1996 Fleetwood SOUTHWIND: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
40,690 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Equipment: 1; Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10005225 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
WINDSHIELD FALLING OUT
Owner-reported narrative. 20,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043193 · 2003-10-19 (October 19, 2003)
PURCHASED A 1996 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND 34' MOTORHOME (GM CHASSIS) FROM GIANT RV IN UPLAND AND AFTER ONLY 100 MILES OF DRIVING, BOTH DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. I BELIEVE THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE BUT GIANT RV WILL NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT IT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 66,160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095999 · 2004-10-19 (October 19, 2004)
FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE ON A CHEVY P30 CHASSIS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,690 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181702 · 2007-02-05 (February 5, 2007)
MY FATHER AND HIS FRIEND BOTH DIED FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHILE SLEEPING IN A FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE ONAN GENERATOR FILLED THE MOTOR HOME WITH THE DEADLY FUMES. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION WITH FLEETWOOD, ONAN AND THE DEALERSHIP. INVESTIGATIONS DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAWSUIT HAVE REVEALED MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME FATE BEFALLING OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. FLEETWOOD AND ONAN HAVE SHOWN THEY HAVE NO REGARD FOR THE DEATH'S THEIR PRODUCTS ARE CAUSING. THEY WOULD RAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10181702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502801 · 1996-03-21 (March 21, 1996)
MOTOR HOME CHASSIS TOO SMALL FOR BODY OF VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO LOSE CONTROL EASILY. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757373 · 2002-01-26 (January 26, 2002)
MOTORHOME HAD STALLED AND STOPPED IN THE CENTER LANES OF FREEWAY,A DANGEROUS CONDITION. THANKS TO HIGHWAY POLICE AND CELL PHONE.THIS HAPPEN TWICE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8013607 · 2002-07-10 (July 10, 2002)
WINDSHIELD HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM SEAL AT TOP ON BOTH SIDES. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ADDS PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR RUBBER GASKET IS NOT STAYING ATTACHED TO FIBERGLASS BODY OF MOTORHOME, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO TIP OUT AT TOP CORNER. DEALER TOOK GLASS OUT AND RESET. CONSUMER NOTICED FLAWED WINDSHIELD AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8013607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 981039 · 1996-03-21 (March 21, 1996)
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN; FAILURE ON THE STEERING,CAUSING THE VHEICLETO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981039 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V102000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 1996-06-18 (June 18, 1996)
THE ELECTRIC WIRE USED TO POWER THE EXPANDABLE ROOM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A CIRCUIT BREAKER. OVERHEATING OF THE WIRE CAN OCCUR WITH INCORRECT EXPANDABLE ROOM OPERATION.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE WIRE INSULATION TO MELT, CAUSING SMOKE AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE EXPANDABLE ROOM SYSTEM PUMP MOTOR WIRE. FLEETWOOD WILL ALSO PROVIDE A VEHICLE LABEL TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND WILL PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL LITERATURE TO IDENTIFY THE CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCATION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