEDLY. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE SECOND INCIDENT AS THE FOOT BRAKE WAS APPLIED, WHICH DID HOLD THE MOTORHOME UNTIL THE TIRES COULD BE BLOCKED. PARTS WERE REPAIRED AND REPLACED BY THE GM DEALERSHIP. PARTS WERE SAVED BY MY FAMILY. GM CENTRAL CLAIMS UNIT IS INVESTIGATING THESE INCIDENTS, BUT HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE DEFECT AT THIS TIME. THERE ARE GM SERVICE BULLETINS DETAILING THIS PROBLEM - 010701, AND NHTSA BULLETIN # 626597.
NHTSA complaint #10165303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edge Water, FL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
OUTER RUBBER ON INNER RIGHT REAR DUAL TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. 225/75R16, MOUNTED ON A WINNEBEGO, MOTOR HOME, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 15388 MILES. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8014404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING MOTOR HOME BUILT ON CHEVROLET CHASSIS IT HAD STARTED BOUNCING. PULLED OVER TO CHECK. NOTICED A VERY LARGE BULGE IN THE MIDDLE OF TIRE, TOWARDS OUTSIDE ON THE LEFT REAR. REPLACED TIRE WITH THE SPARE. LT 245/75416 R4S ROAD TREK MOTOR HOME. *AK TIRE WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT NOT COST WITH FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S LT245/75R16 TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #897962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Cajon, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
STARTER AND PARK SWITCH/RELAY CURCUIT FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #607180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redondo BE, CA
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY IS NOISY SINCE PURCHASED (REPLACED DUE TO NOISE). YH
NHTSA complaint #608898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encinitas, CA
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR END RING AND PINION FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #607333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Escondido, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EMISSION SENSOR FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #606213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, NOT INDICATING VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING.
NHTSA complaint #544623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SHIFT CONTROL CABLE LAYED AGAINST EGR TUBE AND MELTED CABLE, RESULTING IN SHIFT LEVER STICKING IN PARK POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #544623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE IN DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN 77-61-21 DATED 10-20-97, PRIOR TO AWARENESS OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN SERVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS MADE WITH NO SUCCESS, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEMS WITH KNOCKING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #544623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.