2005 Fleetwood Bounder Diesel Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder Diesel, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical228.6%
- Body & structure114.3%
- Engine114.3%
- Other / unspecified114.3%
- Powertrain (other)114.3%
- Visibility114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SLIDES EXTENDED RUNNING ON GENERATOR. LIGHTING SEEMED TO DIM AND WOULD FLICKER. HAVE NEW HOUSE BATTERIES, INVERTER WAS REBUILT. WE WERE IN THE FRONT OF COACH OUR DOG INDICATED SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND WAS BARKING IN THE BEDROOM AREA. UPON INSPECTION FOUND SMOKE COMING FROM THE 12V FUSE CENTER. OPENED DOOR AND CENTER BOLT WAS GLOWING AND FUSES WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH. SHUT DOWN 12V AND THE FUSES COOLED DOWN. TURNING POWER BACK ON DID NOT DUPLICATE ISSUE UNTIL THE 12V ACCESSORIES WERE TURNED ON (LIGHTING, FANS ETC.). SWITCHED COACH TO SHORE POWER (SHUT DOWN GENERATOR) AND FUSES DID NOT GET AS HOT. DEALER REPLACED THE FUSE CENTER AND PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. HAD WE BEEN AWAY FROM THE COACH OR THE DOG DID NOT ALERT US, THIS MAY HAVE NOT ENDED WELL. THE DEALER SAYS HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE CLAIMS IT IS THE WAY THE POWER WIRE FEEDS THE FUSE BUS CAUSING THE WIRE TO LOOSEN. SUGGEST THAT ALL OWNERS HAVE THIS CHECKED. *TR
DT: 2005 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER(MODEL 34M). THIS IS THE SECOND OWNER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ,AND THEY STATED HAS TO BE SEEN BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CLOSEST DEALER THAT WILL LOOK AT THE VEHICLE IS 400 MILES AWAY. THE PREVIOUS OWNER STATED HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED THE FLEETWOOD WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE EARLY 2005 BOUNDERS. THE LOCAL DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED THERE. THE BLOWER IN THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT WORKING. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING HEAVY RAIN. THE PROBLEM WAS FROM A CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILING WHICH CAUSED OTHER COMPONETS TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE ON A SEPARATE BREAKER. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. RADIATOR TANK CRIMP FAILURE. EXCESSIVE CORROSION DUE TO UNDETERMINED ORIGIN CAUSED TANK CRIMPS TO RUST TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS KEPT EXCESSIVELY CLEAN AND DRY. CRIMPS CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. ENTIRE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. CORROSION ON "J" CONNECTORS BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE CAUSED SHORT AND FAILURE OF NON PROTECTED TCM. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. DISPLAY INDICATED "TCM FAILURE". TCM AND J CONNECTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONNECTORS CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. TCM IS NOT PROTECTED FROM SHORTS. 3. ENGINE BLOW- BYE. OIL BLOW-BYE IS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE RADIATOR THEREBY CAUSING THE RADIATOR FINS TO CLOG AND PREVENT ENGINE COOLING. FREIGHTLINER KIT TO FIX ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICIZED, BUT WAS MADE STANDARD ON SUBSEQUENT BOUNDER MODELS.FREIGHTLINER KIT HAD TO BE INSTALLED AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT CLEANED. ENGINE SIDE OF RADIATOR CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. RADIATOR TANK CRIMP FAILURE. EXCESSIVE CORROSION DUE TO UNDETERMINED ORIGIN CAUSED TANK CRIMPS TO RUST TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS KEPT EXCESSIVELY CLEAN AND DRY. CRIMPS CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. ENTIRE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. CORROSION ON "J" CONNECTORS BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE CAUSED SHORT AND FAILURE OF NON PROTECTED TCM. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. DISPLAY INDICATED "TCM FAILURE". TCM AND J CONNECTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONNECTORS CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. TCM IS NOT PROTECTED FROM SHORTS. 3. ENGINE BLOW- BYE. OIL BLOW-BYE IS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE RADIATOR THEREBY CAUSING THE RADIATOR FINS TO CLOG AND PREVENT ENGINE COOLING. FREIGHTLINER KIT TO FIX ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICIZED, BUT WAS MADE STANDARD ON SUBSEQUENT BOUNDER MODELS.FREIGHTLINER KIT HAD TO BE INSTALLED AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT CLEANED. ENGINE SIDE OF RADIATOR CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR CAUSED 2005 FLEETWOOD DIESEL BOUNDER TO BE DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EARLIER NORCOLD RECALLS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. RADIATOR TANK CRIMP FAILURE. EXCESSIVE CORROSION DUE TO UNDETERMINED ORIGIN CAUSED TANK CRIMPS TO RUST TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS KEPT EXCESSIVELY CLEAN AND DRY. CRIMPS CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. ENTIRE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. CORROSION ON "J" CONNECTORS BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE CAUSED SHORT AND FAILURE OF NON PROTECTED TCM. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. DISPLAY INDICATED "TCM FAILURE". TCM AND J CONNECTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONNECTORS CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. TCM IS NOT PROTECTED FROM SHORTS. 3. ENGINE BLOW- BYE. OIL BLOW-BYE IS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE RADIATOR THEREBY CAUSING THE RADIATOR FINS TO CLOG AND PREVENT ENGINE COOLING. FREIGHTLINER KIT TO FIX ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICIZED, BUT WAS MADE STANDARD ON SUBSEQUENT BOUNDER MODELS.FREIGHTLINER KIT HAD TO BE INSTALLED AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT CLEANED. ENGINE SIDE OF RADIATOR CANNOT BE SEEN VIA NORMAL WALK AROUND INSPECTION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: 2005 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER(MODEL 34M). THIS IS THE SECOND OWNER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ,AND THEY STATED HAS TO BE SEEN BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CLOSEST DEALER THAT WILL LOOK AT THE VEHICLE IS 400 MILES AWAY. THE PREVIOUS OWNER STATED HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED THE FLEETWOOD WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE EARLY 2005 BOUNDERS. THE LOCAL DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED THERE. THE BLOWER IN THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT WORKING. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING HEAVY RAIN. THE PROBLEM WAS FROM A CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILING WHICH CAUSED OTHER COMPONETS TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE ON A SEPARATE BREAKER. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .