RoadVitals

1998 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.
4
Latest Jul 17, 2008
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.
2
1 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Fleetwood Wilderness, most frequently naming the brakes, other / unspecified and body & structure categories. 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

  • Brakes233.3%
  • Other / unspecified233.3%
  • Body & structure116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

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
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
98V191000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Aug 12, 1998
735 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAVEL TRAILERS (ONLY MODELS 26A AND 24B ARE AFFECTED, AND FURTHER IDENTIFIED BY THE CHARACTERS "7A26" OR "7B24" IN THE FOURTH THROUGH SEVENTH POSITIONS OF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND GENERATOR BATTERY WIRING COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE GENERATOR EXHAUST SYSTEM.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE MELTING OF THE WIRING INSULATION, CREATING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE AND SECURE THE BATTERY CABLE AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS AWAY FROM THE GENERATOR EXHAUST SYSTEM; INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT WIRING FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT EXPOSURE FROM THE GENERATOR EXHAUST; AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED WIRING, IF NECESSARY.
FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 17, 2008

I HAVE A 1998 WILDERNESS 5TH WHEEL CAMPING TRAILER. THE REFRIGERATOR IN THIS UNIT IS A DOMETIC MODEL RM2652 SERIAL NO. 81303309. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM DOMETIC INFORMING ME TO TAKE MY UNIT TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE AN UPDATE INSTALLED IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO PREVENT A FIRE. I TOOK THE UNIT TO CAMPING WORLD IN DENVER, CO AND THEY DID THE RECALL UPDATE. MY REFRIGERATOR NEVER WORKED AGAIN AFTER I RECEIVED THE UNIT BACK FROM THEM. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND A LOT OF YELLOW RESIDE IN THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR AND A BURNING SMELL. I REMOVED THE REFRIGERATOR FROM THE TRAILER AND REMOVED THE COVER AND INSULATION FROM THE HEATING TUBE AND FOUND THAT THE TUBE WAS BROKEN. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL RECREATION VEHICLE SUPPLIERS IN COLORADO AND WYOMING AND THEY HAVE ALL INDICATED THE SAME THING. THE HEATING TUBES ARE WEAK AND SUBJECT TO BREAKING IF BUMPED OR MOVED. THE DOMETIC RECALL REQUIRED REPAIRS TO BE MADE AROUND THE HEATING TUBE. THE DEALERS ALSO SAID THAT THESE REFRIGERATOR ARE IN GREAT DEMAND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN THE HEATING TUBES. I APPEARS THAT THE DOMETIC COMPANY AND THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERS ARE MAKING A PROFIT FROM THE SALES OF THESE UNITS THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THESE REFRIGERATORS COST OVER $1300.00 TO REPLACE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE OWNERS THAT HAVE TO HAVE THESE UNITS REPLACED. IT ALSO CREATES A HEALTH HAZARD FROM THE YELLOW RESIDUE DUST THAT IS IN THE REFRIGERATOR COMPARTMENT AND FROM THE AMMONIA ODORS THE ARE RELEASED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. I CONTACTED DOMETIC AND THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION DESCRIBING WHAT WAS DONE TO MY REFRIGERATOR FOR THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234673
Incident
Jun 5, 2008
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Sep 10, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

5TH WHEEL TRAILER: THE BARGMAN 7-WAY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PLUG CAME LOOSE FROM ITS BARGMAN SOCKET MOUNTED IN THE WHEEL WELL OF THE OWNER'S TOW VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL BRAKES ON THE 32 FOOT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WERE NOT WORKING AS THE OWNER AND HIS WIFE DESCENDED THE VERY STEEP WEST SIDE OF THE TETON MOUNTAINS IN WYOMING. AS A RESULT THE BRAKES ON THE TOW VEHICLE BURNED OUT LEAVING THE ENTIRE RIG WITHOUT BRAKES CAUSING A TRAGIC ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE EVENTUAL DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/ WIFE OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED TO THE FACT THE BARGMAN NO. 67 PLUG HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE DRAW-TITE BRAKE CONTROL UNIT INSTALLED BY THE DEALER IN THE CAB OF THE TOW VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON IT TO ADVISE THE DRIVER THAT THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE ELECTRICAL TRAILER BRAKES WAS LOST.*AK

NHTSA ID
766955
Incident
Aug 25, 1998
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 9, 2002
Crash reported1 death reported

"BARGMAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR" CAME LOOSE FROM SOCKET WHILE TOWING, RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES ON TRAILER, AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN A FATALITY. BARGMAN IS AN ELECTRICAL CONX THAT CONNECTS TRAILER TO TOW VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018252
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 4, 1998

DESIGN/LOCATION OF THE PROPANE GAS LINES (OUTSIDE FRAME)COULD BE DANGEROUS IF TIRE BLEW OUT.

NHTSA ID
529887

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—
1998Viewing420—
1997220—
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.