Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 1997 Fleetwood Southwind with NHTSA between 1999 and 2013.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 10 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 — 34
Against the median year of the Fleetwood Southwind. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 94
18.2% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 21
13% 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 Southwind
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 Southwind
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
763.6%
Median failure at 52,500 miles
Equipment & Accessories
218.2%
Median failure at 55,000 miles
Tires
19.1%
Median failure at 38,000 miles
Body & Structure
19.1%
Median failure at 60,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
112.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
112.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
450.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
225.0%
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 1999peak 2Aug 2013
Recalls on the 1997 Fleetwood Southwind
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 1997083387 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 199619210 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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 60,000 milesMount Vernon, IL1 injured
STRUCTURE
THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC STEP DID NOT COME OUT WHEN SUPPOSE TO UPON OPENING THE DOORS. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FALL OUT, AND BREAK HIS LEG. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10107197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesMT. Vernon, IL1 injured
EQUIPMENT
THE AUTOMATIC 12 VOLT STEP AT THE ENTRANCE DOOR FAILED TO EXTEND WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED IN THE DARK . CAUSING MY WIFE TO FALL SINCE THERE WAS NO STEP. REQUIRING SURGERY, A PLATE AND SCREWS TO BE PUT IN HER ANKLE.
NHTSA complaint #10104633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 38,000 milesWebster, NY
TIRES
SIX (6) BCT RADIAL A/P TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON 97 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME (MODEL 32VS) ON 3/19/11 AT APPROX. 33000 MILES. ONE TIRE FAILED WITH TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING ON RT. 90,10 MILES WEST OF ROCHESTER, NY, ON 7/2/13. TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED WIRING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR WHEELWELL AREA. WIRING WAS REPAIRED, TIRE WAS REPLACED AND A TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED. SECOND TIRE FAILED (SIDEWALL RUPTURE) ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHILE EXITING RT. 180 IN WILLIAMSPORT, PA ON 8/19/13. VEHICLE WAS EXITING TO INVESTIGATE A SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION JUST PROIR TO THE FAILURE. TIRES WERE MONITORED FOR PRESSURE AND TEMP. AND SHOWED NO LOW PRESSURE OR HIGH TEMP. SIGNS. ALL BCT TIRES WERE REPLACED IN WILLIAMSPORT, PA ON 8/19/13, AT 38000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10538121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesMount Vernon, IL1 injured
STRUCTURE
THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC STEP DID NOT COME OUT WHEN SUPPOSE TO UPON OPENING THE DOORS. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FALL OUT, AND BREAK HIS LEG. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10107197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesMT. Vernon, IL1 injured
EQUIPMENT
THE AUTOMATIC 12 VOLT STEP AT THE ENTRANCE DOOR FAILED TO EXTEND WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED IN THE DARK . CAUSING MY WIFE TO FALL SINCE THERE WAS NO STEP. REQUIRING SURGERY, A PLATE AND SCREWS TO BE PUT IN HER ANKLE.
NHTSA complaint #10104633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesBelton, MO
PARKING BRAKE
THE AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. A NEW PART WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK THERE WERE TIMES WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10089421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesPensacola, FL
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE DID NOT ENGAGE, AND THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DID NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING FROM AN INCLINE. VEHICLE WAS BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10080076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesPensacola, FL
PARKING BRAKE
AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE DID NOT ENGAGE, AND THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DID NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING FROM AN INCLINE. VEHICLE WAS BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10080076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,500 milesMT. Vernon, IL
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
THE AUTOPARK BRAKE AND MANUAL PARK BRAKE HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES ALLOWING MOTORHOME TO DRIFT (ONE TIME HITTING ANOTHER ) .LAST TIME 7/16/03. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO YOU!
NHTSA complaint #10033036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,500 milesMT. Vernon, IL
PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC
THE AUTOPARK BRAKE AND MANUAL PARK BRAKE HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES ALLOWING MOTORHOME TO DRIFT (ONE TIME HITTING ANOTHER ) .LAST TIME 7/16/03. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO YOU!
NHTSA complaint #10033036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Vernon, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE "AUTO PARK BRAKE" AND THE MANUALLY FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE HAVE FAILED THREE (3) TIMES ALLOWING THE MOTORHOME TO DRIFT FREELY OR NEARLY SO.
NHTSA complaint #751459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Vernon, IL
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
THE "AUTO PARK BRAKE" AND THE MANUALLY FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE HAVE FAILED THREE (3) TIMES ALLOWING THE MOTORHOME TO DRIFT FREELY OR NEARLY SO.
NHTSA complaint #751459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Paltz, NY
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
THE VALVE ON THE FRONT BURNER HEATED AND THE BURNER COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF
NHTSA complaint #711338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.