2005 Fleetwood WILDERNESS: complaints, problems and recalls

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2005 5TH WHEEL FLEETWOOD GEARBOX. WE FILLED OUR WATER TANK AND IT CAUSED THE HOLDING BRACKETS AND THE FLOOR TO BEND. WE TOOK IT BACK TO EARNHARTS SERVICE DEPT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE BRACKETS OR FLOOR. MY CONCERN IS IF THEY ARE GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO FILL YOU TANK TO 120 GALLONS AND THE BRACKETS BEND THEN THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. I THANK GOD THE BRACKETS DIDN'T BRAKE AND THE WATER TANK DIDN'T FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING AND KILL SOMEONE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. MAK…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162731 at NHTSA ↗

EVENTS: TOWED 27' FLEETWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER FROM HEWITT, TX TO RED RIVER, NM. FAILURE: STEEL FRAME WHICH HOLDS REAR BUMPER AND ALSO HOLDS SPARE TIRE BEGAN TEARING OFF FRAME OF TRAVEL TRAILER, EVENTUALLY IF NOT CAUGHT IN TIME BUMPER W/SPARE TIRE ATTACHED WOULD HAVE DETACHED FROM TRAILER. CORRECTIVE ACTION: TOOK TO DEALER, FLEETWOOD MOTOR HOMES CLAIMED IT WAS NOT A STRUCTURAL OR INSTALLATION DEFECT EVEN THOUGH ANCIRA DEALERSHIP ALSO AGREED THIS WAS FACTORY FLAW IN THE DESIGN/INSTALLATION. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170341 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE CAMPER WAS NOT LEVEL WITH THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE C-CHANNEL FRAME, WHICH SHEARED THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE CAMPER. HE STATED THAT THE REAR LATCHES FOR THE REAR DOOR BENT AND HE BELIEVED THAT THE SHEARED BOLTS CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE AND ENGINE INFORMATION WERE NOT APPLICABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10202342 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS. SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000 (EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,400. NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE TRAILER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10210372 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DURING DELIVERY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS INCORRECTLY ROUTED / CLAMPED BETWEEN CHASSIS AND FLOORING. THIS CAUSED THE HARNESS WIRING TO SHORT OUT AND CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FLOORING / INSULATION. DAMAGE INCLUDED SMOKE, REROUTING / REPAIR OF BURNT HARNESS, REPAIR OF SLIDE SWITCH, SLIDE SWITCH HARNESS, SLIDE SWITCH CONNECTOR, SLIDE SWITCH MOTOR, SEVERAL FUSES, INCLUDING THOSE ON THE TOW VEHICLE. HARNESS HAS BEEN REROUTED AND REPAIRED. FUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL. REMAINING PART…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218944 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED NEW=OCT.2004.......... 2005 FLEETWOOD TRAVEL TRAILER 25RKS......... MFG. INSTALLED INADEQUATE TIRES............ VEH.GVWR= 7250 LB.... TIRES MAX= 7280 LB LOAD C......... THREE TIRES POP SIDEWALLS WITHIN 1 YR......... VERY DANGEROUS HIGHWAY POTENTIALS........ MFG. SHOULD USE LOAD D FOR GVWR 7250 LB...

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267335 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)

CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS HAVE MISSING WELDS ON THE CHASSIS CROSS-MEMBERS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE CROSS-MEMBER TO BECOME DISLODGED, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD IF THE FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER IS IN MOTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: LIPPERT COMPONENTS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH FLEETWOOD, WILL INSPECT THE CROSS-MEMBERS FOR MISSING WELDS, REPAIR THE WELDS IF NECESSARY, AND ADD ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE AFFECTED AREA. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LIPPERT DIRECTLY AT 1-866-524-7821 TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THIS INSPECTION AND REPAIR PERFORMED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2005.

Reported: 2005-09-27 (September 27, 2005)

ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS, THE PROPANE GAS LINES THAT RUN THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE SLIDE OUT ROOM PENETRATE THE FLOOR TOO FAR FROM THE OUTSIDE WALL CAUSING THE POTENTIAL FOR PINCHED LINES DURING SLIDE OUT ROOM OPERATION.

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO A PROPANE GAS LEAK AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN EXPLOSION AND/OR FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, AS NECESSARY, REROUTE THE PROPANE GAS LINE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 24, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-509-3418.

Reported: 2008-07-15 (July 15, 2008)

FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 70,101 MY 2003-2007 SOUTHWIND, PACE ARROW, BOUNDER, FLAIR, STORM, FIESTA, TERRA GAS CLASS A MOTOR HOMES; BOUNDER, DISCOVERY, PROVIDENCE, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, REVOLUTION, AMERICAN EAGLE, AMERICAN HERITAGE, AMERICAN TRADITION DIESEL CLASS A MOTOR HOMES; JAMBOREE TIOGA CLASS C MOTOR HOMES; AND PROWLER, WILDERNESS, TERRY, MALLARD, PIONEER, PRIDE AND TRIUMPH CONVENTIONAL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATORS MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR 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: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FLEETWOOD IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 THE OWNER 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.