RoadVitals

1997 Fleetwood Wilderness

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.
2
Latest Dec 12, 2000
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.
2
Latest Mar 19, 2007
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

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Fleetwood Wilderness, most frequently naming the brakes category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Brakes2100.0%

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

2 campaigns 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

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

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

Jan 6, 1997
30 units potentially affected
The defect: THE REAR BUMPER MOUNTING BRACKETS HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE MOUNTING HOLES WERE CUT OVERSIZED AND CAN ALLOW THE MOUNTING BOLTS TO PULL THROUGH THE BRACKETS ON THE CHASSIS.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE BUMPER TO LOOSEN AND FALL OFF THE TRAILER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THESE TRAILERS.
FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Dec 12, 2000

CONSUMER NOTICED ONE HUB WAS EXTREMELY HOT, WHEN MECHANICS PULLED THE HUB, PARTS FELL ALL OVER THE FLOOR, TWO OUT OF THE 3 REMAINING HUBS ON THE TRAILER ALSO HAD BROKEN PARTS, DEALER STATED THAT THE ADJUSTER SPRINGS HAD FAILED, THE SPRINGS BROKE AND CAUSED THE ADJUSTER TO DROP AND THE REST OF THE PARTS BECAME MANGLED AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE SHOES NOT BEING HELD TOGETHER AT THE BOTTOM, THESE WERE FROM THE DEXTER AXLE COMPANY. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558465
Incident
Oct 6, 2000
Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 2000

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PARTS OF BRAKES WHICH CAUSED PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKES TO DETERORIATE, AND HAD MORE WEAR ON THIS SIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
869763
Incident
Sep 1, 2000

Manufacturer communications

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

04212008

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FLEETWOOD SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CONSUMER MAINTENANCE ADVISORY, GENERATOR FUEL LINES. FLEETWOOD MOTOR HOME OWNERS. CSC WAS RECEIVED. *PE

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 Wilderness by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007120
2006230
2005631
2004109248.9
2003031
2002721
2001122050.0
2000420
1999620
1998420
1997Viewing220
1996200
1995220
1994020
1993100
1988100
1984110
1983010
1982020
1981010
1977010
1976020
1975020

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.