1997 Fleetwood BOUNDER: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE HAD A STATE INSPECTION PERFORMED FROM ANOTHER STATE BEFORE THE CONSUMER TOOK OWNERSHIP. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SOME THINGS WERE OVERLOOKED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD MANY PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER, POOR WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, WHICH FAILED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD, AN EXHAUST LEAK WHICH WAS LEAKING AT THE EXHAUST HEADER, A DEFECTIVE REAR ROOF LADDER, AND A IMPROPERLY MISALIGNED STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059503 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO ROLL DUE TO POOR BRAKE LINE DESIGN. THE BRAKE LINE WAS ONE HALF INCH FROM MANIFOLD. THE MANIFOLD MELTED THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073864 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSIOIN FAILURE. HAD TO HAVE THE SEALS REPLACED ALMOST FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT THE UNIT NEW. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. HAD TWO HEADS REPLACED AND AN ENTIRE MANIFOLD SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERS THAT THAT YEAR OF MOTORHOME ENGINE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS. ENDED UP WITH A 350 DOLLAR TOWING BILL AND OUT THE USE OF THE MOTORHOME AS WE ARE "NEGOTIATING" WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR THE FAILURE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 39,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075341 at NHTSA ↗

BOUGHT BOUNDER NEW IN 1998. IT IS A 1997 MODEL. FORD 460 MOTOR. SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SEALS REPLACED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, TWO NEW HEADS, ONE NEW MANIFOLD SYSTEM AND THE RADIATOR HAD PROBLEMS. THE LEVELING JACK ALARM WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. NOW, THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE INSPECTOR SAYS THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER LEAK IN THE FRONT TRANNY SEAL, AND THAT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE TRANNY AND THEY WON'T COVER THE FAILURE. THE FLUID DRAINED WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DEST…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078888 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER HEARD A DISTURBING NOISE COMING FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083565 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND HEAD GASKET.*MR THE VEHICLE EXHAUST MANIFOLD MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED HAS AILED. THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE MOTORHOMES WITH LOW MILEAGE 460 FORD ENGINE'S. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO INDICATED THAT RUST WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE REPRESENTATIVE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE BANKS HEADER SYSTEM WAS THE CURE WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $4000. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HEADER SYSTEM INSTALLED AND IT SEEM TO BE WORKING …

Owner-reported narrative. 33,674 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089576 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,645 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097251 at NHTSA ↗

MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT INVOLVE AN ACCIDENT BUT DOES INVOLVE A FAILURE TO ACT (BY FLEETWOOD MOTORHOME CO.) AND RECTIFY WHAT I FEEL IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY MOTORHOME. I PURCHASED MY 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER NEW IN 1997 AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FLEETWOOD TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW IN MY MOTORHOME IS SORELY INADEQUATE. THEY MERELY PLACED A DECAL THAT READS "FIRE EXIT" ON A STANDARD WINDOW AND EXPECT THAT TO SUFFICE. A NORMAL FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW HAS TWO RED HANDLES THAT SECURE THE WINDOW FRAME DURING NORMAL OPERATION AND CAN ALS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142388 at NHTSA ↗

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: 1996-11-01 (November 1, 1996)

MISWIRING OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP RECEPTACLE FOR THE REPLACEABLE HALOGEN LAMP CAUSES A NONCOMPLIANCE TO FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES REDUCED LIGHTING LEVELS WITH THE LOW BEAM OPERATION RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING DARK DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND MODIFY THE MOTOR HOME WIRING TO PROVIDE CORRECT CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS.

Reported: 1996-11-22 (November 22, 1996)

THE E-Z SLIDE-OUT ROOM CAN OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. WATER CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SLIDE-OUT ROOM CONTROL RELAY.

Consequence: IF THE SLIDE-OUT ROOM OPERATES UNEXPECTEDLY, THE MOTOR HOME WIDTH WILL INCREASE WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR WHILE THE MOTOR HOME IS PARKED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT CONTROL RELAY IN A WATERPROOF LOCATION ON THESE MOTOR HOMES.

Reported: 1997-10-07 (October 7, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES. THE HYDRAULIC HOSES WHICH OPERATE THE LEVELING JACK SYSTEM IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING THE HOSE TO MELT, RELEASING HYDRAULIC FLUID.

Consequence: THIS HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN IGNITE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED HOSES, AND RELOCATE THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES.

Reported: 1998-06-26 (June 26, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS," FOR AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF TINT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER REDUCED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE SIDE WINDOWS WHEN BACKING UP, WHEN USING THE MIRRORS FOR LANE CHANGES, OR WHENEVER LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WINDOWS.