Owners have filed 21 complaints
about the 1998 Fleetwood Discovery with NHTSA between 1998 and 2009.
The largest single group is the equipment & accessories.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 8 worst.
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 — 70
Against the median year of the Fleetwood Discovery. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1998 compares with every other Fleetwood Discovery
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1998 Fleetwood Discovery
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Equipment & Accessories
942.9%
Median failure at 46,000 miles
Tires
419.0%
Median failure at 60,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
314.3%
Median failure at 46,000 miles
Body & Structure
29.5%
Lights
14.8%
Steering
14.8%
Electrical System
14.8%
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.
Sep 1998peak 4Feb 2009
Recalls on the 1998 Fleetwood Discovery
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 200704716,870 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 2000177108 units in Canada
Steering
On certain Diesel motorhomes, the hydraulic hoses which operate the power steering gear box are routed close to a sharp edge. A sharp edge could cut the hydraulic hose, releasing hydraulic fluid and resulting in loss of power steering assist. Correction: Vehicles will be inspected and damaged hoses will be replaced or repaired as necessary. Affected hoses will be relocated.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 46,000 milesYuma, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
DOMETIC RECALL REFRIGERATOR REF.#26168178 MOD: RM3862 SER: 80800266 GAS LEAK/ AMMONIA LEAK/ DOMETIC RECOMMENDS NOT USING AS THERE IS A FIRE / DEATH BY GAS LEAKING BUT WILL NOT FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10258095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesYuma, AZ
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
DOMETIC RECALL REFRIGERATOR REF.#26168178 MOD: RM3862 SER: 80800266 GAS LEAK/ AMMONIA LEAK/ DOMETIC RECOMMENDS NOT USING AS THERE IS A FIRE / DEATH BY GAS LEAKING BUT WILL NOT FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10258095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesYuma, AZ
EQUIPMENT
DOMETIC RECALL REFRIGERATOR REF.#26168178 MOD: RM3862 SER: 80800266 GAS LEAK/ AMMONIA LEAK/ DOMETIC RECOMMENDS NOT USING AS THERE IS A FIRE / DEATH BY GAS LEAKING BUT WILL NOT FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10258095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
1998 DISCOVERY FLEETWOOD MOTORHOME POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED WHAT IS EXPLAINED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN# 00V204000. THE HOSE RUPTURED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10121549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesWillimantic, CT
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
STEEL BELT RUSTED AND AS A RESULT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH . *AK
NHTSA complaint #10091923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Olympia, WA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1998 DISCOVERY MOTORHOME NAR 06/26/2003 *MR CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL TO HAVE THE WELDING DONE ON THE FRAME TO THE SUB FLOORING. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10025090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING RIGHT FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. MICHELIN, XRV, SIZE 235/80R222.5, DOT#UNKNOWN .
NHTSA complaint #10044000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mission, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING A DECREASE IN LIGHTING ON ROAD FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT FLEETWOOD PURCHASED A HEADLIGHT UNIT USED ON FORD PICKUPS, THE LEXON LEZ COVER HAS CLOUDED OVER BLOCKING LIGHT INTENSITY, CONSUMER FEELS THE LIGHTS WERE FLAWED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8015087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK UNIT FOUND A BAD DIODE IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM WIRING. HAD TO REMOVE DASH COVER AND INSTRUMENT PANEL TO ACCESS WIRE HARNESS. FOUND DIODE IN HARNESS AT LOWER STEERING COLUMN AREA. REMOVE DIODE AND INSTALL NEW HARNESS ASSEMBLE AND RECHECK OPERATION ALL OK AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #9006201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux Falls, SD
TIRES
THERE ARE APPROX 200 MEMBERS IN OUR RV MOTORHOME CLUB. AT LEAST 25 HAVE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS. MICHELIN BLAMES THIS ON "INCORRECT PRESSURE" OR "YOU MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING". BUT NONE OF THIS IS TRUE. ALL OF THE TIRE FAILURES ARE A ZIPPER TYPE BLOWOUT, AND ALMOST ALL OF THE TIRES WERE PRODUCED PRIOR TO MAY, 1998 WHEN MICHELIN ALLEDGEDLY HAD A REDESIGN TO THE TIRE SIDEWALL. MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT DO NOT BELONG TO OUR CLUB REPORT SIMILAR TIRE FAILURES. IT APPEARS THAT THIS MICHELIN TIRE PROBLEM IS AFFECTING A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN THE RECENT FIRESTONE PASSENGER CAR TIRE FIASCO. MOST OF US OWNERS WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE THIS LOOKED INTO BEFORE ANY MORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR KILLED. PLEASE HELP US! THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE TIRES, NOT THE PARTICULAR BRAND OF RV MOTORHOME. *AK (TIRESIZE: 23580R22.5)
NHTSA complaint #747482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Syracuse, NY
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
BURNER ON MAGIC CHIEF STOVE MODEL NUMBER LLZ8502ABD, OVERHEATED BECAUSE ADJUSTER KNOB FAILED TO OPERATE. BURNER COULD NOT BE EITHER TURNED OFF OR TURNED DOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #890759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, FL
