1999 Fleetwood Bounder Owner Complaints

I WAS DRIVING THE MOTORHOME UP THE DRIVEWAY AT MY HOME AND HAD NOTICED VERY WEAK BRAKING ON MY RETURN TRIP FROM REFUELING THE VEHICLE (5 MILES) AS I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY UP A HILL AND TOWARDS MY HOME, I ENGAGED THE BRAKES AS I GOT CLOSER AND THE PEDAL PUSHED RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED IT A FEW TIME, AND DID GET SOME BRAKING, WITH CONSIDERABLE IMMEDIATE FADE. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BY ACTIVATING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. EXITING THE VEHICLE, I FOUND A LARGE STREAM OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY SURFACE. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, I FOUND A STEEL BRAKE LINE DRIPPING FLUID, AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE FLUID SHOOTS OUT, AT A HIGH RATE AND LARGE VOLUME.

NHTSA ID

10762073

Incident

Sep 6, 2015

Mileage

14,865 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE RV WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 07V120000 (EQUIPMENT: RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR FAILED AS IT LEAKED AND WOULD NOT KEEP COOL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,790.

NHTSA ID

10363475

Incident

Oct 17, 2010

Mileage

44,790 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. WHILE HEADING TO A SERVICE STATION APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES FROM HOME, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG AMMONIA ODOR. HE PULLED INTO A DUMP SITE AND CLEANED OUT THE VEHICLE. HE CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE SMELL REMAINED. HE SHUT OFF THE REFRIGERATOR TO GET GASOLINE; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SMELL THE ODOR ANYMORE SINCE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS OFF. HE TURNED THE VALVE BACK ON AND HIS WIFE SMELLED AMMONIA AGAIN. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE SIDE COMPARTMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BURNER HOUSING COMPARTMENT AND ALSO HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND IN THE BURNER TUBE. HE WAITED A MOMENT UNTIL THE CRACKLING STOPPED. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE LOCATED A RECALL ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A NOTICE SENT BY DOMETIC. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING THE HEAT SHIELD ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT NOT FOR ANY OTHER REPAIRS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,225.

NHTSA ID

10233415

Incident

Jul 3, 2008

Mileage

38,225 mi

1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE RECALL PROBLEM. *KB THE DEALER OFFERED TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE CONSUMER DECLINED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10210590

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD ARRIVE. THE CONTACT DID NOT GET THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,120. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10204722

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

ON MY 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER MOTORHOME, GENERATOR WAS UNABLE TO DRAW FUEL FROM MAIN FUEL TANK. SUBSEQUENT INQUIRY ON BOUNDER WEB PAGE I FOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS HAD IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND UPON HAVING THE MAIN FUEL TANK REMOVED FROM COACH FOUND A RUBBER FUEL LINE HAD DISINTEGRATED AND THAT FUEL HAD BEEN PERMEATING THE FLOOR OF THE COACH FOR SOME UNDETERMINED TIME. I NOTIFIED FLEETWOOD CUSTOMER OWNER RELATIONS MR. DUANE MIXON AND HIS SUPERVISOR, MR. KEN COWLES WHO ASSERTED THAT IS WAS JUST LIKE A TELEVISION THAT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT FLEETWOOD HAD NO OBLIGATION TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE MATTER ALTHOUGH I TOLD THEM THAT AT LEAST ONE OTHER OWNER HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ( I HAVE SINCE HEARD FROM ANOTHER OWNER WITH SAME PROBLEM). I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE DETERIORATED LINE AND THE AREA PERMEATED WITH FUEL BELOW THE LIVING COMPARTMENT OF THE COACH. I AND MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SOME DEGREE OF JEOPARDY FROM THIS INVISIBLE DANGER AND I FEEL THAT AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THESE COACHES IS IN ORDER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166277

