2003 Fleetwood Southwind Owner Complaints

3 TIMES NOW WHILE DRIVING MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED. BRAKES HAVE GOTTEN HOT AND OVERHEATED. CAN SMELL A BURNING SMELL. ABS LIGHTS COME ON. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND WILL NOT STOP. ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO SHIFT VEHICLE TO LOW GEAR AND APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH HAS TAKEN AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME WITH NARROW MISSES. ON TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN A WINDY ROAD. ANOTHER TIME IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND JUST AFTER THE BRAKES SMELLED OF BURNING. BY THE TIME I PULLED OVER SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE FRONT BRAKES. I LIFTED THE FRONT WHEELS OFF OF THE GROUND AND THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. I CRACKED OPEN A BRAKE LINE AND THE FLUID WAS BOILING. I REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AND CALIPERS ALSO BOTH FRONT ABS SENSORS. RECENTLY FOR THE THIRD TIME I LOST BRAKES AFTER TRAFFIC, A BURNING SMELL OCCURRED AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN THIS TIME COMING FRONT THE REAR BRAKES. ALSO THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. PLEASE HELP. ALSO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11141924

Incident

Oct 19, 2018

Mileage

54,000 mi

WHAT DOES "THE VIN YOU ENTERED CANNOT BE PROCESSED AT THIS TIME. IF THE VIN WAS ENTERED CORRECTLY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER FOR MORE INFORMATION. " MEAN WHEN I CANNOT FIND THE TRUE MANUFACTURER?

NHTSA ID

11011396

Incident

Jul 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY WHEN DEPRESSED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE LATER, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE BRAKES. THE ROTORS, CALIPERS SENSORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/19/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10907560

Incident

Sep 12, 2016

Mileage

28,000 mi

GENERATOR FUEL LINE FROM MAIN TANK TO GENERATOR RUPTURED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10892552

Incident

Jul 27, 2016

Mileage

27,500 mi

RECALL 09V198000 BOUGHT USED 2003 SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME AND ATTEMPTED AT SEVERAL WORKHORSE SERVICE CENTERS TO GET THE BRAKE RECALL PERFORMED. WAS TOLD BY ALL THAT WORKHORSE HAS NO CALIPERS TO SHIP AND NO PLANS TO ORDER ANY MORE. HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN WHEN THERE ARE STILL VEHICLES THAT NEED THE WORK PERFORMED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10683210

Incident

Feb 13, 2015

Mileage

48,900 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND 36B. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; THE CALIPERS STUCK AND THE ABS NO LONGER FUNCTIONED AFTER HAVING THEM REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS WAS SET TO NOT WORK. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,948.

NHTSA ID

10368213

Incident

Nov 9, 2009

Mileage

14,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME ON A WORK HORSE CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND THEN CONTINUED TO DRIVE. WHEN THE CONTACT REACHED HIS DESTINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS AND STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BRAKES WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AFTER MARKET BRAKES TO REPLACE THE CURRENT BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPLACING THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS THE CALIPERS BEGAN TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS REFERRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND THE BRAKE PADS. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WORKHORSE DID COMPENSATE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID

10344921

Incident

Feb 10, 2010

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND RV. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 50-55 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH NO POWER RESPONSE. SUDDENLY, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES WITH NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. UPDATED 09/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/14/10

NHTSA ID

10334963

Incident

Feb 5, 2007

Mileage

29,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTOR HOME. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SAW BRAKE FLUID UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 16,000.

NHTSA ID

10329276

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

Mileage

16,000 mi

FRONT END HAD BEGUN TO MILDLY VIBRATE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ON CURSORY INSPECTION COULD TELL THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE FRONT ROTORS WAS CRACKED CLEAR THROUGH. CALLED WORKHORSE, WAS DIRECTED TO CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP. FOUND BOTH FRONT ROTORS WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS, SOME CLEAR THROUGH ON BOTH FRONT. BRAKE PADS ONLY 1/3 GONE, NO EVIDENT GLAZE OR HEAT SIGNS APPARENT (PICTURES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) ON THE PADS. CALIPERS WERE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AS SAFETY PRECAUTION. I KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THE CALIPERS WHICH GUIDES ME TO BELIEVE THAT SOME HOW THEY ARE RELATED DIRECTLY TO MY ROTOR FAILURES. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT THAT WOULD BE DUE TO CONTINUOUS HARD BRAKING OR RIDING THE BRAKES. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER (50 YEARS) AND I KNOW HOW TO AVOID OVERHEATING THE BRAKES, PRIMARILY TO KEEP THEM FUNCTIONING WHEN YOU NEED THEM. THESE REPAIRS (AT 34,000) COST $954, I SENT REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO WORKHORSE WHICH WAS PROMPTLY DENIED. SO NOW I AM FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10319996

Incident

Feb 8, 2010

Mileage

34,000 mi

RETURNED FROM 75 MILE TRIP, RIGHT REAR BRAKE AND WHEEL LINER VERY HOT AND SMELL OF BRAKE BURNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316975

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

29,942 mi

AFTER 75 MILE TRIP, RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS HOT AND SMOKING, NO LOSS OF BRAKING, RETURN TRIP 8 DAYS LATER NO PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316971

