RoadVitals

2002 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.
4
Latest Feb 7, 2016
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.
5
Latest Jul 28, 2009
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.
1
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

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Fleetwood Southwind, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; 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

  • Brakes240.0%
  • Electrical120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Exterior lighting120.0%

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

View all 5

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
09V312000

EQUIPMENT

Jul 28, 2009
6,684 units potentially affected
The defect: FLEETWOOD RV IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 MOTORHOMES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 24, 2004 AND MARCH 11, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LR, 1200LRIM, AND 1201LRIM REFRIGERATORS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.
The risk: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: FLEETWOOD RV WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD RV AT 1-800-509-3418 OR NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.
FLEETWOOD RV, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
09V198000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Jun 2, 2009
509 units potentially affected
The defect: FLEETWOOD IS RECALLING 509 MY 2001-2008 CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.
The risk: THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL, AND POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731. WORKHORSE WILL CONDUCT THE OWNER AND DEALER NOTIFICATION.
FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
07V120000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Mar 19, 2007
167,096 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
The risk: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: FLEETWOOD WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-322-8216.
FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE06005ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

INADVERTENT SLIDE-OUT EXTENSION MOVEMENT

Opened Jan 20, 2006
Closed May 2, 2006

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON ODI'S RECEIPT OF A CONGRESSIONAL LETTER ON BEHALF OF A CONSTITUENT.THE CONSTITUENT REPORTED INCIDENTS WHERE THE SLIDE OUT ROOM OF HIS MOTOR HOME WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE (EXTEND) DURING HIGHWAY USE.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT A FULLY EXTENDED SLIDE OUT WOULD DEGRADE THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS AND/OR POSSIBLY IMPACT AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH.ODI CONTACTED FLEETWOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT SLIDE OUT ROOMS WERE INSTALLED IN MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FOLDING TRAILERS. AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION ODI VISITED A RV SHOW AND THE FLEETWOOD PAXINOS PLANT TO EXAMINE SLIDE OUTS IN VARIOUS NEW MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES AND GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SYSTEMS WORK.DURING THE INVESTIGATION ODI LEARNED THAT THERE ARE TWO METHODS USED TO EXTEND SLIDE OUT ROOMS.SOME MANUFACTURERS USE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS AND OTHERS, SUCH AS FLEETWOOD, USE AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Feb 7, 2016

VEHICLE HAS SETUP FOR DUAL SYSTEM BRAKES IN CASE OF A BRAKE LINE FAILURE. MY MASTER CYLINDER DOES NOT HAVE TWO SEPARATE RESERVOIRS SO WHEN I HAD A BRAKE LINE BREAK, WHILE IN MOTION, I LOST ALL THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. THE RESERVOIR HAS SEPARATE TUBING FOR A DUAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
10824700
Incident
Dec 11, 2015
Mileage
41,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 2012

THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WHERE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE ROTORS. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE CALIPER TO GET SO HOT THAT A PART OF THE CALIPER TO MELT AND DROP ON TO THE INSIDE REAR TIRE. THIS CAUSED THE REAR TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND THE OUT SIDE TIRE TO GET SO HOT TO THE TOUCH THAT IT FELT HOT ENOUGH TO THE POINT THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE. LUCKY FOR ME THIS HAPPENED JUST AS I WAS RETURNING FROM A WEEK LONG CAMPING TRIP WITH OUR GRAND CHILDREN. I HAD JUST BACKED THE MOTOR HOME INTO MY DRIVE WAY AND AS SOON AS I GOT OUT OF THE COACH I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRES. I GOT MY GARDEN HOSE AND STARTED TO POUR WATER ON THE TIRES TO COOL THEM OFF. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRES WHERE ALSO VERY HOT SO I GOT ANOTHER HOSE AND STARTED POURING WATER ON THEM AS WELL. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS ON MY MOTOR HOME WHERE ON RECALL BUT I HAD NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. NOW THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME THE $ 3,199.00 THAT IT COST ME TO HAVE MY MOTOR HOME REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
10483023
Incident
Aug 3, 2012
Mileage
33,800 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 25, 2011

WE RETURNED FROM A TRIP (DROVE ABOUT 50 MILES) AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP TO TAKE IT BACK TO INDOOR STORAGE, THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE FORD V10 ENGINE AND STRIPPED OUT THE THREADS ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE, BUT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN ON THESE EARLIER FORD V10'S. BEFORE FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE CYLINDER HEADS. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT TO LOG IN MY ENGINE FAILURE AS YET ANOTHER INCIDENT OF THIS FREQUENT FAILURE. I THINK FORD SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR WHEN IT OCCURS AND CHANGE BOTH CYLINDER HEADS WITH THE NEW DESIGN (IF POSSIBLE) ONCE A VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10432825
Incident
Oct 23, 2011
Mileage
43,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 6, 2007

2002 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME. HEADLIGHTS ARE CLOUDING OVER. CONSUMER STATES THE CLOUDED LENSES DRASTICALLY REDUCED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10208346
Incident
Nov 1, 2007
Mileage
18,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

0251

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

AIR INTAKE BAFFLE PROCEDURE/INSTALLATION WHICH MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STALLING OR SPUTTERING DURING HEAVY RAINS OR WHEN WATER IS SPRAYED DIRECTLY AT THE FRONT END. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE ALSO. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING FLEETWOOD 2005 BOUNDER, PACE ARROW, FLAIR AND STORM. *TT

SBA0212

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

SUBJECT REGARDING SPARE TIRE AND REMOVAL PROCEDURE.*JB

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
2002Viewing451—
2001440—
2000840—
1999720—
1998131038.5
1997820—
1996111040.0
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.