2004 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 2004 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
- Brakes646.2%
- Other / unspecified430.8%
- Body & structure17.7%
- Fuel system17.7%
- Visibility17.7%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED AN UNUSUAL ODOR NEAR THE BRAKES AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IF THE TEST DOES NOT SHOW RESULTS OF BRAKE DAMAGE THE CONTACT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RELATED COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE BRAKES AND THE MANUFACTURER NOT AUTHORIZING THE SERVICE BRAKES RECALL ( 09V198000). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
LOSS OF BRAKES IN MOUNTAINS DUE TO OVER HEATING. REAR WHEELS SMOKING AND TOO HOT TO TOUCH. PULLED OF INTO REST AREA AND STAYED THERE FOR 4 HOURS TO LET BRAKES COOL DOWN. AFTER STOPPING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR UNTIL THINGS COOLED DOWN AND THEN PUMPED THE BRAKES TO GET TO CAMP GROUND 8 MILES AWAY. AFTER 3 DAYS THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO GET BRAKES. AFTER CALLING WORKHORSE I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTOR HOME TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. THE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH TOOK 2 DAYS TO GET APPROVAL FROM WORKHORSE. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE FIX FOR THIS RECALL IS TAKING SO LONG, AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. WORKHORSE SAID THE FIX WILL COME SOMETIME AFTER NOVEMBER 2010. IS THIS A SAFE WAY TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE? *TR
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
OUR RV NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR'S ALARM SOUNDED. THE FAULT SAYS NO CO--NO COOLING UNIT. NORCOLD SENT THE HIGH TEMPERATURE SENSOR PART AS OUR REFRIGERATOR/COOLING UNIT IS UNDER RECALL; IT WAS INSTALLED BY RV SERVICE CENTER ON 8/8/13. THIS WEEK END OUT CAMPING THE ALARM SOUNDED AGAIN; IT WAS RESET BY RV OWNER, BUT ALARM SOUNDED AGAIN. THE OWNER CAN ONLY RESET IT ONCE AFTER THAT IT GOES TO RV SERVICE CENTER FOR RESETTING. MY CLAIM NUMBER FOR NORCOLD IS 580811 FOR THE PART. WE THOUGHT WITH THE NEW PART INSTALLED THE ALARM WOULDN'T GO OFF AGAIN. THANKS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKED INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BEFORE THE FIRE ERUPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V3440000 (EQUIPMENT; HYDRAULIC LEVELING JACKS), HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY DID NO LONGER MANUFACTURED THE PART. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,500. KMJ
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
I HAVE AN 2004 SOUTHWIND MOTOR HOME. WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALER I WAS BEING ADVISED ON HOW TO OPEN THE ESCAPE WINDOW IN THE BEDROOM. AFTER OPENING THE LATCHES THE PERSON HAD TO HIT THE WINDOW AND PUSH ON IT MANY TIMES. I DO NOT BELIEVE MY WIFE COULD HAVE OPENED THIS WINDOW IF THERE WAS A FIRE. ALSO THE ARMS ON THIS WINDOW BEND WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE SMALL WINDOW FOR AIR. PLEASE CHECK THIS BEFORE WE LOOSE SOMEONE AND GET THE WINDOWS REPLACED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE TRAILER STALLED. TRAILER WAS SERVICED 4 TIMES, AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM, IN WHICH THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO INCIDENT HAS HAPPEN YET THE SIDE WINDOWS HAS DOUBLE PAIN THE GAS HAS CLOUDLE TO A POINT WHEN THE SUN IS HEATING UP THE GLASS THAT IT RESTRICT THE VIEW IN THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR THAT. *TR
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 .