The 1998 Fleetwood Bounder has 3 safety recalls and 24 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (7 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints24filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailer
NHTSA recall 07V120000 · Mar 19, 2007 · 167,096 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: 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.
Suspension › Rear
NHTSA recall 99V013000 · Jan 26, 1999 · 95 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES. THESE MOTOR HOMES, WHEN FULLY EQUIPPED AND LOADED WITH TYPICAL CARGO, WILL EXPERIENCE AN OVERLOADED CONDITION ON THE REAR AXLE.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE REAR AXLE COMPONENTS TO FAIL PREMATURELY RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE WITH A NEW HIGHER CAPACITY REAR AXLE.
NHTSA recall 97V178000 · Oct 7, 1997 · 1,915 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES. THE HYDRAULIC HOSES WHICH OPERATE THE LEVELING JACK SYSTEM IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING THE HOSE TO MELT, RELEASING HYDRAULIC FLUID.
Risk: THIS HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN IGNITE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED HOSES, AND RELOCATE THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES.
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
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Alternator/generator/regulator; Wiring
Fuel system, gasoline Delivery; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
4
0
0
0
—
Parking brake Conventional
3
0
0
0
—
Visibility Windshield
3
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
2
1
0
2
—
Exterior lighting Headlights
2
0
0
0
—
Suspension Rear
1
0
0
0
—
Trailer hitches Fifth wheel assembly
1
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch
1
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 24, 2016 · 40,907 milesService brakes I OWN AND OPERATE A GENERAL REPAIR SHOP. MY TECH REPLACED FRONT WHEEL ABS SENSORS ON FOR MENTIONED VEHICLE. WORKHORSE MFG PART NUMBERS (W8006778) AND (W8006803). WHILE ON TEST DRIVE THE ABS SYSTEM ENTERED FALSE DEPLOYMENT MODE AT 15MPH WHILE APPROACHING A BUSY HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET AND SLAM THE TRANSMISSION INTO LOW TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE NOSE OF THE COACH ENDED BLOCKING HALF A LANE OF TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT. FYI, THIS VEHICLE GVW IS 20,000 LBS. ( NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS TECHNICAL IN NATURE.) I DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP TO INITIATE INVESTIGATION. USING A DVOM I MEASURED THE VOLTAGE AMPLITUDE OUT OF THE NEW WHEEL SPEED…
Feb 1, 2008 · 74,000 milesFuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings GASOLINE LEAKING FROM CRACKED FUEL LINE BETWEEN MAIN GAS TANK AND GENERATOR ON 1998 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER MOTORHOME. CONCERN ABOUT DANGER OF LEAKING GASOLINE BUT THERE IS ALSO SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO LEAK. IF THERE WAS ANY SPARK FROM THIS CONNECTION, IT MAY CAUSE GAS TANK TO EXPLODE. I HAVE RUN THE GENERATOR 3 TIMES WITHOUT RUNNING THE MOTORHOME ENGINE AND HAVE HAD GAS LEAK EACH TIME. *TR
Jul 28, 2006 · 29,000 milesVisibility DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE FOUR THERMO-PANE WINDOWS IN THE MOTOR HOME LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT. THREE OF THESE WINDOWS HAVE DEVELOPED A LEAK, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO FOG REDUCING THE DRIVERS VISION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED. UPDATED 08/14/06. *JB
Dec 30, 2004 · 30,900 milesParking brake WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK......WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DOWN TOWN ATLANTA THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, NEARLY THROWING THE DRIVER ANS PASSENGER (S) OUT OF THEIR SEATS. IF THIS OCCURRED ON ICE/SNOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. *AK
Oct 30, 2004 · 53,000 milesParking brake THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE PARKING BRAKE FAILURE FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED BACK WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A PERIODIC MAINTENANCE LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINT ON THE BRAKE.*JB
Oct 7, 2003 · 33,000 milesFuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE GROUND DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HOSE THAT WAS LOCATED NEAR FUEL TANK AND GENERATOR.*AK
Aug 24, 2002Visibility › Windshield THE DRIVER WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT AT BOTTOM DUE TO FLAW AT FACTORY. 5/8 OF FIBER GLASS WERE NEEDED TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THE RUBBER SEAL AND THE BODY. *YH
May 15, 2002Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GENERATOR MAKING NOISES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FUEL LINE WAS CRACKED. CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE FUEL LINE TO THE COACH GENERATOR (110VAC-5.5 KVA) *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL LINE IS INSTALLED FROM OEM CHASIS CHEVROLET TO THE COACH GENERATOR BY FLEETWOOD AND HAS A MATERIAL MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH RESULTS IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION ALLOWING HYDRO CARBONS TO VENT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TO ESCAPE TO THE HOT SUFACES OF THE ONAN GENERATOR, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE/PERSONAL INJURY AND OR DEATH. *SCC
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
PE07055 · opened Nov 14, 2007 · closed Mar 14, 2008GASOLINE SUPPLY LINE TO GEN'R SEEPAGE ODI'S INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND THAT THE 1/4 INSIDE DIAMETER FUEL HOSE THAT PROVIDES GASOLINE TO THE VEHICLE'S ON-BOARD GENERATOR CAN CRACK AND SEEP FUEL. COMPLAINT SUMMARIES INDICATE THAT OWNERS HAVE TYPICALLY DETECTED A SEEPING FUEL LINE THROUGH (1) THE ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE FUMES AND/OR (2) ERRATIC OR NON-START GENERATOR PERFORMANCE.ODI HAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL IN THE GENERATOR FUEL SUPPLY HOSE IS PULLED INTO THE GENERATOR BY SUCTION SO THE GENERATOR IS LIKELY TO PULL AIR INTO THE FUEL LINE THROUGH MINOR CRACKS IN THE FUEL LINE CAUSING ERRATIC GENERATOR PERFORMANCE WELL BEFORE THE CRACKS WILL INCREASE IN SIZE SUFFICIENTLY TO SEEP SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE.RISK OF FIRE IS NEGLIGIBLE SINCE THE VOLUME OF FUEL SEEPAGE IS SMALL AND THE SEEPAGE IS UNLIKELY TO SPRAY BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE IS NOT PRESSURIZED.ALSO, THE FUEL TANK , GENERATOR, AND FUEL LINES ARE MOUNTED AT THE REAR OF THE…