Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2002 Fleetwood Prowler with NHTSA between 2002 and 2008.
The largest single group is the equipment & accessories.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 5 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 — 44
Against the median year of the Fleetwood Prowler. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
23.1% 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 2002 compares with every other Fleetwood Prowler
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2002 Fleetwood Prowler
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Equipment & Accessories
753.8%
Body & Structure
430.8%
Other & Unspecified
17.7%
Suspension
17.7%
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.
Jul 2002peak 3Sep 2008
NHTSA investigations into the 2002 Fleetwood Prowler
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE06005Opened 20 Jan 2006Closed 2 May 2006EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
INADVERTENT SLIDE-OUT EXTENSION MOVEMENT
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON ODI'S RECEIPT OF A CONGRESSIONAL LETTER ON BEHALF OF A CONSTITUENT.THE CONSTITUENT REPORTED INCIDENTS WHERE THE SLIDE OUT ROOM OF HIS MOTOR HOME WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE (EXTEND) DURING HIGHWAY USE.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT A FULLY EXTENDED SLIDE OUT WOULD DEGRADE THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS AND/OR POSSIBLY IMPACT AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH.ODI CONTACTED FLEETWOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT SLIDE OUT ROOMS WERE INSTALLED IN MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FOLDING TRAILERS. AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION ODI VISITED A RV SHO...
RQ03009Opened 21 Nov 2003Closed 17 Mar 2004WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHEEL SEPARATIONS
FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS HAD BEEN INADEQUATELY TORQUED IN FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS BUILT WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS SINCE JUNE 2002.FLEETWOOD ALERTEDOWNERS VIA A CUSTOMER ADVISORY NOTICE IN APRIL AND MAY OF 2003.ON OCTOBER 29, 2003, FLEETWOOD MADE A DEFECT DETERMINATION AND RENOTIFIED OWNERS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INVESTIGATION, FLEETWOOD PROVIDED CERTAIN PRELIMINARY INFORMATION TO ODI, BUT THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN THE REASON(S) FOR WHEEL SEPARATIONS, AND ODI CONTINUES TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS MAY NOT COMPLETELY ADDRES...
Recalls on the 2002 Fleetwood Prowler
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 20032894,187 units in Canada
Other
On certain recreational vehicles equipped with a Samsung microwave oven, an electrical short can occur in the microwave oven's membrane panel keypad causing the oven to activate without pressing any keypads. This could result in excessive heat, smoke or possibly a fire. Correction: Samsung will notify its customers and repair the membrane panel keypad. In the meantime, consumers should unplug their microwave ovens, if possible. If the consumer is unable to unplug the microwave, they should leave the door ajar until the membrane panel keypad is replaced.
COMPLAINT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH PROWLER LS. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BALANCED AND THE DOOR DID NOT SHUT. THEN ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER A PUDDLE OF WATER WAS NOTICED ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. A REPAIR MAN FOUND A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE WATER HEATER AS IT WAS BEING INSPECTED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waterloo, IL2 injured
EQUIPMENT
THE DESIGN RAMP CANNOT BE SAFELY DISPATCHED FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. THIS REAR WALL WHICH CONVERTS INTO THE RAMP IS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND CANNOT BE MANEUVERED BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF HOW ROBUST THEY ARE, DUE TO THE WALL'S OVERALL DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION PROPERTIES. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willard, MO1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
METAL PIECE THAT HOLDS CARPET UP, WHEN THE SLIDE OUT IS IN PLACE, IS RAZOR SHARP/NOT VISIBLE AND COVERED BY CARPET. IT IS CAUSING MAJOR INJURIES TO CHILD'S FEET.*AK WHEN THE SLIDE OUT IS IN THE IN POSITION, THERE IS A THREE TO FOUR INCH GAP BETWEEN THE FLOOR OF THE 5TH WHEEL AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. THERE IS METAL EDGING ON THE SLIDE COVERED BY CARPET AND IS VISIBLY UNSEEN. CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS INJURED WHEN HER FOOT WENT UNDER THE SLIDE. THE TOP OF THE CHILDS FOOT WAS SLICED OPEN APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR INCHES LONG AND I/2 INCH DEEP.
NHTSA complaint #8014405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Yuma, AZ
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PROWLER TRAILER. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. IN AUGUST OF 2008, THE COOLING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING IN THE REFRIGERATOR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT LEARNED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 08E032000 AND 06E076000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, HE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICES. HE CALLED DOMETIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS APPLY TO HIS REFRIGERATOR. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO REACH DOMETIC ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ THERE WAS YELLOW RESIDUE ON THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR. UPDATED 10/08/08.
NHTSA complaint #10241090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yuma, AZ
EQUIPMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PROWLER TRAILER. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. IN AUGUST OF 2008, THE COOLING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING IN THE REFRIGERATOR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT LEARNED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 08E032000 AND 06E076000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, HE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICES. HE CALLED DOMETIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALLS APPLY TO HIS REFRIGERATOR. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO REACH DOMETIC ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ THERE WAS YELLOW RESIDUE ON THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR. UPDATED 10/08/08.
