RoadVitals

1996 Fleetwood Southwind

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Feb 5, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 18, 1996
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
0 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Fleetwood Southwind, most frequently naming the visibility, steering and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Visibility321.4%
  • Steering214.3%
  • Brakes214.3%
  • Exterior lighting17.1%
  • Body & structure17.1%
  • Powertrain (other)17.1%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Other / unspecified17.1%

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

1 campaign 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.gov
96V102000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Jun 18, 1996
881 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ELECTRIC WIRE USED TO POWER THE EXPANDABLE ROOM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A CIRCUIT BREAKER. OVERHEATING OF THE WIRE CAN OCCUR WITH INCORRECT EXPANDABLE ROOM OPERATION.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE WIRE INSULATION TO MELT, CAUSING SMOKE AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE EXPANDABLE ROOM SYSTEM PUMP MOTOR WIRE. FLEETWOOD WILL ALSO PROVIDE A VEHICLE LABEL TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND WILL PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL LITERATURE TO IDENTIFY THE CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCATION.
FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
Electrical
Filed Feb 5, 2007
2 deaths reported

MY FATHER AND HIS FRIEND BOTH DIED FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHILE SLEEPING IN A FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE ONAN GENERATOR FILLED THE MOTOR HOME WITH THE DEADLY FUMES. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION WITH FLEETWOOD, ONAN AND THE DEALERSHIP. INVESTIGATIONS DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAWSUIT HAVE REVEALED MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME FATE BEFALLING OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. FLEETWOOD AND ONAN HAVE SHOWN THEY HAVE NO REGARD FOR THE DEATH'S THEIR PRODUCTS ARE CAUSING. THEY WOULD RATHER LITIGATE THAN FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HOLD THESE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE AND PREVENT OTHER FAMILIES FROM GOING THROUGH THE TRAGEDY OUR FAMILY HAS HAD TO ENDURE. HTTP://WWW.MCSRR.ORG/PRESSRELEASES/NHTSA01P.HTML. *NM

NHTSA ID
10181702
Incident
Nov 14, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 19, 2004

FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE ON A CHEVY P30 CHASSIS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095999
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Mileage
40,690 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 19, 2003

PURCHASED A 1996 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND 34' MOTORHOME (GM CHASSIS) FROM GIANT RV IN UPLAND AND AFTER ONLY 100 MILES OF DRIVING, BOTH DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. I BELIEVE THE AXLE SHAFT BROKE BUT GIANT RV WILL NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT IT. *LA

NHTSA ID
10043193
Incident
Jul 12, 2003
Mileage
66,160 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 3, 2003

WINDSHIELD FALLING OUT

NHTSA ID
10005225
Incident
Feb 3, 2003
Mileage
20,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 10, 2002

WINDSHIELD HAS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM SEAL AT TOP ON BOTH SIDES. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER ADDS PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR RUBBER GASKET IS NOT STAYING ATTACHED TO FIBERGLASS BODY OF MOTORHOME, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO TIP OUT AT TOP CORNER. DEALER TOOK GLASS OUT AND RESET. CONSUMER NOTICED FLAWED WINDSHIELD AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *TT

NHTSA ID
8013607
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2002

MOTORHOME HAD STALLED AND STOPPED IN THE CENTER LANES OF FREEWAY,A DANGEROUS CONDITION. THANKS TO HIGHWAY POLICE AND CELL PHONE.THIS HAPPEN TWICE.*AK

NHTSA ID
757373
Incident
May 14, 1996
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 22, 1999

HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AFTER BEING ON FOR A WHILE. ALSO, DEFECT WITHIN WINDSHIELD CAUSES IT TO BECOME LOOSE FROM THE MOUNTING. REPAIRWORK DONE. MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
836996
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
BrakesSteering
Filed Jun 3, 1997

DISCONNECTED RETURN HOSE ON POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING METALLIC NOISE, VIBRATION.

NHTSA ID
603355

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

98256

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. MOTOR HOME DIVISION WILL BE CONTACTING THE OWNERS OF CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES FOR THE PURPOSE OF CORRECTING THE GCWR LABEL WHICH WAS PRINTED WITH THE INCORRECT INFORMATION. *TT

336

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR BENDIX WASHER/DRYER. *JD

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

Fleetwood Southwind by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023160—
2022150—
2021160—
2020150—
2019020—
2018040—
2017110—
2016130—
2015020—
2014130—
2012310—
2011040—
2010030—
2009010—
2008020—
2007330—
2006460—
2005840—
2004138152.9
2003248153.2
2002451—
2001440—
2000840—
1999720—
1998131038.5
1997820—
1996Viewing111040.0
1995150031.7
1994900—
1993520—
1992210—
1991611—
1990411—
1989320—
1988220—
1987120—
1986110—
1985131—
1984320—
1983120—
1982010—
1981010—
1980010—
1979010—

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.