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2012 Winnebago Sightseer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

2 reports
3,000 miles · Mar 11, 2015
StructureCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STAIRS AT THE EXIT DOOR CAME OUT WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STAIRS AT THE EXIT DOOR CAME OUT WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI #10693551

9,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013
EquipmentStructure

OUR 2012 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 30A COMES EQUIPPED WITH A SINGLE PEDESTAL AIR-ASSISTED DINETTE TABLE. OUR ORIGINAL PEDESTAL BEGAN LOWERING BY ITSELF, AND BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO LIFT BACK TO TABLE LEVEL. WE FOUND IT HAD STARTED TO COMPLETELY LOWER WHILE DRIVING. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE 2 PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE LOCATED IN THE …

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OUR 2012 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 30A COMES EQUIPPED WITH A SINGLE PEDESTAL AIR-ASSISTED DINETTE TABLE. OUR ORIGINAL PEDESTAL BEGAN LOWERING BY ITSELF, AND BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO LIFT BACK TO TABLE LEVEL. WE FOUND IT HAD STARTED TO COMPLETELY LOWER WHILE DRIVING. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE 2 PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE LOCATED IN THE DINETTE, AND IF THE TABLE FALLS IT CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS LEGS, OR COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT, OR IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. THE PEDESTAL COMES WITH 2 PRESSURE CLAMPS, BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD LOCK THE TABLE IN PLACE SECURELY, SUCH AS A PIN. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PEDESTAL UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE SAME PART. AS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, WE CAN NOT REPORT ON THE NEW PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533660

Official recalls

3

13V161000 · Equipment

Apr 24, 2013

Winnebago Industries is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Minnie Winnie, Aspect, Sightseer, Adventurer, and Journey motorhomes; and model year 2012-2014 Itasca Spirit, Cambria, Sunova, Suncruiser, and Meridian motorhomes. The affected vehicles were manufactured January 10, 2012, through April 5, 2013 and may be missing a range enclosure.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A missing range enclosure may allow the gas range flame to be extinguished due to air flow. In such a case, propane gas will continue to flow without a flame. If propane continues to flow, in the presence of an ignition source, it may suddenly combust resulting in a fire and/or personal injury.

Remedy: Winnebago notify owners and dealers will install a range enclosure, free of charge. The safety recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact Winnebago at 1-641-585-3535. Winnebago's recall campaign number is 128.

12V389000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer:lpg Systems:lines And Fittings

Aug 8, 2012

Winnebago is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Winnebago and Itasca motor homes. A cutting machine may have scored the copper propane tubing resulting in unknown long-term reliability.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the copper tubing fails, propane can escape leading to a fire or explosion which can result in property damage, personal injury, or death.

Remedy: Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will replace the copper tubing, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2012. Owners may contact Winnebago Industries Owner Relations at 1-641-585-6939.

12V057000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Feb 16, 2012

WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 WINNEBAGO AND ITASCA MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A FORD F-53 CHASSIS. THE ‘PRNDL’ CABLE MAY BREAK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR ARM ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. IF THE CABLE BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR IN THE ‘PRNDL’ DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL REMAIN IN THE FIRST GEAR POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SELECTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM KNOWING IF THEY ARE IN PARK OR REVERSE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WINNEBAGO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR ARM ASSEMBLY AND THE ‘PRNDL’ CABLE ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES OWNER RELATIONS AT 1-641-585-6939.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE15011 · Entry Step Failures

