Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1998 Fleetwood Tioga with NHTSA between 2000 and 2008.
The largest single group is the tires.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 3 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 — 38
Against the median year of the Fleetwood Tioga. 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 — 100
89% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 1998 compares with every other Fleetwood Tioga
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 Tioga
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Tires
428.6%
Median failure at 12,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
214.3%
Median failure at 17,000 miles
Brakes
214.3%
Electrical System
214.3%
Median failure at 12,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
17.1%
Median failure at 45,000 miles
Suspension
17.1%
Median failure at 17,000 miles
Steering
17.1%
Median failure at 7,000 miles
Airbags
17.1%
Median failure at 17,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
333.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
555.6%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
111.1%
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 2000peak 3May 2008
Recalls on the 1998 Fleetwood Tioga
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 200011298 units in Canada
Suspension
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 120 - Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars. Vehicles were equipped with a spare wheel with insufficient weight carrying capacity when mated to a maximum loaded tire with which it is equipped. Correction: Vehicles will be equipped with a higher capacity wheel.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 45,000 milesTucson, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FLEETWOOD TIOGA CLASS "C" MOTOR HOME, FUEL LINE PROBLEM, REPAIRED. COINCIDENTLY, TWO DAYS PRIOR TO OUR ALREADY SCHEDULED REPAIR APPOINTMENT I RECEIVED A "CONSUMER MAINTENANCE ADVISORY" FROM FLEETWOOD WITH REGARD TO GENERATOR FUEL LINES. THE LETTER INDICATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEARS 1997 TO 2000 YEAR GASOLINE EQUIPPED MOTOR HOMES. THE LETTER ALSO INFORMED US THERE ARE TWO SECTIONS OF FUEL LINE. ONE GOES FROM THE GENERATOR TO A STEEL LINE ON THE FRAME RAIL. THE OTHER LINE GOES FROM THE SAME STEEL LINE ON THE FRAME RAIL TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. UNTIL I RECEIVED THIS LETTER I NEVER KNEW THAT THERE WERE TWO SECTIONS OF FUEL LINE. THE LETTER GOES ON TO INSTRUCT THE OWNER TO INSPECT THE FIRST SECTION OF FUEL LINE AND IF IT SHOWS SIGNS OF DETERIORATION TO REPLACE BOTH HOSE SECTIONS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS MOTOR HOME. THE FIRST OWNER HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE FIRST SECTION OF FUEL LINE. THEREFORE, DURING MY "ROUTINE" MAINTENANCE ON THE GENERATOR THE FUEL LINE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF DETERIORATION. HOW MANY OTHER SUBSEQUENT OWNERS ARE THERE WHERE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS REPLACED THE FIRST SECTION OF FUEL LINE? IF THEY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION OF THE ADVISORY THEY WILL THINK THE HOSE IS GOOD AS I DID. ALSO, TO REQUIRE MOTOR HOME OWNERS TO ROUTINELY INSPECT A SECTION OF FUEL HOSE THAT IS ONLY VISIBLE BY DROPPING A FUEL TANK IS RIDICULOUS AND IN MOST CASES THIS INSPECTION WILL NOT BE DONE WITH SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL CONSEQUENCES SHOULD A FIRE OCCUR. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THESE MODEL YEAR MOTOR HOMES AND INSTEAD OF A SERVICE ADVISORY BEING ISSUED A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #10228078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Paso, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FLEETWOOD TIOGA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE NOTIFIED FORD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL NUMBER FOR THE DEFECT WAS 05S28. UPDATED 02/14/08
NHTSA complaint #10215998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesNEW Lexington, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FLEETWOOD TIOGA. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL # 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), WHICH CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO FAIL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY REPLACED A WIRE, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THE SPEEDOMETER COULD BE REPAIRED WAS TO REPLACE THE DASH ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE ARE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAB BATTERY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE FEELS THERE ARE MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE CAB AND POTENTIAL FOR FAILURES. THE CONSUMER STATED 8 FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHE HAD PARTS ON THE FRONT END REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SHIMMY SHE FELT WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 07/26/07
NHTSA complaint #10194246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesNEW Lexington, OH
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FLEETWOOD TIOGA. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL # 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), WHICH CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO FAIL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY REPLACED A WIRE, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THE SPEEDOMETER COULD BE REPAIRED WAS TO REPLACE THE DASH ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE ARE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAB BATTERY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE FEELS THERE ARE MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE CAB AND POTENTIAL FOR FAILURES. THE CONSUMER STATED 8 FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHE HAD PARTS ON THE FRONT END REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SHIMMY SHE FELT WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 07/26/07
NHTSA complaint #10194246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesNEW Lexington, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FLEETWOOD TIOGA. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL # 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), WHICH CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO FAIL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY REPLACED A WIRE, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THE SPEEDOMETER COULD BE REPAIRED WAS TO REPLACE THE DASH ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE ARE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAB BATTERY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE FEELS THERE ARE MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE CAB AND POTENTIAL FOR FAILURES. THE CONSUMER STATED 8 FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHE HAD PARTS ON THE FRONT END REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SHIMMY SHE FELT WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 07/26/07
