RoadVitals

2003 Four Winds Chateau

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.
1
Latest Nov 13, 2009
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.
3
Latest Oct 28, 2004
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2003 Four Winds Chateau, most frequently naming the brakes category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Brakes1100.0%

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

3 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
04V513000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Oct 28, 2004
1,107 units potentially affected
The defect: ON MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FORD E-SERIES CHASSIS , A DIODE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
The risk: THE ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY CAUSE AN ABS MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT, OR THE MODULE MAY OVERHEAT RESULTING IN A BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, AND/OR FIRE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN OR UNATTENDED.
The remedy: FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUSE IN THE ABS CIRCUIT AND INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD OVER THE ABS MODULE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR FOUR WINDS AT 937-295-2983.
FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONALManufacturer number 04S22View on NHTSA.gov
04V529000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Oct 27, 2004
1,380 units potentially affected
The defect: ON MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FORD E-SERIES CHASSIS, THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT MATERIAL PROCESS RESULTED IN AN AIR FILTER PAPER ELEMENT THAT CAN SMOLDER OR BURN. THIS CHANGE IN FILTER PAPER COMPOSITION COMBINED WITH THE CONFIGURATION OF THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM, MAY ALLOW HOT CARBON PARTICLES TO CONTACT THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT DURING CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT CREATE HOT PARTICLES.
The risk: THESE HOT PARTICLES MAY IGNITE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM DAMAGE OR UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: FORD IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR FOUR WINDS AT 937-295-2983.
FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONALManufacturer number 04S23View on NHTSA.gov
03V449000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Nov 4, 2003
12,918 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, THESE OVENS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.
The risk: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.
The remedy: SAMSUNG WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS SHOULD UNPLUG THEIR MICROWAVE, IF POSSIBLE. IF THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNPLUG THE MICROWAVE, THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR UNTIL THE PANEL IS REPLACED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NEVER USE THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR STORAGE OR LEAVE ANY TOWELS, PAPER, CLOTH OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MICROWAVE AFTER USE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAMSUNG AT 800-932-3837 OR FOUR WINDS AT 1-219-266-1111.
FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONALView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Nov 13, 2009

IN APRIL 2008, OUR 2003 FOUR WINDS-CHATEAU MOTOR HOME HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE CALIPER ON THE FRONT-LEFT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) GOT STUCK. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A "ONE TIME INCIDENT" BECAUSE THE RV WAS ONLY 18,000 MILES. MAYBE A SMALL PARTICLE OF SOMETHING (DUST, ETC.) INTERFERED WITH THE PISTON. WE PUT THE TRANSMISSION ON "REVERSE", BACKED UP A FEW FEET AND GOT THE BRAKE ON THAT WHEEL BACK TO NORMAL. HOWEVER, IN DECEMBER 2008, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN: THE SAME CALIPER GOT STUCK IN THE APPLIED POSITION, HEATED, SMOKED AND THE BRAKE FLUID BOILED. WE HAD OUR BRAKES INSPECTED AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED ON THAT SPECIFIC WHEEL RIGHT AWAY. BESIDES, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE OTHER WHEELS WILL NEED THE SAME REPAIRS PRETTY SOON!!!! OUR RV WAS ONLY 19,285 MILES!?!...WE MADE THE DECISION TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED ON ALL WHEELS AND WE ENDED UP WITH AN INVOICE OF $2,206.48!!!! WE BELIEVE THAT OUR RV WAS EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES AND THAT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. WE JUST TRADED-IN OUR MOTOR HOME FOR A 5TH WHEEL AND WE LEARNED FEW DAYS AGO ONLY ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. IF THERE IS A RECALL, WE WILL NOT GET IT BY MAIL NOT BEING THE OWNERS ANY MORE. HOWEVER, COULD WE GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT AND HOW COULD WE ASK FOR IT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10292079
Incident
Dec 29, 2008
Mileage
19,285 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Four Winds Chateau by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011010—
2010020—
2009020—
2008010—
2006330—
2005140—
2004030—
2003Viewing130—
2002210—
2001420—
2000820—
1999110—

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.