36 of the
465 complaints filed about the Fleetwood Bounder
are about the suspension —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
At speed, on an interstate highway, a front right wheel bearing failure occurred. Vehicle was safely stopped and had to be towed to a Ford repair facility. Replacement of front right wheel bearings, hub, spindle assembly, brake caliper and pads were needed to fix the damage. Vehicle had less than 32000 miles and does not sit for long periods.
NHTSA complaint #11732070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At speed, on an interstate highway, a front right wheel bearing failure occurred. Vehicle was safely stopped and had to be towed to a Ford repair facility. Replacement of front right wheel bearings, hub, spindle assembly, brake caliper and pads were needed to fix the damage. Vehicle had less than 32000 miles and does not sit for long periods.
NHTSA complaint #11732070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upon inspecting the bottom of my RV after my trip. I noticed the following: Rear sway bar bushing/ saddle bracket became loose. Lost 1 bolt (bottom) and the other (upper) bolt is loose. The upper bolt holding the rubber bushing and saddle bracket and saddle bracket is bent. 2016 Fleetwood Bounder 35K.
NHTSA complaint #11663145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Fleetwood Bounder constructed on a 2020 Ford F59 Chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V731000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the nearest dealers were located nearly 200 to 300 miles away, which would require the contact to drive the RV over mountains to reach dealers. Additionally, the dealers refused to service any RVs. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The RV manufacturer customer service was made aware of the issue but could not offer the contact a solution. The contact stated that a local dealer RV repair center offered to perform the recall repair however, they authorization was needed from the manufacturer to perform the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer was not willing to authorize the RV center to repair the RV. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11520489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE PURCHASED A 2018 BOUNDER 33C IN FEBRUARY OF 2018. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING. AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, WE LEARNED THE SUSPENSION WAS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT AND THE HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY WHEN MOVING, GIVING US THE FEELING THAT IT WOULD TIP OVER WHEN ROUNDING CURVES AND ON LOCAL ROADS WHERE IT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH, TO THE EXTENT THAT WHEN MY WIFE FOLLOWED ME TO THE REPAIR SHOP, SHE WAS GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AND SAID SHE WAS WAITING FOR THE TIRES TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND. THE RV ALSO PORPOISES. RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION, THERE IS A YELLOW WARNING TAG (SEE ATTACHMENT) ON THE SCREEN DOOR WE WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT BEFORE PURCHASE. THE WARNING STICKER REVEALS THAT THE WEIGHT LIMIT FOR CARGO ON OUR RV HAS BEEN 'REDUCED' TO 2681 POUNDS AND STATES, 'THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED: 1,216 KG OR 2,681 POUNDS.' IT GIVES THE WEIGHT OF A FULL LOAD OF WATER AND STATES THAT THE TONGUE WEIGHT OF A TOWED TRAILER ALSO COUNTS AS CARGO. IF ALL THE TANKS ARE MAXED OUT AND THERE IS A TOWED VEHICLE, THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 100 POUNDS OF CUSHION, MEANING THAT NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I CAN BOARD THIS VEHICLE SAFELY, LET ALONE OTHER OCCUPANTS AND AMENITIES. ANOTHER DANGEROUS STATIONARY POSITION IS THE FUEL TANK CONNECTION BECAUSE IT WILL NOT TRIGGER THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF AT A GAS PUMP WHEN FUELING AND FUEL KEEPS PUMPING AND OVERFLOWS ON THE GROUND WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GASOLINE HITTING THE EXHAUST OR SOMEONE THROWING A CIGARETTE NEAR THE RV. THE DASHBOARD IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 75% OF THE TIME FROM SUN GLARE (SEE ATTACHMENT AND ARTICLE), MAKING IT DANGEROUS WHEN MOVING, DRIVING IN SCHOOL ZONES , CONSTRUCTION ZONES, AND RESIDENTIAL ZONES. THESE ARE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS, AND WE ARE REQUESTING YOUR HELP IN REQUIRING THE MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THEM.
