FLEETWOOD Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN I-77 NEARING STATESVILLE, NC, THE CONVECTION OVEN/MICROWAVE FELL OUT OF THE CEILING FACE DOWN ONTO THE STOVE. IT APPEARS THAT THE BRACKETS PULLED OUT OF THE OVEN CAUSING IT TO FALL. THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY REASON FOR A CONVECTION OVEN TO FALL OUT OF THE CEILING OF A MOTORHOME UNLESS OF A DESIGN FLAW OR SOMEONE NOT MOUNTING THE OVEN CORRECTLY. AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT, THIS OVEN HAS ALWAYS BOUNCED AND MADE SQUEAKING NOISES WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, HOWEVER, I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD FALL OUT OF THE CEILING. IT COULD NOT BE MOUNTED CORRECTLY AS WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A NEW ONE INSTALLED, THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. *TR

DUE TO POOR ILLUMINATION PRODUCED BY MY MOTORHOME HEADLAMPS WE HAVE STOPPED NIGHT DRIVING UNTIL A FIX IS FOUND. FMVSS 108 REQUIRES PHOTOMETRIC TESTING OF LAMPS AT 12.8V +/- 20MV, OR 12.78 TO12.82 VOLTS. I PURCHASED A VOLT TESTER AND TESTED OPERATING VOLTAGE AT THE HEADLAMPS AS DIRECTED BY A AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING CONSULTANT. VOLTAGES FOR LOW BEAMS WERE 12.16V FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AND 12.49V FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE. VOLTAGES WERE FOUND WITH ENGINE RUNNING, LIGHTS ON,AND BATTERY 14.17V. I CONDUCTED A VOLTAGE DROP TEST WITH ENGINE OFF AND FOUND VOLTAGE DROP TO THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM TO BE1.53V TO THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND .21V TO THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL FOR A COMBINED VOLTAGE DROP OF 1.74V. THE AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING CONSULTANT CONSIDERS THIS A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN VOLTAGE.THIS LEADS ME TO QUESTION IF THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS MEET MAXIMUM ALLOWED VOLTAGE DROP OF 0.8V REQUIRED BY FMVSS 108. AS DESIGNED MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOESN'T SUPPLY ENOUGH VOLTAGE TO REACH RATED OUTPUT OF EACH BULB CREATING AN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS DRIVING ENVIRONMENT. USING MARKINGS LOCATED ON EACH HEADLAMP I DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATIONS OF MY HEADLAMPS ARE QUESTIONABLE AND POSSIBLY FRAUDULENT. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEPO, WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 19 RECALLS FOR HEADLAMPS OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO OTHER OWNERS OF FLEETWOOD BOUNDERS AND ALL RESPONDED THEY BELIEVE THEIR LIGHTING TO BE POOR. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS SYSTEMIC ACROSS THE BOUNDER LINE GOING BACK TO AT LEAST MODEL YEAR 2012. I AM REQUESTING FLEETWOOD RV OR NHTSA ISSUE A RECALL TO INSPECT ALL BOUNDERS FROM YEAR 2012 TO 2014 AND DETERMINE A REMEDY TO INCREASE VOLTAGE AT THE HEADLAMPS TO A MINIMUM OF 12.8V AS WELL AS HAVE THE DEPO HEADLAMPS TESTED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 108. IF PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET FLEETWOOD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE HEADLAMPS WITH COMPLIANT UNITS. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR DISCOVERY, I NOTICED THE WINDOWS WERE STARTING TO LOOK FOGGY. I ASSUMED IT WAS A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM AS WE HAVE VERY HARD WATER IN OUR AREA. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOCAL FLEETWOOD DEALER WAS NOT ATTENDING TO OUR WARRANTY ISSUES, LET ALONE THE WINDOWS. AFTER THE WARRANTY REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED (6 YEARS INTO OUR OWNERSHIP), AND THE DEALER CLOSING BUSINESS, WE ATTENDED A GOOD SAM RALLEY WHERE WE SOUGHT ASSISTANCE DETERMINING THE CAUSE AND REPLACEMENT PROCESS, A VERY EXPENSIVE DEFECT IN THE WINDOW SEALS. WE ELECTED NOT TO SPEND OVER $ 12,000 FOR REPLACEMENTS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL OVER 1000 MILES AND SPEND 3 WEEKS ACCOMPLISHING THE REPAIRS. THE DRIVER'S WINDOW HAS NOW DETERIORATED TO CAUSE A VISIBILITY ISSUE DUE TO THE FOG. THE WINDOWS ARE NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY OR EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE COMMON AND DISCUSSED REGULARLY ON RV FORUMS. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IF THOSE AFFECTED WINDOWS. *TR

