2005 Fleetwood AMERICAN TRADITION: complaints, problems and recalls

ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES SWEEP BACK AND FORTH CONSTANTLY. THEREFORE, THE SPEEDOMETER READING IS IMPOSSIBLE AS WELL AS THE FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, OIL GAUGE, FRONT AND BACK AIR PSI GAUGES, RPMS, ETC. ALL GAUGES BEGIN TO WAG AS SOON AS THE MOTOR IS STARTED AND CONTINUE THE WHOLE TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11088715 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN AND OR OUT OF OUR MOTOR HOME SEVERAL TIMES. AT OUR AGE, WE CANNOT GET OUT OF THE WINDOWS SO WE HAVE COMPLETELY DISABLED THE SYSTEM. WE HAVE TAKEN ALL THE BATTERIES OUT OF THE FOBS AND USE THE DEAD BOLT LOCK TO LOCK OUR VEHICLE BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID OF AGAIN BEING LOCKED IN. WHAT WERE TO HAPPEN IF WE WERE LOCKED IN AND A FIRE BROKE OUT IN OUR COACH? THIS IS SURELY A SAFETY ISSUE!

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11141672 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS FOGGING UP AND CANNOT SEE OUTSIDE MIRROR THE GLASS IS DOUBLE PANE AND THE FOGGING IS BETWEEN THE TWO LAYERS OF GLASS NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN A BAD DESIGN OF SEALING THE TWO LAYERS OF GLASS IN THE FRAME THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR AND HAS CONTINUE TO GET WORST

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361250 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2005 Fleetwood American Tradition. The contact stated that the odometer was fluctuating while driving. Additionally, the ABS warning light was illuminated and the electrical system was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11475321 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2007-12-14 (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.