NHTSA complaint #11121337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10573893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OWNING THIS COACH SINCE 2003 NEAR NEW I HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF EPISODES OF ROCKING, TRACKING AND STEERING CONTROL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN NEAR MISSES AND ROLL OVER ACCIDENTS. I HAVE OWNED THE SAME BRAND IN OTHER RVS PREVIOUSLY THROUGH THE YEARS BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN THE MANUFACTURED BRAND. THE SUSPENSION IS WELL KNOWN AS A "FLEETWOOD ROCKER" INSTEAD OF A FLEETWOOD BOUNDER BY ALL THE MOTORHOME DEALERS THAT CARRY OTHER FRAMES AND CHASSIS. THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THE PROBLEMS WITH IT BEING DEALERS AND NOT ENGINEERS. I REPLACED THE SHOCKS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND OUT THE SHOCKS WERE NOT BAD, THEY ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE COACH BEING TOO TOP HEAVY , AND THE CANTILEVERED COACH WEIGHT THAT IS REAR TO THE AXLES. THE SAME PROBLEM LIES WITH THE SUSPENSION ON SWAY AND STEERING PROBLEMS. THERE ARE NO TRACKING OR STEERING CONTROLS ON THE FRAME TO COUNTERBALANCE THE ADDED WEIGHT OF A COACH ON A FORD WORKHORSE CHASSIS. A STABILIZER ON THE FRONT DOES NOT HELP DUE AGAIN TO BEING TOP HEAVY AND ALL THE WEIGHT REAR OF THE BACK AXLE. THIS COACH SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO BE BUILT ON THAT PARTICULAR FRAME OR CHASSIS WITH THAT MUCH REAR AXLE TAG WEIGHT, WITHOUT ADDED CONTROLS FRONT AND BACK TO STABILIZE THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING OR AT LEAST LENGTHENED WHEEL BASE. BRAKES ARE SAME ISSUE, UNDER SIZED AND CAUSED SEVERE HEATING PROBLEMS TO THE POINT THAT A DESIGN CHANGE HAS SINCE BEEN MADE. THANKS TO SOMEBODY, I JUST WISH THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WOULD GET THE SAME ATTENTION BY THEM ACCEPTING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR MISTAKE OR BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #10461086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE TO BE PARKED, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT LEFT. THIS NOISE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THEY REPAIRED THE TIE ROD BUSHING AND REPAIRED THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. UPDATED 10/18/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10166207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAX FROM CONSUMER RE THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCED WITH 2004 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER RV. *TS WHEN HE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RV IT WAS LEANING TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIDE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE SLIDES CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. RAIN WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE CEILING AND THE DASHBOARD. THE WATER DAMAGED AN OUTLET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR THE LEANING. THE DEALER TOOK THE COACH OFF IT'S FRAME AND ADDED SPACERS BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO BUY BACK THE RV.
