2004 Fleetwood AMERICAN EAGLE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD AMERICAN EAGLE MOTOR HOME. THE WIRES IN THE CONTROL PANEL, USED FOR LIGHTING IN THE VEHICLE, BECOME TOO HOT THAT THEY MELT THE CONNECTORS AND OTHER SURROUNDING WIRES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE WIRES ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE BED OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE OVERHEATING COULD CAUSE THE BED TO CATCH FIRE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, THE ENTIRE CIRCUIT BOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, T…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250594 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE ELECTRIC POWER FOR THE ENTRY DOORSTEP "LAST OUT" FEATURE HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED AND THE ENTRY DOORSTEP WILL NOT OPERATE IN "LAST OUT" MODE. THE "LAST OUT" IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT CAUSES THE ENTRY DOORSTEP TO EXTEND ONE LAST TIME IF THE ENTRY DOORSTEP POWER SWITCH IS OFF AND THE VEHICLE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND PROVIDE POWER SO THE ENTRY DOORSTEP "LAST OUT" FEATURE IS ACTIVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

Reported: 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES BUILT ON SPARTAN CHASSIS, THE ANGLE OF THE HOSES FROM THE HYDRAULIC PUMP COULD CONTACT THE POSITIVE STUD ON THE STARTER.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE STARTER AND CAUSE IGNITION OF HYDRAULIC FLUID WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: SPARTAN IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL REPLACE ON VEHICLES WITH CUMMINS ISL ENGINES AND 39MT DELCO STARTERS AT LEAST ONE OF THE 45 DEGREE FITTINGS WITH A 90 DEGREE FITTING AND ALSO REPLACE THE HOSE ASSEMBLY. ON ISL AND ISC ENGINES WITH 42MT DELCO STARTER, DEALERS WILL CHANGE ONE FITTING AT THE REAR OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP AND RE-ROUTE A HOSE. 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 SPARTAN AT 1-517-543-6400 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

Reported: 2004-04-22 (April 22, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE TIRE PRESSURES WRITTEN ON THE CERTIFICATION TAG WAS INCORRECT. THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURES SHOULD BE 120 PSI FOR THE FRONT TIRES AND 95 PSI FOR THE REAR TIRES.

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD CONTACTED EACH CUSTOMER BY TELEPHONE AND MAILED THE CORRECTED FEDERAL TIRE TAG. 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 1-800-322-8216.

Reported: 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)

ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES, A PNEUMATIC LINE CAN BECOME PINCHED BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC FILTER AND A COMPARTMENT DOOR STRUT. THE CHAFFING CAUSED BY OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE COMPARTMENT DOOR CAN CAUSE THE FILTER TO RUPTURE AND RESULT IN A HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK.

Consequence: THIS LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID CAUSES THE POWER STEERING FEATURE TO NOT FUNCTION. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, PERSONAL INJURY OR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPLACE OR REPAIR DAMAGED LINES AND RELOCATE THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-435-7345.

Reported: 2005-05-12 (May 12, 2005)

ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE SYSTEMS' AQUA-HOT AND HYDRO-HOT WATER HEATERS, WHICH USE WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, THE BURNER TUBES DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.

Consequence: THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE EXHAUST TUBE EXITING FROM THE HEATER CAN INCREASE AND COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IN OR AROUND THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: VEHICLE SYSTEMS IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VEHICLE SYSTEMS AT 1-800-685-4298 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

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: 2007-12-14 (December 14, 2007)

ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.

Consequence: THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2008-07-15 (July 15, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 70,101 MY 2003-2007 SOUTHWIND, PACE ARROW, BOUNDER, FLAIR, STORM, FIESTA, TERRA GAS CLASS A MOTOR HOMES; BOUNDER, DISCOVERY, PROVIDENCE, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, REVOLUTION, AMERICAN EAGLE, AMERICAN HERITAGE, AMERICAN TRADITION DIESEL CLASS A MOTOR HOMES; JAMBOREE TIOGA CLASS C MOTOR HOMES; AND PROWLER, WILDERNESS, TERRY, MALLARD, PIONEER, PRIDE AND TRIUMPH CONVENTIONAL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATORS MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR 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: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 THE OWNER 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.