NHTSA complaint #10194246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesWashougal, WA
AIR BAGS
I WAS TRAVELING ON MY SECOND TRIP AFTER PURCHASING A 1998 TIOGA FLEETWOOD CLASS C MOTORHOME. HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY THE REAR RIGHT INSIDE DUAL TIRE EXPLODED AND BLEW OUT MY STORAGE COMPARTMENT, BROKE MY STEP, SEVERED THE PROPANE LINE AND BLEW OFF AND TWISTED THE TAIL PIPE. CONTENTS OF THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT WAS DEPOSITED OVER THE HIGHWAY ON !-5 JUST SOUTH OF LONGVIEW, WA. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING ON OUR FIRST TRIP TO CALIFORNIA I HAD A BLOWOUT OF THE LEFT INSIDE DUAL TIRE. THIS WAS JUST A MONTH AGO. SAME THING, BUT NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO REPLACE ALL OTHER TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AT A COST OF OVER $800. NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE DAMAGE TO OUR RV. ONLY OUR SECOND TRIP OUT! TIRES LOOKED FINE WHEN WE PURCHASED VEHICLE AND HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THEM. TREAD WAS GOOD AND I CHECKED PRESSURE BEFORE EACH TRIP. WE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS MAJOR PURCHASE IN OUR LIFE AND BELIEF THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10096091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesWashougal, WA
TIRES
I WAS TRAVELING ON MY SECOND TRIP AFTER PURCHASING A 1998 TIOGA FLEETWOOD CLASS C MOTORHOME. HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY THE REAR RIGHT INSIDE DUAL TIRE EXPLODED AND BLEW OUT MY STORAGE COMPARTMENT, BROKE MY STEP, SEVERED THE PROPANE LINE AND BLEW OFF AND TWISTED THE TAIL PIPE. CONTENTS OF THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT WAS DEPOSITED OVER THE HIGHWAY ON !-5 JUST SOUTH OF LONGVIEW, WA. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT. WHILE TRAVELING ON OUR FIRST TRIP TO CALIFORNIA I HAD A BLOWOUT OF THE LEFT INSIDE DUAL TIRE. THIS WAS JUST A MONTH AGO. SAME THING, BUT NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO REPLACE ALL OTHER TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AT A COST OF OVER $800. NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE DAMAGE TO OUR RV. ONLY OUR SECOND TRIP OUT! TIRES LOOKED FINE WHEN WE PURCHASED VEHICLE AND HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THEM. TREAD WAS GOOD AND I CHECKED PRESSURE BEFORE EACH TRIP. WE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS MAJOR PURCHASE IN OUR LIFE AND BELIEF THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10096091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesMarion Station, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FROM SEPTEMBER 2001 THROUGH JANUARY 2002. NUMEROUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO CORRECT THE VIBRATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, TIRES AND A MORRIDE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT APPROVE ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO DEAD AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. *TS *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10032344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesMarion Station, MD
STEERING
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FROM SEPTEMBER 2001 THROUGH JANUARY 2002. NUMEROUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO CORRECT THE VIBRATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, TIRES AND A MORRIDE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT APPROVE ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO DEAD AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. *TS *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10032344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesMarion Station, MD
TIRES
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FROM SEPTEMBER 2001 THROUGH JANUARY 2002. NUMEROUS REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO CORRECT THE VIBRATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, TIRES AND A MORRIDE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT APPROVE ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO DEAD AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. *TS *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10032344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clermont, FL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH IN SIDE RIGHT DUEL TIRE BLEWOUT, RESULTING IN TIRE SEPARATING. CONSUMER CHANGED TIRE 24 HOURS LATER, OUTSIDE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW.
NHTSA complaint #10024842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Northville, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A FEW HOURS, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE SHOOK BADLY. BRAKING DISTANCE WAS TOO LONG, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP VEHICLE. TO NUMEROUS DEALERS ABOUT 10- 12 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS ONCE, AND SAID THEY WERE A NEWLY DESIGNED PART. BUT, CONSUMER VERIFIED IT WAS THE SAME OLD PART. MOST OF THE MILES ON VEHICLE WERE FROM TAKING IT TO DEALERS. DEALER WILKINS IN HORNELL,NY EVEN TOLD CONSUMER, NOT TO BOTHER WITH LEMON LAW, YOU WOULD BE NO 13, I WON THEM ALL. A HEAD MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO USE VEHICLE, NEITHER FORD NOR FLEETWOOD WAS WILLING TO REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER BELIEVED ROTORS WERE TOO THIN, AND WHEN THEY GET HOT THEY WARP.
NHTSA complaint #886282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Northville, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A FEW HOURS, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE SHOOK BADLY. BRAKING DISTANCE WAS TOO LONG, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP VEHICLE. TO NUMEROUS DEALERS ABOUT 10- 12 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS ONCE, AND SAID THEY WERE A NEWLY DESIGNED PART. BUT, CONSUMER VERIFIED IT WAS THE SAME OLD PART. MOST OF THE MILES ON VEHICLE WERE FROM TAKING IT TO DEALERS. DEALER WILKINS IN HORNELL,NY EVEN TOLD CONSUMER, NOT TO BOTHER WITH LEMON LAW, YOU WOULD BE NO 13, I WON THEM ALL. A HEAD MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO USE VEHICLE, NEITHER FORD NOR FLEETWOOD WAS WILLING TO REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER BELIEVED ROTORS WERE TOO THIN, AND WHEN THEY GET HOT THEY WARP.
NHTSA complaint #886282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davie, FL
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
NHTSA RECALL 00V104000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00229. CONSUMER HAS BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #864319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.