NHTSA complaint #10241090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kingston, OH
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER DISCOVERED SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE TRAILER FRAME AND HAD IT WELDED A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT IT KEEPS BREAKING. *NJ DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED CRACKS IN THE TRAILER FRAME AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS. CRACKS WERE DISCOVERED AT THE LEFT REAR AXLE MOUNTING POINT TO THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF THE I-BEAM ALSO IN THE WEB OF THE I-BEAM FRAME ADJACENT TO THE WELDS ATTACHING THE BODY TO THE FRAME SUPPORT BRACKETS. THE CRACKS WERE VISIBLE AND VERIFIED BY DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION. THE TRAILER HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN IN USE LESS THAN A YEAR. IT HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE OF THIS MAGNITUDE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THE DEALER MUST INITIATE ACTION.
NHTSA complaint #10236108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pikeville, KY
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FLEETWOOD PROWLER. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL RM2652. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000 (EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TWO YEARS AGO AND WAS REFERRED TO A DEALER THAT COULD REPAIR THE REFRIGERATOR; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THEY HAD TOO MANY REFRIGERATORS TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH HIM, BUT NEVER DID. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN IN APRIL OF 2008, AND WAS REFERRED TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE CONTACT HAD WARRANTIES TO ADDRESS. HE NOTICED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND WAS LEAKING AMMONIA WITH A STRONG ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER REPAIRING THE REFRIGERATORS AS OF APRIL OF 2008. THE VIN, FAILURE MILEAGE, PURCHASE DATE, AND PART NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10232368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fillmore, CA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
DURING ROUTINE MAINTAINENCE, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS CRACKS IN TRAILER FRAME AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS. CRACKS WERE DISCOVERED AT THE LEFT REAR AXLE MOUNTING POINT TO THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF THE I-BEAM FRAME ALSO IN THE WEB OF THE I-BEAM FRAME A DJACENT TO THE WELDS ATTACHING THE BODY TO FRAME SUPPORT BRACKETS. THESE CRACKS WERE VISIBLE AND VERIFIED BY DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION. THE TRAILER HAS LESS THAM 10K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN IN ACTUAL USE LESS THAN 1 YEAR. IT HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE OF THIS SORT. I CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM ,HE REFERED ME TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THE DEALER MUST INITIATE ANY ACTION. IT IS MY CONCERN THESE CRACKS WILL PROPAGATE RAPIDLY AND CAUSE CATASTROPIC FAILURE. SHOULD THIS OCCOUR, A HIGH PROBABILITY OF NUMEROUS FATALITIES IS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10124024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Cloud, MN
STRUCTURE
AXLE SPRING HANGER BROKE, LOOSE FROM I-BEAM FRAME. PART OF STEEL FROM BEAM BROKE AWAY. *BF THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE STEEL IS WEAK OR IS TOO LIGHT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE RV. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE NOR DID THE TRAILER HIT ANYTHING. THE FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #10097565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kelseyville, CA
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
ALL THE DEALERSHIPS ON THE MICROWAVE OVEN/CIRCUIT RECALL 03E044000 LIST REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL, PER CONSUMER. ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT SERVICE THE AREA WHE CONSUMER LIVED. TRAILER'S SERIAL #710T1013896M.
NHTSA complaint #10048190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kelseyville, CA
EQUIPMENT
ALL THE DEALERSHIPS ON THE MICROWAVE OVEN/CIRCUIT RECALL 03E044000 LIST REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL, PER CONSUMER. ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT SERVICE THE AREA WHE CONSUMER LIVED. TRAILER'S SERIAL #710T1013896M.
NHTSA complaint #10048190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLAINT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH PROWLER LS. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BALANCED AND THE DOOR DID NOT SHUT. THEN ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER A PUDDLE OF WATER WAS NOTICED ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. A REPAIR MAN FOUND A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE WATER HEATER AS IT WAS BEING INSPECTED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roseville, CA
STRUCTURE
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE LEFT AXLE SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK (ABNORMAL PLACEMENT AND FUNCTION OF THE WHEELS). THE METAL TORE THE FRAME. THE AXLE DID NOT SNAP. THE HANGER THAT HELD THE SPRING AND AXLE TOGETHER HAD NEARLY TORE THE FRAME AND CAUSED THE REAR AXLE TO MOVE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THIS HAD TORE THE WELD ON THE HANGER TO 1/4 INCH OF BREAKING ALL THE WAY THOUGH. A WELDER SAID THE MATERIAL WAS TOO SKIMPY. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10031489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waterloo, IL2 injured
EQUIPMENT
THE DESIGN RAMP CANNOT BE SAFELY DISPATCHED FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. THIS REAR WALL WHICH CONVERTS INTO THE RAMP IS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND CANNOT BE MANEUVERED BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF HOW ROBUST THEY ARE, DUE TO THE WALL'S OVERALL DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION PROPERTIES. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willard, MO1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
METAL PIECE THAT HOLDS CARPET UP, WHEN THE SLIDE OUT IS IN PLACE, IS RAZOR SHARP/NOT VISIBLE AND COVERED BY CARPET. IT IS CAUSING MAJOR INJURIES TO CHILD'S FEET.*AK WHEN THE SLIDE OUT IS IN THE IN POSITION, THERE IS A THREE TO FOUR INCH GAP BETWEEN THE FLOOR OF THE 5TH WHEEL AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. THERE IS METAL EDGING ON THE SLIDE COVERED BY CARPET AND IS VISIBLY UNSEEN. CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS INJURED WHEN HER FOOT WENT UNDER THE SLIDE. THE TOP OF THE CHILDS FOOT WAS SLICED OPEN APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR INCHES LONG AND I/2 INCH DEEP.
NHTSA complaint #8014405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ione, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
CONSUMER STATES TWO SHOCKS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAILER BROKE OFF AND SLICED TIRE. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #566393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.