EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
1997 Fleetwood Bounder
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Fleetwood Bounder, most frequently naming the brakes, suspension and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 1997 | 1 | 2 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 1998 | 2 | 6 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 7 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 9 |
| Apr 2000 | 1 | 10 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 11 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 12 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 13 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 14 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 15 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 16 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2004 | 2 | 19 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 20 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 21 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 22 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 23 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 24 |
| Sep 2007 | 2 | 26 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 27 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 28 |
| Feb 2015 | 1 | 29 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes822.9%
- Suspension617.1%
- Engine514.3%
- Transmission411.4%
- Visibility411.4%
- Steering25.7%
- Fuel system25.7%
- Body & structure25.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
5 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govVISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:INTEGRATED JACK/LEVELER/STABILIZER
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE SIDE WINDOWS HAVE LOST THE SEAL AND ARE NOW BEYOND REPAIR . VISIBILITY IS IMPOSSIBLE. TRIED TO FIND THE WINDOWS AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND.SEEMS ODD THAT THIS HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP MANY TIMES.OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS AND THIS STARTED AFTER SECOND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. *JS
- NHTSA ID
- 10681963
- Incident
- Feb 2, 2015
- Mileage
- 47 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V178000, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:JACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2000 AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. WHILE INSPECTING HE FOUND SEVERAL CRACKED HOSES AND FLUID LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,500.
- NHTSA ID
- 10344679
- Incident
- Jun 8, 2010
- Mileage
- 18,500 mi
IN OCTOBER 2004 I BOUGHT 4 BIG O LT235/85R16 TIRES FOR MY MOTOR HOME. IN OCTOBER 2005, AFTER PUTTING ON ABOUT 16,000 MILES, THE TREAD CAME OFF OF ONE OF THE TIRES WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH. FIVE MONTHS LATER, BUT ONLY 1,000 MILES MORE, THE SECOND TIRE LOST IT TREAD. ONE HUNDRED MILES LATER THE THIRD TIRE LOST ITS TREAD. IN ALL THREE CASES THERE WAS TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE TREAD FROM THE CARCASS, JUST LIKE THE SEMI TRUCKS LOSING THE TREAD ON A RE-TREADED TIRE. AS A RESULT OF THESE INCIDENTS, CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MOTOR HOME, INCLUDING RUPTURE OF A PROPANE LINE, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR FIRE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10277340
- Incident
- Oct 15, 2008
- Mileage
- 16,000 mi
I OWN A 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAS BECAME CLOUDED AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND TRAVEL DIRECTION IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS YET, AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10203566
- Incident
- Dec 10, 2006
- Mileage
- 60,000 mi
THE PARKING BRAKE ON MY 1997 BOUNDER MOTOR HOME THAT'S BUILT ON A CHEVROLET P-30 CHASSIS WILL FAIL WITHOUT WARNING & ALLOW THE COACH TO ROLL. IT HAS BEEN REBUILT & WORKS MOST OF THE TIME. IT'S THAT ONE TIME IT WON'T WORK THAT WORRIES ME. I AM USING WHEEL CHAULKS WHENEVER I PARK IT. *TR. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10201760
- Incident
- Jul 20, 2007
- Mileage
- 60,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO,THE CONTACT BEGAN EXPERIENCED VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. HE STATED THAT THE WINDOWS WERE DUAL, INSULATED PANE, AND THE GLASS SEALS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A GROWTH BETWEEN THE PANES THAT HAD A CLEAR CRYSTAL LOOK, AND PRODUCED A FOGGY LOOK ON THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT INSISTED THAT THESE WINDOWS SHOULD BE OF A BETTER QUALITY AND NOT USE DUAL PANES THAT CRACK AND CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A COMPLAINT WAS PREVIOUSLY MADE FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL WITH ODI # 10043211 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10188100
- Incident
- Apr 16, 2004
- Mileage
- 30,000 mi
MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT INVOLVE AN ACCIDENT BUT DOES INVOLVE A FAILURE TO ACT (BY FLEETWOOD MOTORHOME CO.) AND RECTIFY WHAT I FEEL IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY MOTORHOME. I PURCHASED MY 1997 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER NEW IN 1997 AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FLEETWOOD TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW IN MY MOTORHOME IS SORELY INADEQUATE. THEY MERELY PLACED A DECAL THAT READS "FIRE EXIT" ON A STANDARD WINDOW AND EXPECT THAT TO SUFFICE. A NORMAL FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW HAS TWO RED HANDLES THAT SECURE THE WINDOW FRAME DURING NORMAL OPERATION AND CAN ALSO BE TURNED TO UNLATCH THE WINDOW FRAME FOR EGRESS IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE. I CONTACTED FLEETWOOD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAD ME GO TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED FLEETWOOD REPAIR FACILITY WHERE A SERVICE MANAGER TOOK PICTURES OF MY WINDOW AND SENT THEM TO FLEETWOOD. FLEETWOOD RESPONDED TO THEM , AND THEY TO ME, THAT I HAVE THE CORRECT CONFIGURATION. LAST WEEK I WENT TO A RV SHOW WHERE THERE WERE NEW AND USED BOUNDERS ON SALE. THE NEW BOUNDER HAD THE CORRECT FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW (RED RELEASE HANDLES). IN ANOTHER BOUNDER (USED) THAT WAS A YEAR OR SO NEWER THAN MINE THERE WAS NO REAL FIRE ESCAPE WINDOW. IT WAS UN-EQUIPPED, JUST LIKE MINE. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, AN OLDER COUPLE SUCH AS MY WIFE AND I, WOULD HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE. I FEAR THAT WE WOULD SURELY SUSTAIN SEVERE BURNS AT THE VERY LEAST. SINCE THERE WERE OTHER MOTORHOMES IN MY MOTORHOME'S ERA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, MANY PEOPLE COULD BE AT RISK. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD RESOLVE THIS PUBLIC DANGER. THANK YOU. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10142388
- Incident
- Nov 10, 2005
WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10097251
- Incident
- Aug 14, 2004
- Mileage
- 31,645 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FLEETWOOD SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CONSUMER MAINTENANCE ADVISORY, GENERATOR FUEL LINES. FLEETWOOD MOTOR HOME OWNERS. CSC WAS RECEIVED. *PE
EQUIPMENT
SUBJECT ON DOMESTIC ICE MAKER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION. *YC
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 50.9 |
| 2004 | 28 | 10 | 1 | 50.9 |
| 2003 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 45.8 |
| 2002 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 44.8 |
| 2001 | 8 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 39.9 |
| 1999 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 39.6 |
| 1998 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 48.6 |
| 1997Viewing | 29 | 5 | 0 | 44.7 |
| 1996 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 38.7 |
| 1995 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 31.6 |
| 1994 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 37.0 |
| 1993 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 46.6 |
| 1992 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 53.6 |
| 1989 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 1988 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.