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

12,300 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 MOTOR HOME ON THE HIGHWAY IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO MAKE A VERY LOUD POPPING SOUND. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND AFTER PUZZLING OVER THE PROBLEM CALLED AAA TO GET TOWED. THE MOTOR HOME WAS TOWED TO COURTESY FORD IN POULSBO, WA. I SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THEY OPENED I TOLD THE MECHANIC WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED. IT TOOK HIM LESS THAN 5 MIN TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HE DIAGNOSED A BLOWN SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FORD V10 ENGINE. HE INDICATED TO ME THAT HE HAS SEEN MANY OF THESE AND EVEN SAW ONE THAT CAME IN WITH ABOUT 10,000. MY ENGINE HAS 43,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE NEVER HAD THE SPARK PLUGS WORKED ON AS FORD DOESN'T RECOMMEND A TUNE UP FOR AN ENGINE WITH LOW MILES LIKE MINE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS QUOTED ME A PRICE OF JUST UNDER $5000. AFTER SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME RESEARCHING THIS I FIND THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS ENGINE AND CLEARLY NHTSA SHOULD PRESSURE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO COMPENSATE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150051

Incident

Feb 10, 2006

Mileage

44,300 mi

RV GLOBAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE -- ENGINE FAILED AT 65 MPH -- EACH DAY AFTER THE REFRIG/GENERATOR/LEVELING JACKS/ AC/LITES/ ALL FAILED ONE AT A TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110291

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

REAR AXLE IS OVER LOADED, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF AXLE. *AK WHEN THE RV WAS LOAD WITH NORMAL CARGO (FUEL, WATER AND CONSUMERS BELONGINGS) THE REAR AXLE WAS OVERWEIGHT WHICH CAUSED POOR HANDLING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (99V013000). THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE 13 FOOT OVERHANG FROM THE REAR AXLE MAY BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

10038304

Incident

Sep 2, 2003

WE OWN A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER 36S ON THE FORD F-53 CHASSIS. IT WAS ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR GENERATOR FAILING TO START. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO A DEALER (CAROLINA COACH & CAMPER IN HICKORY, NC). THEIR SERVICE DEPT. DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A HOSE LEAK FROM THE PICK-UP TUBE IN THE GAS TANK TO THE GAS LINE TO THE GENERATOR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE PIECE OF HOSE WAS NOT THE BEST QUALITY AND THAT IT WAS INSTALLED WITH A SHARP "U" BEND WHICH STRETCHED THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOSE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. MY WIFE HAS COMPLAINED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF SMELLING GAS WHEN THE BEDROOM WINDOW WAS OPEN. I CHECKED EACH TIME AND COULD NOT FIND ANY GAS ESCAPING. I FIGURED IT WAS PROBABLY A GAS VENT. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I HAD THE GENERATOR FAILURE THAT THE PROBLEM REALLY SURFACED. THE HOSE FINALLY CRACKED ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE ITS' PRIME. THE REASON I AM BRINGING THIS YOUR ATTENTION NOW IS THAT I READ OF SEVERAL BOUNDER'S BEING BURNED DUE TO A GAS LEAK FROM THE GENERATOR LINE IN THE "BOUNDER BEACON", A BOUNDER'S OF AMERICA NEWSLETTER. THE HOSE IN MY RV WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. IT IS NOT AN EASY ITEM TO REPLACE AS THE GAS TANK HAS TO BE EMPTIED AND DROPPED TO GET AT IT. FLEETWOOD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL COACHES WITH THIS CONFIGURATION AND REPLACE THE HOSE WITH AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FUEL LINES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM A POTENTIAL FIRE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023325

