2001 Fleetwood AMERICAN EAGLE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FLEETWOOD AMERICAN EAGLE EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE RADIAL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. UPON EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION AND SIDE WALL DAMAGE. THE DAMAGED TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE BUT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353456 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN STOPPED, APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES CAUSES THE STEERING SYSTEM TO LOCK UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEELS.THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CHASSIS HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY SAY THAT THE MOTORHOME MUST BE MOVING IN ORDER TO TURN THE WHEELS. WITH A 40

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 749849 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-01-09 (January 9, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE WIRING TO THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES IS INCORRECT CAUSING A LOW BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLAMPS.

Consequence: THIS REDUCED LIGHTING LEVEL WILL AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REWIRE THE CONNECTORS THAT PLUG INTO THE HEADLAMPS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 26, 2001. 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 FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-445-3307.

Reported: 2007-03-19 (March 19, 2007)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

Reported: 2008-06-03 (June 3, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS A GAS AND DIESEL MOTOR HOMES, CLASS C MOTOR HOMES, CONVENTIONAL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. A LOW CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH GENERATES THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK.

Consequence: EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS. NORCOLD WILL PROVIDE THERMAL SWITCH KITS TO OWNERS ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.

Reported: 2009-07-28 (July 28, 2009)

FLEETWOOD RV IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 MOTORHOMES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 24, 2004 AND MARCH 11, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR, 1200LRIM, AND 1201LRIM REFRIGERATORS 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD RV WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD RV AT 1-800-509-3418 OR NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.