NHTSA complaint #10146492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NAR 02/10/2003.. THE RV HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE WINDSHIELD FALLING OUT, THE ROOF LEAKED, THERE WAS A PROPANE GAS LEAKED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE, THE STEERING SYSTEM HAD TO MUCH PLAY, THE BOLTS IN THE U-JOINT FELL OUT, THE WIRES FEEDING THE ALTERNATOR WERE TOO TIGHT, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLIP BROKE, RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, THE HANGARS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE BROKE. THE SHOWER HEAD, DRINKING FAUCET, WALL MIRRORS, THE SLIDE ROOM COMPARTMENT, THE VERTICAL PANEL UNDER THE BED CAME APART, MULTIPLE CLIPS ON THE DOOR BROKE, THE TAIL PIPE RUSTED, LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE, THE WOOD TRIM CAME LOOSE, THE MICROWAVE WAS LOOSE IN THE CABINET. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF DONAL AND HELEN SCHROEDER)
NHTSA complaint #10008673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER 36 S PURCHASED NEW 4-APRIL-2003 DEALER HAS REFUSED WARRANTY SERVICE SINCE 5-APRIL-2003,VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL NEW VEHICLE 12/15 WARRANTY AND NOW HAS ONLY 1500 MILES,IT HAS TAKEN OVER 8 MONTHS TO GET SELLING DEALER TO TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS,VEHICLE HAS AS SEVERE REBOUND BOUNCING PROBLEM SUCH AS WHEN HITTING UNVEN PAVEMENT CROSSING A BRIDGE AT ROAD SPEED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BOUNCES AND FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS ROCKING ACROSS THE REAR AXLE PULLING THE FRONT UP.I AM TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 228 WHEEL BASE VEHICLE WITH THE LONG OVER HANG APROX 14 FT PAST THE REAR AXLE.THE DEALER PARTS MGR SID WAS TIRES NEED BALANCED,THIS DIAGONOSIS WAS MADE WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM,I DO NOT BELIEVE TIRE BALANCE WILL SOLVE THIS ,I HAVE ASKED THE MANFACTURE TO RESOLVE THE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM AS IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE IN THE CURRENT CONDITION THEY REFUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10056189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOTH REAR BRACKETS BEHIND THE REAR AXLE WERE CRACKED.*MR FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED DURING A TIRE REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE MOTORHOME TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE REPAIRED CALLED FOR WELDING THE CRACKS AND ADDING TWO SIDE BRACES.
NHTSA complaint #10044483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE UNIT IS "TOPPING OUT" AGAINST THE SHOCKS WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS. IT SEEMS AS IF THE UNIT IS TOO LIGHT IN THE FRONT END. THERE IS A 14 FOOT OVERHANG FROM THE BUMPER TO THE CENTER-REAR AXEL. WHEEL BASE IS 228 INCHES AND THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE COACH IS 37'11". THE BRAKING SYSTEM SHAKES LIKE CRAZY AND DOESN'T SLOW THE UNIT DOWN. THIS FAILURE IS RANDOM AND THERE ARE NO CONSISTENT CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS FAILURE OCCURS. THE DEALER HAS INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM AND CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #761589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THE RV FROM LANDRYS THEY WERE INFORMED FROM ME THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS BROKE THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING OF IT BASICALLY I HAD TO BUY IT AS IS OR WALK BACK TO MINN MORRYDE SAID THEY WOULD SEND ME PARTS FOR FREE BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #746457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITH JUST WATER/ FUEL AND LP GAS MOTORHOME IS 600 POUNDS OVER WEIGHT IN THE REAR END, WHICH EXCEEDS THE FEDERAL CERTIFICATION TAG. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #870275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERIOUS SHIMMY IN CHASSIS AT 40/45 MPH. FEEL MOTORHOME COULD LOSE CONTROL AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE OF CHASSIS AND MOTORHOME NO RESPONSIVE TO THIS SINCE PURCHASED. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. NEED IT REPORT TO THEM. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE AS OTHERS HAVE TRIED TO GET FIXED ACCORDING TO DEALER. I REPORTED THIS PREVIOUSLY TO NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #722424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SHIMMING WAS PRESENT FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. DEALER COULD NOT FIX NOR CAN CHEVY FIX. SERVICED BY TWO LOCAL CHEVY DEALERS. EARNHARDTS FIRST TRIED BY GAVE UP. AFRAID SHIMMY WILL CAUSE MOTORHOME TO GO OUT OF CONTROL,LOOSE A TIRE OR CAUSE STEERING PROBLEMS THAT MANY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NUMEROUS THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE TO CORRECT BUT ALL ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED TO DATE. ONLY HAPPENS BETWEEN 40/45 MPH. VERY COMMON SPEED FOR CITY DRIVING. HELP.
NHTSA complaint #721550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.