Incident

Jul 15, 2001

Mileage

6,000 mi

THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTING THE GAS LINE TAKE-UP TO THE GENERATOR LINE WAS INSTALLED WITH A SHARP "U" SHAPE. THIS CAUSED THE HOSE TO BE STRESSED AND RESULTED IN CRACKS THAT SPLIT. MY WIFE HAD MENTIONED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT SHE SMELLED GASOLINE WHEN THE REAR BEDROOM WINDOW WAS OPEN. I COULD NEVER FIND ANY GAS DRIPPING AND THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLY A VENT FOR THE GAS TANK. FINALLY, THE GENERATOR FAILED TO START. I THOUGHT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO CAROLINA COACH & CAMPER AND FOUND OUT REAL PROBLEM WAS THE KINKED HOSE. IT COST ME 50 GALLONS OF GAS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DRAIN AND DROP THE GAS TANK TO REPLACE THE $2.00 HOSE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE GAS OR THE FUMES EMANATING FROM THE SPLIT HOSE DID NOT EXPLODE FROM CONTACTING SOMETHING HOT UNDER THE COACH. THE MOTORHOME WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD AND THE GENERATOR HAD LESS THAN 100 HOURS ON IT WHEN I HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL FLEETWOOD USED AND IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AN INFERIOR GRADE OF GAS LINE HOSE. FLEETWOOD SHOULD RECALL ALL BOUNDERS THAT WERE ASSEMBLED USING RUBBER HOSE TO CONNECT THE GAS LINE TO THE GENERATOR WITH AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FUEL LINES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023243

Incident

Jul 20, 2002

Mileage

12,000 mi

NAR 02/10/2003.. THE RV HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE WINDSHIELD FALLING OUT, THE ROOF LEAKED, THERE WAS A PROPANE GAS LEAKED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE, THE STEERING SYSTEM HAD TO MUCH PLAY, THE BOLTS IN THE U-JOINT FELL OUT, THE WIRES FEEDING THE ALTERNATOR WERE TOO TIGHT, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLIP BROKE, RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, THE HANGARS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE BROKE. THE SHOWER HEAD, DRINKING FAUCET, WALL MIRRORS, THE SLIDE ROOM COMPARTMENT, THE VERTICAL PANEL UNDER THE BED CAME APART, MULTIPLE CLIPS ON THE DOOR BROKE, THE TAIL PIPE RUSTED, LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE, THE WOOD TRIM CAME LOOSE, THE MICROWAVE WAS LOOSE IN THE CABINET. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF DONAL AND HELEN SCHROEDER) *JB

NHTSA ID

10008673

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

THIS VEHICLE STYLE IS KNOWN, BY FLEETWOOD, TO HAVE SEVERE ISSUES WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD EITHER CRACKING, OR POPPING OUT OF PLACE. I HAVE BOTH PROBLEMS, CURENTLY, AND IT IS *VERY* DANGEROUS, SHOULD ONE FALL OUT, AT SPEED. THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BUT IT DID ON THE 150 MI. DRIVE HOME, AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE, AS NOW, I CAN SEE/FEEL THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE GLASS. FLEETWOOD CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AS IT IS WAS NOT REPORTED BY EITHER OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS, YET THEY HAVE 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM FOR OTHERS WHO ARE LONG OUT OF WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO DISCUSSIONS WITH OWNERS OF OTHER FLEETWOOD VEHICLES WHICH EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM, FLEETWOOD DOES HAVE A FIX WHICH SEEMS TO INCLUE ADDITIONAL ALUMINUM BRACING IN THE 'FRONT CAP', WHICH CORRECTS FURTHER WINDSHIELD MOVEMENT, BUT IT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN HAVE DONE BY THE LOCAL 'GLASS SHOP'. FLEETWOOD ENGINEERED BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND TRUE SAFETY ISSUES, SUCH AS THIS, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. THIS IS A LACK OF COMPLETE ENGINEERING, OR LACK OF TESTING, ISSUE...NOT USE, ABUSE, OR WEAR, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THEY WOULD NOT 'FIX', WHICH IS ALSO 100% REASONABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

767044

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

CONSUMER NOTICED A LEAK IN GAS TANK AND A HOLE IN HOSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017718

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

TIRE--MICHELIN XRV 235/80R/22.5---GRAPEFRUIT SIZE BUBBLE ON DRIVER FRONT TIRE---TIRE EXPLODED---SIDEWALL FAILURE

NHTSA ID

566330

Incident

Jun 11, 2001

CONSUMER COMMENTS THAT WHILE ON HIS TRAVELS AND AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR THE EVENING HE WAS UNABLE TO RESUME HIS JOURNEY THE NEXT MORNING DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER NOT DISENGAGING FROM THE PARK POSITION. HAD MECHANIC TO LOOK IT OVER. MECHANIC GOT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO SEE A MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZED IN THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ROLL FREELY. *JG