THE WINDOWS STARTED FOGGY UP IN MY RV AND HAVE STEADY GOTTEN WORSE, ESPECIALLY THE DRIVERS WINDOW. AT NIGHT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE SIDE MIRROR DUE TO THE "FOGGING" OF THE WINDOW. FROM THE MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ FROM OTHER RVERS, FLEETWOOD SEEMS TO HAVE USED INFERIOR WINDOWS WHEN THE RV WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THESE WINDOWS FROM FLEETWOOD FOR REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE INFERIOR PRODUCT. I HAVE GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE COSTS TO FIX THE WINDOWS THAT IS OVER $2000, NOT INCLUDING THE COSTS TO DRIVE THE RV TO THE REPAIR SHOP APPROXIMATELY 175 MILES FROM MY HOME AND TIME LOST FROM WORK SINCE MOST REPAIR SHOPS ARE ONLY OPEN M-F. I BELIEVE FLEETWOOD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THEIR PROBLEM DUE TO USE OF A PRODUCT THAT CREATES A POTENTIAL DANGER FOR VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE HUGE INVESTMENT I HAVE PUT INTO THEIR PRODUCT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO INCUR THE COSTS TO REPLACE WINDOWS THAT ARE FAULTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD, SQUEAKY NOISE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SPORADICALLY OVERHEAT AND BECOME ABNORMALLY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V198000 (HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES). THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OVER 20 MPH BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD OVERHEAT AND THE CONTACT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE PEDAL DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,677.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD MALLARD TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE TRAILER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ALARM DID NOT SOUND UNTIL AFTER THE FIRE HAD OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE OF WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COIL, THAT WAS NEVER PERFORMED.

ALL WINDOWS OF THE MOTORHOME ARE FOGGED UP MAKING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST 1.5 YEARS AND STEADILY GETTING WORSE AND AFFECTING ALL WINDOWS IN THE MOTORHOME. *TR

TRAVELING SOUTH ON I5, IN OUR BOUNDER 32W ON A W-22 WORKHORSE CHASSIS, NEAR THE CALIFORNIA/OREGON BORDER, WE ENCOUNTERED ROAD REPAIRS AND A VERY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. WHEN WE ARRIVED IN REDDING, CA, WE FOUND THE RV TO BE NOTICEABLY LEANING TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT-REAR LEAF SPRING HAD BROKEN. DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY EFFECT HANDLING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

FORWARD WINDSHIELD DELAMINATION. THE WINDSHIELD IS CONSTRUCTED OF TWO LAYERS OF GLASS LAMINATED TOGETHER WITH A TYPE OF ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE LAYERS. THE ADHESIVE IS RELEASING CAUSING THE TWO LAYERS TO SEPARATE CAUSING A WHITE FILM TO FORM BETWEEN THE TWO LAYERS. THIS SEVERELY REDUCES THE IMPACT STRENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE POSSIBILITY ALSO EXISTS FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO COME LOOSE FORM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND SLIDE DOWNWARD CREATING AN OPEN GAP BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND VEHICLE FRAME, OR THE MOST SEVERE FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ISSUE OF SEVERE DELAMINATION ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

MY BOYFRIEND AND I PURCHASED OUR NEW RV IN MAY 2013. WE TOOK IT FOR OUR FIRST OUTING IN JUNE 2013. AS MY BOYFRIEND TURNED A RIGHT CORNER AT ABOUT 5 TO 7 MPH, THE SLIDE OUT COUNTER EXTENSION ROLLED OUT AND SMASHED INTO THE DINETTE SET, DIRECTLY ACROSS. THE SLIDE OUT COUNTER IS SECURED BY A SINGLE, SLIDING LATCH. WHEN THE COUNTER IS FULLY LOADED WITH UTENSILS AND OTHER ITEMS, IT EASILY WEIGHS 70+ POUNDS. WE IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE LATCH WITH A NEW ONE. ON OUR SECOND OUTING, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP "ADJUSTED" THE LATCH. DURING OUR THIRD DRIVE, THE LATCH WOULD SLIDE OPEN DURING LANE CHANGES. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK, WE EMPHASIZED THE FLIMSY LATCH COULD NOT SECURE THE HEAVY WEIGHT OF THE COUNTER. IF SOMEONE (PARTICULARLY MY YOUNG GRANDSON) HAD BEEN SEATED AT THE DINETTE, ANY OF THE SEVERAL IMPACTS WOULD HAVE CAUSED GREAT BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THE MANUFACTURER, FLEETWOOD, INC, SAID THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY WOULD DO TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERN. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER DEFECTS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. WE HAVE RETAINED AN ATTORNEY AND ARE ATTEMPTING TO SETTLE FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL. HOWEVER, FLEETWOOD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE ROLL OUT COUNTER ON THE TS-31 MODEL; STATING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO "LEMON LAW" THE RV. WHEN WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TOLD US HE WOULD LET HIS MANAGEMENT KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY CONCERN AND THEY WOULD RETURN IT TO THE FLEETWOOD FACTORY, INSTEAD OF DOING A BUY BACK IF FLEETWOOD OFFERED ONE. OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO HAVE THE NHTSA CONDUCT A SAFETY REVIEW OF THIS ROLL OUT COUNTER FEATURE. FROM OUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHEN THE ROLL OUT IS LOADED WITH UTENSILS, IT CANNOT STAY SECURED WITH JUST A FLIMSY LATCH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR