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1997 problems

FaultScore report

1997 Fleetwood Bounder problems

Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 1997 Fleetwood Bounder with NHTSA between 1997 and 2015. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 15 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Fleetwood Bounder All 1997 cars

FaultScore 68/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Fleetwood Bounder.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

32,659 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

67%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 81: Against the median year of the Fleetwood Bounder. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 26: 5.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100: 67% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1997 compares with every other Fleetwood Bounder

Click any bar to open that year's report.

2 1 37 5 8 15 26 10 30 39 38 55 16 20 17 16 31 24 8 5 3 1 1 3 1 4 12 8 5 10 3 3 4 3 1

88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 25

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Fleetwood Bounder

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 9 23.1%

Median failure at 43,500 miles

Suspension 7 17.9%

Engine & Cooling 5 12.8%

Median failure at 33,674 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 4 10.3%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 4 10.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 39,500 mi

Other & Unspecified 2 5.1%

Fuel & Propulsion 2 5.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Body & Structure 2 5.1%

Steering 2 5.1%

Median failure at 31,645 miles

Equipment & Accessories 1 2.6%

Tires 1 2.6%

Median failure at 16,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 1 8.3%

10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 16.7%

25,000 – 49,999 miles 7 58.3%

50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 16.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jun 1997 peak 5 Feb 2015

Recalls on the 1997 Fleetwood Bounder

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2007047 28 Feb 2007 16,870 units in Canada

Other

On certain motorhomes, conventional travel trailers and fifth wheel travel trailers equipped with a Dometic Corporation refrigerator, a fatigue crack can develop in the boiler tube. This could allow the release of pressurized coolant solution into an area where an ignition source is present, which could result in a fire. Correction: Dealers will replace the refrigerator's boiler tube assembly.

Recall 1998180 14 Sep 1998 29 units in Canada

Visual System

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 205 - GLAZING MATERIALS. THE FORWARD DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ARE TOO DARKLY TINTED. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND AFFECTED WINDOWS WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY.

Recall 1997184 23 Oct 1997 50 units in Canada

Structure

THE HYDRAULIC HOSES WHICH OPERATE THE LEVELING JACK SYSTEM HAVE A ROUTING WHICH PLACES THEM CLOSE TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN CAUSE THE HYDRAULIC HOSE TO MELT, RELEASING HYDRAULIC FLUID. THIS HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN IGNITE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A FIRE. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED, DAMAGED HOSES WILL BE REPLACED AND AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES WILL BE RELOCATED.

Recall 1997083 15 Apr 1997 387 units in Canada

Other

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REGULATION 6 - STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE. COMPLIANCE LABELS WERE NOT INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. CORRECTION: COMPLIANCE LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS.

Recall 1996192 26 Nov 1996 10 units in Canada

Structure

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE E-Z GLIDE EXPANDABLE ROOM SYSTEM. WATER INTRUSION MAY SHORT OUT THE SLIDE OUT ROOM CONTROL RELAY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE SLIDE OUT ROOM TO OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE TRAVELLING THEREBY INCREASING THE WIDTH OF THE VEHICLE BY APPROXIMATELY 36 INCHES TO ABOUT 11 1/2 FEET. THIS WIDE VEHICLE WIDTH COULD LEAD TO COLLISIONS WHILE TRAVELLING OR SLIDE OUT ROOM IMPACT TO ADJACENT OBJECTS WHILE THE MOTOR HOME IS PARKED. CORRECTION: MOTOR HOME CONTROL RELAY WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED. RELAY WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED IN A WATERPROOF BOX TO PREVENT FUTURE WATER INTRUSION.

Recall 1996185 20 Nov 1996 25 units in Canada

Lights And Instruments

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE INCORRECTLY WIRED. THIS WIRING RESULTS IN REDUCED LIGHTING AND VISIBILITY. CORRECTION: EXISTING WIRING WILL BE MODIFIED USING STANDARD SPLICING TECHNIQUES.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 11 Jul 1997 Rochester, MI Crash

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT CUTS OFF, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT . THE TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED LEAKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE . OWNER CONTACTED MANFUFACTURER, MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAING ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #814068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Jul 1997 Rochester, MI Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

NHTSA complaint #814068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 7 Feb 2015 at 47 miles Waxhaw, NC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE SIDE WINDOWS HAVE LOST THE SEAL AND ARE NOW BEYOND REPAIR . VISIBILITY IS IMPOSSIBLE. TRIED TO FIND THE WINDOWS AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND.SEEMS ODD THAT THIS HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP MANY TIMES.OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS AND THIS STARTED AFTER SECOND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10681963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 22 Jul 2010 at 18,500 miles Croswell, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V178000, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:JACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2000 AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. WHILE INSPECTING HE FOUND SEVERAL CRACKED HOSES AND FLUID LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,500.

NHTSA complaint #10344679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 Jul 2009 at 16,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO

TIRES

IN OCTOBER 2004 I BOUGHT 4 BIG O LT235/85R16 TIRES FOR MY MOTOR HOME. IN OCTOBER 2005, AFTER PUTTING ON ABOUT 16,000 MILES, THE TREAD CAME OFF OF ONE OF THE TIRES WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH. FIVE MONTHS LATER, BUT ONLY 1,000 MILES MORE, THE SECOND TIRE LOST IT TREAD. ONE HUNDRED MILES LATER THE THIRD TIRE LOST ITS TREAD. IN ALL THREE CASES THERE WAS TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE TREAD FROM THE CARCASS, JUST LIKE THE SEMI TRUCKS LOSING THE TREAD ON A RE-TREADED TIRE. AS A RESULT OF THESE INCIDENTS, CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MOTOR HOME, INCLUDING RUPTURE OF A PROPANE LINE, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10277340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Sep 2007 at 60,000 miles Merritt IS., FL

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

I OWN A 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAS BECAME CLOUDED AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND TRAVEL DIRECTION IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS YET, AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10203566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Sep 2007 at 60,000 miles Fontana, CA

PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC:ACTUATOR

THE PARKING BRAKE ON MY 1997 BOUNDER MOTOR HOME THAT'S BUILT ON A CHEVROLET P-30 CHASSIS WILL FAIL WITHOUT WARNING & ALLOW THE COACH TO ROLL. IT HAS BEEN REBUILT & WORKS MOST OF THE TIME. IT'S THAT ONE TIME IT WON'T WORK THAT WORRIES ME. I AM USING WHEEL CHAULKS WHENEVER I PARK IT. *TR. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10201760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Apr 2007 at 30,000 miles Gastonia, NC

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO,THE CONTACT BEGAN EXPERIENCED VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. HE STATED THAT THE WINDOWS WERE DUAL, INSULATED PANE, AND THE GLASS SEALS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A GROWTH BETWEEN THE PANES THAT HAD A CLEAR CRYSTAL LOOK, AND PRODUCED A FOGGY LOOK ON THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT INSISTED THAT THESE WINDOWS SHOULD BE OF A BETTER QUALITY AND NOT USE DUAL PANES THAT CRACK AND CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A COMPLAINT WAS PREVIOUSLY MADE FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL WITH ODI # 10043211 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA complaint #10188100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 10 Nov 2005 SUN City, AZ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT INVOLVE AN ACCIDENT BUT DOES INVOLVE A FAILURE TO ACT (BY FLEETWOOD MOTORHOME CO.) AND RECTIFY WHAT I FEEL IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY MOTORHOME. I PURCHASED MY 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER NEW IN 1997 AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FLEETWOOD TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW IN MY MOTORHOME IS SORELY INADEQUATE. THEY MERELY PLACED A DECAL THAT READS "FIRE EXIT" ON A STANDARD WINDOW AND EXPECT THAT TO SUFFICE. A NORMAL FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW HAS TWO RED HANDLES THAT SECURE THE WINDOW FRAME DURING NORMAL OPERATION AND CAN ALSO BE TURNED TO UNLATCH THE WINDOW FRAME FOR EGRESS IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE. I CONTACTED FLEETWOOD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAD ME GO TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED FLEETWOOD REPAIR FACILITY WHERE A SERVICE MANAGER TOOK PICTURES OF MY WINDOW AND SENT THEM TO FLEETWOOD. FLEETWOOD RESPONDED TO THEM , AND THEY TO ME, THAT I HAVE THE CORRECT CONFIGURATION. LAST WEEK I WENT TO A RV SHOW WHERE THERE WERE NEW AND USED BOUNDERS ON SALE. THE NEW BOUNDER HAD THE CORRECT FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW (RED RELEASE HANDLES). IN ANOTHER BOUNDER (USED) THAT WAS A YEAR OR SO NEWER THAN MINE THERE WAS NO REAL FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW. IT WAS UN-EQUIPPED, JUST LIKE MINE. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, AN OLDER COUPLE SUCH AS MY WIFE AND I, WOULD HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE. I FEAR THAT WE WOULD SURELY SUSTAIN SEVERE BURNS AT THE VERY LEAST. SINCE THERE WERE OTHER MOTORHOMES IN MY MOTORHOME'S ERA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, MANY PEOPLE COULD BE AT RISK. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD RESOLVE THIS PUBLIC DANGER. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10142388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Oct 2004 at 31,645 miles Dallas, PA

STEERING:COLUMN

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10097251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 Sep 2004 at 33,674 miles Congress, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

PROBLEMS WITH EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND HEAD GASKET.*MR THE VEHICLE EXHAUST MANIFOLD MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED HAS AILED. THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE MOTORHOMES WITH LOW MILEAGE 460 FORD ENGINE'S. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO INDICATED THAT RUST WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE REPRESENTATIVE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE BANKS HEADER SYSTEM WAS THE CURE WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $4000. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HEADER SYSTEM INSTALLED AND IT SEEM TO BE WORKING WELL. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THE FAULTY EXHAUST MANIFOLD BUT CONTINUES TO MANUFACTURE THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10089576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Jul 2004 at 34,000 miles Congress, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

CONSUMER HEARD A DISTURBING NOISE COMING FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10083565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Jun 2004 at 39,500 miles Ulster, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BOUGHT BOUNDER NEW IN 1998. IT IS A 1997 MODEL. FORD 460 MOTOR. SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SEALS REPLACED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, TWO NEW HEADS, ONE NEW MANIFOLD SYSTEM AND THE RADIATOR HAD PROBLEMS. THE LEVELING JACK ALARM WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. NOW, THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE INSPECTOR SAYS THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER LEAK IN THE FRONT TRANNY SEAL, AND THAT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE TRANNY AND THEY WON'T COVER THE FAILURE. THE FLUID DRAINED WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION, BUT THEY ARE INSISTING THAT WE DROVE IT WITHOUT THE FLUID. NOT SO, AND WE HAVE A WITNESS. ANYWAY, OUR REQUEST IS FOR FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS WE HAVE FOUGHT WITH THIS SEAL PROBLEM SINCE WE BOUGHT THE UNIT. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10078888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 Jun 2004 at 39,500 miles Ulster, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSIOIN FAILURE. HAD TO HAVE THE SEALS REPLACED ALMOST FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT THE UNIT NEW. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. HAD TWO HEADS REPLACED AND AN ENTIRE MANIFOLD SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERS THAT THAT YEAR OF MOTORHOME ENGINE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS. ENDED UP WITH A 350 DOLLAR TOWING BILL AND OUT THE USE OF THE MOTORHOME AS WE ARE "NEGOTIATING" WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR THE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10075341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 May 2004 at 27,000 miles Redlands, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO ROLL DUE TO POOR BRAKE LINE DESIGN. THE BRAKE LINE WAS ONE HALF INCH FROM MANIFOLD. THE MANIFOLD MELTED THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LINE.

NHTSA complaint #10073864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 26 Feb 2004 RED Lion, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE VEHICLE HAD A STATE INSPECTION PERFORMED FROM ANOTHER STATE BEFORE THE CONSUMER TOOK OWNERSHIP. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SOME THINGS WERE OVERLOOKED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD MANY PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER, POOR WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, WHICH FAILED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD, AN EXHAUST LEAK WHICH WAS LEAKING AT THE EXHAUST HEADER, A DEFECTIVE REAR ROOF LADDER, AND A IMPROPERLY MISALIGNED STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.