1998 Fleetwood WILDERNESS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 66.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 66.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk | 1 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk: 1; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 1; Service Brakes, Electric: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. 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 10234673 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)
I HAVE A 1998 WILDERNESS 5TH WHEEL CAMPING TRAILER. THE REFRIGERATOR IN THIS UNIT IS A DOMETIC MODEL RM2652 SERIAL NO. 81303309. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM DOMETIC INFORMING ME TO TAKE MY UNIT TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE AN UPDATE INSTALLED IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO PREVENT A FIRE. I TOOK THE UNIT TO CAMPING WORLD IN DENVER, CO AND THEY DID THE RECALL UPDATE. MY REFRIGERATOR NEVER WORKED AGAIN AFTER I RECEIVED THE UNIT BACK FROM THEM. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND A LOT OF YELLOW RESIDE IN THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR AND A BURNING…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10234673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 766955 · 2002-09-10 (September 10, 2002)
5TH WHEEL TRAILER: THE BARGMAN 7-WAY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PLUG CAME LOOSE FROM ITS BARGMAN SOCKET MOUNTED IN THE WHEEL WELL OF THE OWNER'S TOW VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL BRAKES ON THE 32 FOOT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WERE NOT WORKING AS THE OWNER AND HIS WIFE DESCENDED THE VERY STEEP WEST SIDE OF THE TETON MOUNTAINS IN WYOMING. AS A RESULT THE BRAKES ON THE TOW VEHICLE BURNED OUT LEAVING THE ENTIRE RIG WITHOUT BRAKES CAUSING A TRAGIC ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE EVENTUAL DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/ WIFE OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 766955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8018252 · 2002-09-09 (September 9, 2002)
"BARGMAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR" CAME LOOSE FROM SOCKET WHILE TOWING, RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES ON TRAILER, AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN A FATALITY. BARGMAN IS AN ELECTRICAL CONX THAT CONNECTS TRAILER TO TOW VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8018252 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗98V191000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
Reported: 1998-08-12 (August 12, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAVEL TRAILERS (ONLY MODELS 26A AND 24B ARE AFFECTED, AND FURTHER IDENTIFIED BY THE CHARACTERS "7A26" OR "7B24" IN THE FOURTH THROUGH SEVENTH POSITIONS OF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND GENERATOR BATTERY WIRING COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE GENERATOR EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE MELTING OF THE WIRING INSULATION, CREATING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE AND SECURE THE BATTERY CABLE AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS AWAY FROM THE GENERATOR EXHAUST SYSTEM; INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT WIRING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT EXPOSURE FROM THE GENERATOR EXHAUST; AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED WIRING, IF NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