2004 Winnebago Adventurer: common problems

Owners of the 2004 Winnebago Adventurer filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 22
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 45% of all complaints
2 Equipment 18% of all complaints
3 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
5 Suspension 9% of all complaints
6 Visibility 9% of all complaints
7 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Service brakes: 10 complaints (45% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Equipment: 4 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel system: 3 complaints (14% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (9% of all).
Suspension: 2 complaints (9% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 22 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire5 · 23%
brake failure4 · 18%
fuel system, fuel smell2 · 9%
A/C or heater1 · 5%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 5%
infotainment or screen glitches1 · 5%
seat belts1 · 5%
stalls while driving1 · 5%
warning lights, check engine1 · 5%
windows, sunroof1 · 5%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Service brakes	10	1
Equipment	4	1
Fuel system	3	0
Electrical system	2	0
Suspension	2	0
Visibility	2	0
Engine and cooling	1	0
Powertrain	1	0
Seat belts	1	0
Seats	1	0
Structure	1	0
Tires	1	0
Wheels	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

This morning I had an accident due to a brake failure. The brake pedal went to the floor without slowing the vehicle and I went through a stop sign, across a state highway, over an incline and through a fence.
Service brakes · crash · 2010-09-17 · NHTSA complaint #10356202
The contact stated that the refrigerator screen displayed a warning for a leak and the ammonia odor. The recreational vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing of the refrigerator failure. The refrigerator was not repaired.
Equipment · 2018-07-24 · NHTSA complaint #11113257
I inspected the gas tank and found gas leaking from a spot weld for the internal baffle in the gas tank. This is a serious problem that could cause a fire, generator is close by. Leak could also be ignited from a spark from a campfire while parked at a campground.
Fuel system · 2013-09-18 · NHTSA complaint #10544282
The vehicle was parked when the contact noticed fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told that there was a hole within an internal weld on the fuel tank. The fuel tank was replaced. Approximately three years later, the failure recurred.
Fuel system · 2011-04-20 · NHTSA complaint #10396911
I also assume it cause carbon moxide poisoning or heat/ fire damage to the motor home. Winnebago put in writing to me they had all their model years installations approved and inspected by onan.. Onan put in writing to me they didn't approve or inspect any installations for any customer.
Equipment · 2011-02-08 · NHTSA complaint #10381119
In the mean time I am reluctant to use my rv for fear of brake failure again. I have spoke with reps from workhorse and they keep telling me that parts will be available soon (first it was late summer then fall or late winter and now they tell me it may spring).
Service brakes · 2009-11-03 · NHTSA complaint #10290792
I was driving my rv home from a trip with my grand-daughter and was traveling on a busy 2-lane highway. I was going approx. 50-55 mph and when I applied the brakes for slowing traffic, the privacy curtain (the curtain that covers the windshield at night when parked) pulled loose from the wall and slid forward in the…
Visibility · 2009-10-26 · NHTSA complaint #10289900
23,000 miles left rear side passenger's brake smoking and froze up. Took to winnebago dealer -had it checked out on 4/28/2009. On may 14,2009 the left front passenger's side smoked up and locked up. Brake fluid boiled and caused plug to come out of hub holding axle grease.
Service brakes · 2009-05-22 · NHTSA complaint #10269757

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20041
20054
20061
20071
20084
20094
20102
20112
20131
20141
20181

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,904 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Adventurer has 7 complaints (29 years in the data). This year has 22, above average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Winnebago Adventurer?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, equipment, fuel system. Total complaints: 22. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (23%), brake failure (18%), fuel system, fuel smell (9%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Winnebago Adventurer?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2004 Winnebago Adventurer from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2004 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.