Model year record

1996 Fleetwood Southwind recalls & problems

The 1996 Fleetwood Southwind has 1 safety recall and 11 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is visibility (3 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints11filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 2reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemJun 18, 1996

Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers

Recall 96V102000881 vehicles

Problem: THE ELECTRIC WIRE USED TO POWER THE EXPANDABLE ROOM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A CIRCUIT BREAKER. OVERHEATING OF THE WIRE CAN OCCUR WITH INCORRECT EXPANDABLE ROOM OPERATION.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE WIRE INSULATION TO MELT, CAUSING SMOKE AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE EXPANDABLE ROOM SYSTEM PUMP MOTOR WIRE. FLEETWOOD WILL ALSO PROVIDE A VEHICLE LABEL TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND WILL PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL LITERATURE TO IDENTIFY THE CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCATION.

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*
VisibilityWindshield	3	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections	2	—
StructureFrame and members	1	—
SuspensionFront	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulicPedals and linkages	1	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline	1	—
Power trainAxle assembly › Axle shaft	1	—
Equipment	1	—
Parking brakeDriveline › Hydraulic	1	—
Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
MY FATHER AND HIS FRIEND BOTH DIED FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHILE SLEEPING IN A FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE ONAN GENERATOR FILLED THE MOTOR HOME WITH THE DEADLY FUMES. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION WITH FLEETWOOD, ONAN AND THE DEALERSHIP. INVESTIGATIONS DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAWSUIT HAVE REVEALED MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME FATE BEFALLING OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. FLEETWOOD AND ONAN HAVE SHOWN THEY HAVE NO REGARD FOR THE DEATH'S THEIR PRODUCTS ARE CAUSING. THEY WOULD RATHER LITIGATE THAN FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HOLD THESE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE AND PREVENT OTHER FAMILIES FROM GOING THROUGH THE TRAGEDY OUR FAMILY HAS HAD TO…
Nov 14, 1999
Parking brake › Driveline › Hydraulic
FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE ON A CHEVY P30 CHASSIS. *AK
Oct 1, 2004 · 40,690 miles
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
PURCHASED A 1996 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND 34' MOTORHOME (GM CHASSIS) FROM GIANT RV IN UPLAND AND AFTER ONLY 100 MILES OF DRIVING, BOTH DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. I BELIEVE THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE BUT GIANT RV WILL NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT IT. *LA
Jul 12, 2003 · 66,160 miles
Visibility › Windshield
WINDSHIELD FALLING OUT
Feb 3, 2003 · 20,500 miles
Visibility › Windshield
WINDSHIELD HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM SEAL AT TOP ON BOTH SIDES. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ADDS PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR RUBBER GASKET IS NOT STAYING ATTACHED TO FIBERGLASS BODY OF MOTORHOME, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO TIP OUT AT TOP CORNER. DEALER TOOK GLASS OUT AND RESET. CONSUMER NOTICED FLAWED WINDSHIELD AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *TT
Jul 1, 2002
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
MOTORHOME HAD STALLED AND STOPPED IN THE CENTER LANES OF FREEWAY,A DANGEROUS CONDITION. THANKS TO HIGHWAY POLICE AND CELL PHONE.THIS HAPPEN TWICE.*AK
May 14, 1996
Exterior lighting › Headlights
HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AFTER BEING ON FOR A WHILE. ALSO, DEFECT WITHIN WINDSHIELD CAUSES IT TO BECOME LOOSE FROM THE MOUNTING. REPAIRWORK DONE. MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Apr 1, 1998
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
DISCONNECTED RETURN HOSE ON POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING METALLIC NOISE, VIBRATION.
Jun 3, 1997

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