NHTSA ID

564866

CHASSIS FAILURE/OVERWEIGHT ON REAR/NO WAY TO BALANCE WEIGHT/CANNOT CARRY POSTED WEIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

751566

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MPH FRONT AIR CONDITIONER COVER SHATTERED AND BLEW OFF INTO PIECES ALL OVER HIGHWAY. COLEMAN THE MAKER OF THE COVER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. COLEMAN REPLACED FRONT COVER AND REAR COVER BECAUSE REAR WAS ALSO STARTING TO CRACK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IF ON HIGHWAY PLASTIC WOULD FLY EVERYWHERE.*AK

NHTSA ID

895074

Incident

Jul 3, 2001

FRONT WINDSHIELD KEEPS POPPING OUT AND CHASSIS KEEPS SEPARATING FROM FRAME. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

883271

Incident

Sep 16, 2000

PROPANE FUEL TANK PIPE IS TOO CLOSE TO ROAD CLEARANCE CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK WHEN DRIVING OVER A CURB. *AK

NHTSA ID

877041

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

WITH JUST WATER/ FUEL AND LP GAS MOTORHOME IS 600 POUNDS OVER WEIGHT IN THE REAR END, WHICH EXCEEDS THE FEDERAL CERTIFICATION TAG. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

870275

WE HAVE A 1999 BOUNDER 32H BUILT IN AUGUST OF 1998 ON A JUNE 1998 FORD F53 CHASSIS. WE PURCHASED THE MOTOR HOME FROM BEAUDRY RV AS "USED" WITH 920 MILES ON IT (YES 920). THE FEDERAL CERTIFICATION TAG SAYS THE FRONT AXLE IS RATED FOR 7,000 POUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

731096

THE CUMMINS 275 HP ENGINE DERATES POWER AND IMEDIATELY DROPS SPEED OF VEHILE TO AROUND 30MHP. ON THREE OF THE FAILURES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM HOWEVER, CUMMINS CANNOT SEEM TO FIND AN ANSWER FOR THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED A FUEL PUMP, SENOR AND A LIFT PUMP. DURING ONE FAILURE WE WERE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH ROAD CONSTRUCTION AREA AND THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISON. THE UNIT IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE DURING THESE TIMES BUT WE HAVE LOSS ALL FAITH IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL TRIPS AND EACH TIME IT HAS BROKEN DOWN. ON THE WAY BACK FROM LAS VEGAS THE ALERT SYSTEM ON LEVELING JACKS SOUNDED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ALERT STATED THE JACKS WERE EXTENDING TO GROUND, FOUND DIESEL FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL CONNECTION ON GENERATOR AND FOUN ALMOST A PINT OF FUEL INSIDE FUEL CONNECTION COMPARTMENT. I HAVE FILED A LEMON LAW ACTION AGAINST FLEETWOOD ENTERPRIZES AND HAS OF THIS DATE IT IS STILL UNRESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

727536

Incident

Mar 27, 2000

AFTER DRIVING 1 TO 2 HOURS IN THE RAIN ON INTERSTATE I-90 AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE TOTALLY LOST POWER AS A RESULT OF THE AIR FILTER HOUSING AND AIR FILTER TOTALLY BECAME SATURATED WITH WATER AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT GET AIR FOR COMBUSTION. I CONTACTED FORD'S MOTOR HOME CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE AND THEIR REP TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT OCCURS WHEN THESE UNITS ARE DRIVEN IN THE RAIN FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. THEY SAID CHANGE THE AIR FILTER, DRY OUT THE AIR CLEANRE HOUSING AND WAIT UNTIL IT STOPS RAINING BEFORE DRIVING FURTHER, THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT FORD IS AWARE OF BUT HAS NOT DEVELOPED A FIX FOR AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN NOTIFIED THEIR DEALER NETWORK ABOUT IT. YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO FORCE A RAPID FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

721862

Incident

Apr 20, 2000

REAR 15FT OF UNIT BREAKING OFF, MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED ME THAT IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND THAT THE CHEVROLET CHASSIES HAVE THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

718028

Incident

Sep 21, 1999