Model year record

2005 Fleetwood American Tradition recalls & problems

The 2005 Fleetwood American Tradition has 4 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (2 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints4filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

EquipmentJul 15, 2008

Recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 08V32000070,101 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: 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.

SteeringDec 14, 2007

Gear box › Shaft sector

Recall 07V583000238 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.
Risk: THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FLEETWOOD IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

EquipmentMay 12, 2005

Recreational vehicle/trailer › Lpg systems › Water heater

Recall 05V216000186 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE SYSTEMS' AQUA-HOT AND HYDRO-HOT WATER HEATERS, WHICH USE WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, THE BURNER TUBES DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.
Risk: THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE EXHAUST TUBE EXITING FROM THE HEATER CAN INCREASE AND COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IN OR AROUND THE VEHICLE.
Fix: VEHICLE SYSTEMS IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VEHICLE SYSTEMS AT 1-800-685-4298 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.

SteeringApr 25, 2005

Hydraulic power assist system

Recall 05V166000729 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES, A PNEUMATIC LINE CAN BECOME PINCHED BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC FILTER AND A COMPARTMENT DOOR STRUT. THE CHAFFING CAUSED BY OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE COMPARTMENT DOOR CAN CAUSE THE FILTER TO RUPTURE AND RESULT IN A HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK.
Risk: THIS LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID CAUSES THE POWER STEERING FEATURE TO NOT FUNCTION. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, PERSONAL INJURY OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPLACE OR REPAIR DAMAGED LINES AND RELOCATE THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-435-7345.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Unknown or other	2	—
Electrical systemInstrument panel › Speedometer/odometer	2	—
Visibility/wiper	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
The contact owns a 2005 Fleetwood American Tradition. The contact stated that the odometer was fluctuating while driving. Additionally, the ABS warning light was illuminated and the electrical system was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
Jan 1, 2005 · 19,000 miles
Visibility/wiper
DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS FOGGING UP AND CANNOT SEE OUTSIDE MIRROR THE GLASS IS DOUBLE PANE AND THE FOGGING IS BETWEEN THE TWO LAYERS OF GLASS NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN A BAD DESIGN OF SEALING THE TWO LAYERS OF GLASS IN THE FRAME THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR AND HAS CONTINUE TO GET WORST
Sep 1, 2019 · 50,000 miles
Unknown or other
WE HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN AND OR OUT OF OUR MOTOR HOME SEVERAL TIMES. AT OUR AGE, WE CANNOT GET OUT OF THE WINDOWS SO WE HAVE COMPLETELY DISABLED THE SYSTEM. WE HAVE TAKEN ALL THE BATTERIES OUT OF THE FOBS AND USE THE DEAD BOLT LOCK TO LOCK OUR VEHICLE BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID OF AGAIN BEING LOCKED IN. WHAT WERE TO HAPPEN IF WE WERE LOCKED IN AND A FIRE BROKE OUT IN OUR COACH? THIS IS SURELY A SAFETY ISSUE!
Oct 20, 2016
Unknown or other
ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES SWEEP BACK AND FORTH CONSTANTLY. THEREFORE, THE SPEEDOMETER READING IS IMPOSSIBLE AS WELL AS THE FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, OIL GAUGE, FRONT AND BACK AIR PSI GAUGES, RPMS, ETC. ALL GAUGES BEGIN TO WAG AS SOON AS THE MOTOR IS STARTED AND CONTINUE THE WHOLE TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY.
Jan 1, 2012

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

INADVERTENT SLIDE-OUT EXTENSION MOVEMENTClosed
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON ODI'S RECEIPT OF A CONGRESSIONAL LETTER ON BEHALF OF A CONSTITUENT.THE CONSTITUENT REPORTED INCIDENTS WHERE THE SLIDE OUT ROOM OF HIS MOTOR HOME WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE (EXTEND) DURING HIGHWAY USE.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT A FULLY EXTENDED SLIDE OUT WOULD DEGRADE THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS AND/OR POSSIBLY IMPACT AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH.ODI CONTACTED FLEETWOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT SLIDE OUT ROOMS WERE INSTALLED IN MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FOLDING TRAILERS. AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION ODI VISITED A RV SHOW AND THE FLEETWOOD PAXINOS PLANT TO EXAMINE SLIDE OUTS IN VARIOUS NEW MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES AND GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SYSTEMS WORK.DURING THE INVESTIGATION ODI LEARNED THAT THERE ARE TWO METHODS USED TO EXTEND SLIDE OUT ROOMS.SOME MANUFACTURERS USE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS AND OTHERS, SUCH…
PE06005 · opened Jan 20, 2006 · closed May 2, 2006