Opened Apr 6, 2015 · Closed Jan 8, 2016

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) which reported an injury related to the unintentional deployment of the electric entry step on a subject vehicle.The owner reported to Winnebago that the steps extended while in motion.Service personnel from Winnebago instructed the owner to disconnect the wire harness at the steps to prevent them from extending while traveling and then reconnect when needed.The owner did this and was subsequently pinned beneath the steps when they extended upon reconnecting the wire harness.When deployed the steps extend approximately thirty (30) inches from the side of the vehicle.This reach facilitates easy entry into the motor home, but creates a hazard when unintentionally deployed in transit.The driver may not be immediately aware the stepsare extended which increases the possibility of striking another object or person.During the investigation, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to collect information from Winnebago.ODI analyzed this data and determined that a significant number of claims reported entry steps failures.Many of these claims specifically stated the steps extended while the vehicle was in transit. Winnebago service personnel offered multiple options to temporally disable the entry steps so that travelers could safely drive the vehicle.Depending on the situation fixes ranged from sending a field service technician, to instructing the individual to disconnect the wire harness the same as the owner who submitted the VOQ. A review of the time to failure indicated that most failures occur early in the vehicle's life.The average time to failure was five (5) months in service.Most reported failures occurred within the first year of ownership.ODI determined no design or installation changes had been made to the subject components prior to opening this investigation.Over the course of the investigation Winnebago identified several opportunities for improvement.Changes were made to current production to improve entry door reliability and durability in August 2015.Winnebago has submitted recall 15V-866.This recall covers vehicles produced between August 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015.With the recall action taken by Winnebago, this investigation is closed as further use of agency personnel does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following complaint identification numbers:10693551

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) which reported an injury related to the unintentional deployment of the electric entry step on a subject vehicle.The owner reported to Winnebago that the steps extended while in motion.Service personnel from Winnebago instructed the owner to disconnect the wire harness at the steps to prevent them from extending while traveling and then reconnect when needed.The owner did this and was subsequently pinned beneath the steps when they extended upon reconnecting the wire harness.When deployed the steps extend approximately thirty (30) inches from the side of the vehicle.This reach facilitates easy entry into the motor home, but creates a hazard when unintentionally deployed in transit.The driver may not be immediately aware the stepsare extended which increases the possibility of striking another object or person.During the investigation, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to collect information from Winnebago.ODI analyzed this data and determined that a significant number of claims reported entry steps failures.Many of these claims specifically stated the steps extended while the vehicle was in transit. Winnebago service personnel offered multiple options to temporally disable the entry steps so that travelers could safely drive the vehicle.Depending on the situation fixes ranged from sending a field service technician, to instructing the individual to disconnect the wire harness the same as the owner who submitted the VOQ. A review of the time to failure indicated that most failures occur early in the vehicle's life.The average time to failure was five (5) months in service.Most reported failures occurred within the first year of ownership.ODI determined no design or installation changes had been made to the subject components prior to opening this investigation.Over the course of the investigation Winnebago identified several opportunities for improvement.Changes were made to current production to improve entry door reliability and durability in August 2015.Winnebago has submitted recall 15V-866.This recall covers vehicles produced between August 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015.With the recall action taken by Winnebago, this investigation is closed as further use of agency personnel does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following complaint identification numbers:10693551

Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) which reported an injury related to the unintentional deployment of the electric entry step on a subject vehicle.The owner reported to Winnebago that the steps extended while in motion.Service personnel from Winnebago instructed the owner to disconnect the wire harness at the steps to prevent them from extending while traveling and then reconnect when needed.The owner did this and was subsequently pinned beneath the steps when they extended upon reconnecting the wire harness.When deployed the steps extend approximately thirty (30) inches from the side of the vehicle.This reach facilitates easy entry into the motor home, but creates a hazard when unintentionally deployed in transit.The driver may not be immediately aware the stepsare extended which increases the possibility of striking another object or person.During the investigation, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to collect information from Winnebago.ODI analyzed this data and determined that a significant number of claims reported entry steps failures.Many of these claims specifically stated the steps extended while the vehicle was in transit. Winnebago service personnel offered multiple options to temporally disable the entry steps so that travelers could safely drive the vehicle.Depending on the situation fixes ranged from sending a field service technician, to instructing the individual to disconnect the wire harness the same as the owner who submitted the VOQ. A review of the time to failure indicated that most failures occur early in the vehicle's life.The average time to failure was five (5) months in service.Most reported failures occurred within the first year of ownership.ODI determined no design or installation changes had been made to the subject components prior to opening this investigation.Over the course of the investigation Winnebago identified several opportunities for improvement.Changes were made to current production to improve entry door reliability and durability in August 2015.Winnebago has submitted recall 15V-866.This recall covers vehicles produced between August 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015.With the recall action taken by Winnebago, this investigation is closed as further use of agency personnel does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following complaint identification numbers:10693551