2009 Fleetwood PULSE: complaints, problems and recalls

MY INSIDE DUAL TIRE SIDEWALL UNZIPPED AT 60MPH ON MY SPRINTER BASED MINI- MOTORHOME WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-5. NO UNUSUAL EVENTS PRIOR TO HEARING A LOUD BANG. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE. ( I HAVE SINCE LEARNED OF DOZENS OF SIMILAR FAILURES ON VEHICLES LIKE MINE USING THE SAME OEM TIRE MANUFACTURED BY KUMHO). MY SPRINTER (AND OEM TIRES) HAVE ONLY 23,300 MILES ON THEM. WHEN THE TIRE BLEW I REDUCED MY SPEED AND HAD THE BLOWN TIRE REPLACED WITH A SPARE AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SERVICE LOCATION. ON THE SAME DAY I TOOK…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535778 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-03-20 (March 20, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 166 MY 2008-2009 PULSE AND ICON CLASS C MOTOR HOMES. THE FEDERAL CERTIFICATION TAG AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY TAG WERE PRINTED WITH AN INCORRECT FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) VALUE OF 4,080 POUNDS. THE CORRECT FRONT GAWR IS 4,410 POUNDS.

Consequence: THE PURPOSE OF THIS PART IS TO SPECIFY THE CONTENT AND LOCATION OF, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR, THE CERTIFICATION LABEL TO BE AFFIXED TO MOTOR VEHICLES TO ADDRESS CERTIFICATION-RELATED DUTIES AND LIABILITIES, AND TO PROVIDE THE CONSUMER WITH INFORMATION TO ASSIST HIM OR HER IN DETERMINING WHICH OF THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD WILL PROVIDE CORRECT FEDERAL CERTIFICATION AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY TAGS AS WELL AS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO THE MOTOR HOME OWNERS. IF AN OWNER DESIRES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER REPLACE THE TAGS FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.

Reported: 2008-04-10 (April 10, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 80 MY 2008-2009 PULSE AND ICON CLASS C MOTOR HOMES. THE ENTRY STEP ATTACHMENT CRADLE/SUPPORT MAY BEND CAUSING THE STEP TO BECOME UNSAFE.

Consequence: INSUFFICIENT STRUCTURAL MATERIAL STRENGTH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURIES AND VEHICLE AND/OR OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REINFORCE THE ENTRY STEP ATTACHMENT CRADLE/SUPPORT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 28, 2008.

Reported: 2008-07-01 (July 1, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 226 MY 2008-2009 AMERICAN ALLEGIANCE, AMERICAN EAGLE, AMERICAN HERITAGE, AMERICAN TRADITION, BOUNDER, BOUNDER DIESEL, DISCOVERY, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, FIESTA LX, PACE ARROW, PROVIDENCE, REVOLUTION LE, SOUTHWIND, CLASS A MOTOR HOMES, AND ICON, JAMBOREE, JAMBOREE GT, JAMBOREE SPORT, PULSE, TIOGA, AND TIOGA RANGER CLASS C MOTOR HOMES. THESE MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 567, 'CERTIFICATION.' THE OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY WERE CALCULATED INCORRECTLY ALLOWING ADDITIONAL LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY.

Consequence: OVERLOADING MAY HAVE AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON MOTOR HOME HANDLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD WILL MAIL A CORRECTED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION LABEL ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AFFECTED MOTOR HOME OWNERS. OWNERS WHO DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE INSTALLING THIS LABEL CAN TAKE THEIR MOTOR HOME TO ANY FLEETWOOD DEALER AND THE DEALER WILL INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.

Reported: 2008-07-29 (July 29, 2008)

SPRINTER IS RECALLING 79 MY 2008 DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER 3500 TRUCKS. SOME OF THE LEFT DRIVE SHAFTS ON THE REAR AXLE WHICH WERE LABELED WITH THE CHARGE INDICATOR "S," MAY CONTAIN CRACKS AT THE RADIUS BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE FLANGE.

Consequence: THESE CRACKS MAY CAUSE A BREAKAGE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE LEFT REAR DRIVE SHAFT FOR CHARGE INDICATOR "S" AND REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPRINTER AT 1-843-695-5000.

Reported: 2008-09-26 (September 26, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 979 MY 2008-2009 ICON, JAMBOREE, JAMBOREE GT, PULSE, TIOGA, AND TIOGA SL CLASS C MOTOR HOMES. THE FRONT CLEARANCE LIGHTS WIRING MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH A PORTION OF THE METAL MOUNTING PLATE AND COULD BECOME ABRADED.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRING AND REPAIR, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.

Reported: 2008-11-24 (November 24, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 106 MY 2009 ICON AND PULSE 24A MOTOR HOMES. THE PROPANE HOSE CONNECTIONS MAY BE INSTALLED IN A POSITION THAT CAUSES THEM TO BECOME PINCHED AGAINST THE PROPANE TANK.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE PROPANE HOSE OR FITTINGS AND COULD LEAD TO A PROPANE GAS LEAK AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN EXPLOSION AND/OR FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION THE CONNECTIONS FOR THE PROPANE HOSES. PROPANE HOSES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.