1996 Fleetwood Southwind 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 1996 Fleetwood Southwind, 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
- Visibility321.4%
- Steering214.3%
- Brakes214.3%
- Exterior lighting17.1%
- Body & structure17.1%
- Powertrain (other)17.1%
- Suspension17.1%
- Other / unspecified17.1%
- Electrical17.1%
- Engine17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD FALLING OUT
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DISCONNECTED RETURN HOSE ON POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING METALLIC NOISE, VIBRATION.
STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN; FAILURE ON THE STEERING,CAUSING THE VHEICLETO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE ON A CHEVY P30 CHASSIS. *AK
DISCONNECTED RETURN HOSE ON POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING METALLIC NOISE, VIBRATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
MOTOR HOME CHASSIS TOO SMALL FOR BODY OF VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO LOSE CONTROL EASILY. *DH
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT WHEELS ALIGNED.
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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 .