1997 Fleetwood DISCOVERY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
105,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor | 1 |
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 1; Tires: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 5; 2002: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10408711 · 2011-06-23 (June 23, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRES WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,663.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10408711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551639 · 2000-03-30 (March 30, 2000)
THE LARGE BURNER CONTROL VALVE STARTED TO STICK IN THE ON POSITION DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE POINT THAT IT PARTIALLY MELTED THE PLASTIC KNOB, THIS IS POSSIBLY A DESIGN FLAW AND POTENTIALLY A SAFETY HAZARD. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 562599 · 2001-08-20 (August 20, 2001)
DURING A RECENT TRIP THE MOTORHOME EXPERIENCED THREE BLOWOUTS, THE TIRES HAD 33000 MILES ON IT (MICHELIN SIZE 235/80R/22.5 XTRV TIRES).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 562599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725632 · 2000-07-18 (July 18, 2000)
WHILE OPERATING MOTORHOME AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ITS FUEL LINE RUPTURED, RESULTING IN DIESEL FUEL SEEPAGE THROUGHOUT MOTORHOME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744999 · 2001-05-06 (May 6, 2001)
INSURANCE INVESTAGATER SAID FIRE DUE TO FAULTY HEATER CIRCUT BOARD, THIS CAUSED FAN TO COME ON BLOWING FIRE THROUGH MOTORHOME, OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF MOTORHOME SHOULD BE INFORMED TO THE POSIBLITY OF FIRES, IF WE WERE IN THE MOTORHOME WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. FLEETWOOD SAID NO RESPONSEABILITY WOULD BE TAKEN ON THEIR PART, FLEETWOOD DID TAKE AN ACCIDENT REPORT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 746007 · 2001-05-28 (May 28, 2001)
ON THE DATE INDICATED, WHILE THE MOTORHOME WAS PLUGGED INTO 115V 30 AMP A/C POWER, WITH ONE ROOF AIR CONDITIONER OPERATING, AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OCCURRED IN THE JUNCTION BOX. THE FIRE, APPARENTLY CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUIT, CONSUMED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WIRING INSULATION. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO OTHER MATERIAL. DAMAGE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWERTEK BREAKER BOX AND REPAIR OF THE WIRING. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED IN THIS MOTORHOME. A VERY SIMILAR ELECTRICAL SHORT AND FIRE OCCURRED IN JULY 2000. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 746007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8007672 · 2002-04-15 (April 15, 2002)
FRONT WINDSHIELD KEEPS POPPING OUT.*AK *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864685 · 2000-07-03 (July 3, 2000)
MAGIC CHEF RANGE: TOP FORWARD VALVE STICKS IN ON POSITION AND CAN'T BE TURNED OFF. TURNED ALL THE PROPANE OFF, AND STILL IT WAS ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND REPLACED THE FORWARD VALVE. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SERIAL# TO THE RANGE 10885756SH AND MODEL#85TB3BK. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864685 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V204000 · Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
Reported: 2000-07-27 (July 27, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX HYDRAULIC LINES ARE ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO A SHARP EDGE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE LINES TO RUPTURE AND RESULT IN A HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK.
Consequence: THIS FLUID LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FEATURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPLACE OR REPAIR DAMAGED HOSES AS NECESSARY, AND RELOCATE THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗07V120000 · Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V236000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 1997-12-19 (December 19, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A VINYL PROTECTIVE FRONT COVER. THIS COVER INCLUDES A MESH WHICH COVERS THE FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS MESH INTERFERES WITH THE PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE OF THE HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN A NONCOMPLIANCE TO FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: THE INTERFERING MESH CAUSES THE EFFECTIVE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS TO BE LESS THAN REQUIRED. THE DECREASE IN HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS CAN DECREASE THE ABILITY TO VIEW THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN OTHER INSTANCES WHERE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE NEEDED. ALSO, THE DECREASED BRIGHTNESS OF THE TURN SIGNALS WILL AFFECT THE VISIBILITY OF THESE SIGNALS TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND REPAIR PARTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THIS RECALL. IF OWNERS SO DESIRE, THEY CAN HAVE A DEALER PERFORM THIS REMEDY FOR THEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V147000 · Visibility:Windshield
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