Incident

Feb 7, 2009

Mileage

29,942 mi

AFTER 100 MILE TRIP, LOST BRAKING ON MY MOTORHOME, WITH THE SMELL OF BRAKE BURNING, WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. REAR WHEEL LINERS BOTH SIDES WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, BRAKE FLUID COOLED OFF AND BRAKING RETURNED. RETURN TRIP OF 100 MILES 3 DAYS LATER WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316968

Incident

Jan 7, 2006

Mileage

25,000 mi

AFTER 90 MILE TRIP, LOST BRAKING ON MY MOTORHOME, WITH THE SMELL OF BRAKE BURNING, BRAKE PEDAL AT THE FLOOR. REAR WHEEL LINERS BOTH SIDES WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, BRAKE FLUID COOLED OFF AND BRAKING RETURNED. RETURN TRIP OF 90 MILES 2 DAYS LATER WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316967

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

Mileage

22,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND RV. ON MAY 15, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A RECALL FOR THE DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR. RECENTLY, WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE REFRIGERATOR, HE NOTICED THAT IT FAILED AND WAS WARM INSIDE. HE WENT TO SERVICE THE UNIT LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A YELLOW SUBSTANCE INSIDE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO SMELLED AMMONIA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LINES FAILED THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE UNIT, WHICH CAUSED AMMONIA TO LEAK OUT. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,914.35. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER AND REFRIGERATOR INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,373. UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REFRIGERATOR LEAKED AMMONIA. UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10275235

Incident

Mar 24, 2009

Mileage

50,800 mi

COMING THROUGH MOUNTAINS IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE MILLAGE WAS ABOUT 25000. RIGHT REAR BRAKE LOCKED AND OVERHEATED. I WAS NOT RIDING THE BRAKES, ONLY RIGHT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP. I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT BRAKES WITH MILLAGE AT 18000 OR SO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263820

Incident

Aug 21, 2008

Mileage

25,000 mi

BRAKE FAILURE ON A 2003 FLEETWOOD WORKHORSE CHASSIS MOTORHOME. PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246044

Incident

Oct 19, 2008

Mileage

20,888 mi

LED CLUSTER ON DASH FADED AND BECAME UNREADABLE. COULD NOT READ THE GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN, E.G. PARK, REVERSE, OR DRIVE, MILEAGE, AND TRIP MILEAGE WAS ALSO UNREADABLE, BUT DID NOT CREATE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233842

Incident

Sep 6, 2005

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTH WIND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRAILER HITCH PUSHED UP INTO HIS COACH. AS A RESULT, THE HITCH CRUSHED THE FIBERGLASS. UPON INSPECTION, HE FOUND THAT THE BOTTOM PART OF THE HITCH WELD HAD NOT PENETRATED THE STEEL. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE TRAILER HITCHES (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 04V352000). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10222165

Incident

Jun 22, 2007

Mileage

17,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND W22. ON JULY 3 2007, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $837. ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CALIPER ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED UNTIL THE CALIPER RELEASED. SHE THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT THE COST OF $873. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,722 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,162. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10217972

Incident

Jul 3, 2007

Mileage

24,162 mi

UPON ENTERING ONTO A HIGHWAY FROM A PLACE OF BUSINESS WE HEARD A VERY LOUD SNAP NOISE. JUST THINKING IT WAS A PIECE OF ICE COMING THE COACH. WHEN WE REACHED OUR FINAL DESTINATION, WE DISCOVERED A BROKEN LEAF SPRING ON THE RIGHT REAR AXEL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS HAD THE OTHER SPRING BROKEN WHILE MOVING{ THROUGH MOUNTAINS}! *TR

NHTSA ID

10215746

Incident

Dec 29, 2007

Mileage

7,828 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WHEN THE BRAKES COOLED DOWN, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PADS WERE WORN AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR MONTHS LATER. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

NHTSA ID

10202050

Incident

May 5, 2007

Mileage

24,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE MICROWAVE, BUT A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED, MARCH 16, 2006. THE RECALL, #03V452000, IS ON THE MICROWAVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED MULTIPLE PLACES TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE; NONE OF THESE PLACES HAVE BEEN WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. UPDATED 5/2/2006 - SAMSUNG SENT RECALL 04-E-031 FOR THE MICROWAVE. THE CONSUMER CALL THE 800 NUMBER AND THEY SET UP AND APPT AND SENT A WORK ORDER TO APPLIANCE STORE. THE APPLIANCE STORE CHANGED THEIR MIND AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNIT. SAMSUNG THEN HAD THE CONSUMER CONTACTED MAYTAG WHO SAD THE UNIT HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE CONSUMER CALLED SAMSUNG BACK WHO ALSO SAID UNIT WAS NOT RECALLED. SAMSUNG MODEL # MC1015BB, SER# 75AT800086P, DATE AUG 2002.*NM

NHTSA ID

10154017

Incident

Mar 29, 2006

Mileage

2,700 mi

2003 FLEETWOOD 32VS HAS SUFFERED ENGINE SHUT DOWN 19 TIMES.*MR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST READS "ENGINE REDUCED POWER". THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE ROUGH BUT THERE WAS NO THROTTLE POWER. IN ONE YEAR THE COACH HAS BEEN TO THE WORKHORSE REPAIR STATION SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SO FAR THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE COACH WOULD USUALLY RESTART AND PROCEED NORMALLY AFTER BEING ALLOWED TO COOL FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10117299

Incident

Mar 1, 2005