TIRES
THIS WAS THE THIRD TIRE FAILURE IN THE PAST YEAR. ON EACH OCCASION THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT, AND AT THE END OF THE BLOWOUT LOCATION, THE STEEL BELT WAS VERY RUSTY. IN ALL 3 CASES MICHELIN WOULD NOT EXAMINE THE TIRE. ON THE FIRST BLOWOUT THEY HAD NONE OF THESE TIRESD IN STOCK IN THE USA AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE TWO FRONT TIRES WITH THE XZE STYLE. THE RATED PRESSURE ON THE TIRE IS ONLY 90PSI, INSTEAD OF THE 100PSI ON THE XRV STYLE. MICHELIN ADVISED ME TO ADD 10 MORE PPSI TO THESE TIRES EXCEEDING THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE, SO I COULD GET ABOVE THE 60MPH RATING OF THESE TIRES. THEY ONLY AGREED TO GO 50% COST ON REPLACEMENT OF THE 4 OTHER XRV TIRES AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE SUBSTITUTE TIRES THAT WERE PUT ON EARLIER. I FEEL MICHELIN HAS MADE SOME DEFECTIVE TIRES, AND WILL REFUSE TO ADMIT IT, TO ME OR THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURE. MICHELIN KEEPS CLAIMING THE VEHICLE IS OVERWEIGHT OR THE TIRES ARE UNDER PRESSURE. THESE 2 FACTORS DO NOT OCCUR. I SENT MY WEIGHT CERTIFICATION INTO FREIGHTLINER, WHICH WAS OVER 2000 LBS. UNDER AND I MAINTAIN TIRE PRESSURE AT 100PSI. THEIR LATEST EXCUSE ON THE FAILURE WAS THAT MAYBE THE TRANSPORTER WHO TRANSPORTED THE VEHICLE FROM THE MANUFACTURE TO THE DEALER RAN THE TIRES LOW FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELEIVE, AS THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECT ON ME TAKING DELIVERY. I THINK MICHELIN IS ALWAYS FINDING EXCUSES INSTEAD OF ADMITTING FAULT.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235R8022.5)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235R8022.5 )
NHTSA complaint #742131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
FRONT CENTER BURNER ON MAGIC CHEFF STOVE GOT TOO HOT VALVE THAT CONTROLLED THE GAS COULD NOT BE CONTROLED. GOT SO HOT THAT IT MELTED PLASTIC ON T KNOB. HAD TO BE TURNED OFF WITH A PAIR OF PLYERS. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED VALVE ON HIS OWN.
NHTSA complaint #883566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOW, NH
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
PROBLEM WITH MAGIC CHEF STOVE: WHENEVER FRONT BURNER IS USED THE HEAT CAUSES THE VALVE TO STICK AND UNABLE TO TURN OFF. CONSUMER HAS TO LEAVE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF MAIN GAS VALVE TO LET IT COOL OFF BEFORE INSIDE VALVE CAN BE TURNED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #859051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Byron, CA
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
WHEN USING THE MAGIC CHIEF STOVE FRONT BURNER HEAT CAUSES THE TURN OFF VALVE TO STICK, AND CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE GAS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MAIN TURN OFF VALVE, LOCATED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, MUST BE TURNED OFF UNTIL INSIDE VALVE COOLS OFF, AND THEN TURNS OF THE VALVE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #858706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eugene, OR
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
WHEN USING THE STOVE BURNERS GET VERY HOT. THE STOVE WILL NOT TURN OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS*AK.
NHTSA complaint #858473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
LARGEST OF THE THREE BURNERS ON THE MAGIC CHEF RANGER IS MISALIGNED WHICH HEATS UP THE STOVE SURFACE, CAUSING THE KNOB TO BECOME VERY HOT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #858417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odem, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOOR DESIGNED WHEREAS A VACCUM IS CREATED OUTSIDE THE ENTRY DOOR DUE TO WIND FLOW. WHEN TRAVELING, HIGH PRESSURE SUCKS THE DOOR OUTWARD. DOOR VIBRATES ON TOP INSIDE HALF AND "FLUTTERS". IF DOOR IS ACCIDENTLY OPENED OR LATCH MECHENISM FAILS, THE DOOR IS SUCKED OUTWARD WITH TREMENDIOUS FORCE CREATING GREAT DANGER TO PASSENGERS. DOOR HAS BEEN REPACED 3 TIMES, MODIFIED TWICE. MANUF HAS ADDED MODIFICATIONS TO REDUCE WIND NOISE AND FLUTTER BUT THE OUTWARD SUCKING PRESSURE REMAINS. GREAT DANGER EXISTS. MANUF UNABLE TO CORRECT SAFETY DEFECTS.
NHTSA complaint #716242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lyndonville, NY
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
REPORTED A DEFECT CONERNING FRONT HIGH BURNER STOVE MANUFACTURED BY MAYTAG MODEL #CLZ8502BD.; WHENEVER A POT IS USED APPROXIMATELY 10 INCHES OR MORE, THE HEAT FROM THE POT CAUSES THE VALVE TO STICK, ANDCONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TURN BURNER OFF UNTIL IT COOLS OFF. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK NOT ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE BURNER 100%, IS ALLOWING PROPANE TO LEAK INTO THE MOTORHOME. POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. JN
NHTSA complaint #846519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eugene, OR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL, DUE TO FAULTY HOSE/ FUEL PUMP. DEALER NOTED PROBLEM WITH DIESEL FUEL SYSTEM. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. CAUSE OF LEAK CANNOT BE FOUND. LEAKING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOUSING.
NHTSA complaint #827576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eugene, OR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL, DUE TO FAULTY HOSE/ FUEL PUMP. DEALER NOTED PROBLEM WITH DIESEL FUEL SYSTEM. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. CAUSE OF LEAK CANNOT BE FOUND. LEAKING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOUSING.
NHTSA complaint #827576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.