RoadVitals

2003 Four Winds Dutchmen Express

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
0
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.
4
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.
1
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 no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Four Winds Dutchmen Express. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

4 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

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

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Mar 25, 2004
99 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTORHOMES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH GENERATORS THAT COULD RECEIVE EXCESS FUEL SUPPLY PRESSURE WHEN THE CHASSIS ENGINE IS IN OPERATION.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN ROUGH GENERATOR ENGINE OPERATION DUE TO FLOODING AND POTENTIAL GASOLINE LEAKAGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL MOUNT A REGULATOR BRACKET AND REROUTE THE FUEL LINE TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE GENERATOR. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 5, 2004. 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 FOUR WINDS AT 1-574-266-1111.
FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONALManufacturer number RO30005View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE04029ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LEAKAGE

Opened Mar 15, 2004
Closed May 7, 2004

IN LATE MAY 2003, FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL NOTIFIED OWNERS OF CERTAIN CLASS ?C? MOTORHOMES TO NOT OPERATE THEIR AUXILLARY GENRATOR WHILE THE VEHICLE?S ENGINE WAS RUNNING DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEM.THE BULLETIN ADDRESSED THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE FLOODING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK.ODI WAS CONCERNEDWITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY THE FUEL LEAKAGE.FOUR WINDS HAS AGREED TO SUPERCEDE THE PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WITH A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN. THEY WILLREROUTE THE FUEL LINES AND INSTALL A FUEL REGULATOR ON ALL THE AFFECTED MOTOR HOMES.THIS ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINELed to recall 04V148000

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Four Winds Dutchmen Express by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009010
2008010
2005030
2004030
2003Viewing041
2002010
2001010
2000110
1999010

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.