2003 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD OPERATE THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD NOTICE THAT THE LCD SHIFT INDICATOR WOULD TAKE UNUSUALLY LONG TO ILLUMINATE BEFORE FAILING COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER 35E RV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE THEN SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER MELTED THE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V198000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR). THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACCEPT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE REAR BRAKES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,760. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE DUAL PANE WINDOWS IN MY MOTOR HOME ARE FOGGED UP MAKING IT HARD TO SEE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. THERE ARE MORE WINDOWS FOGGING UP BUT NOT ONES THAT WOULD AFFECT MY ABILITY TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. FLEETWOOD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT CONTINUES TO DO BUSINESS WITH SI-GE WINDOWS AND IS NOT CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN 2003 BOUNDER BUILT ON THE W/22 (WORKHORSE) CHASIS.. THREE TIMES NOW I HAVE HAD MY LEFT FRONT ABS (BOSCH SYSTEM) BRAKE WHEN APPLIED GOING DOWN STEEP GRADE DRAG. MEANING RATHER THAN THE PUMPING ACTION OF ABS IT WAS NOT RELEASING, AND ONE COULD HERE AND FEEL THE SOUND SIMILAR TO METAL ON METAL. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND FELT ALL WHEELS. LEFT FRONT ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY BLISTERED MY FINGER TIPS. IN A FEW WEEKS I AM AS PART OF MY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE HAVING THE BRAKE SYSTEM BLED. I AM HOPING THAT WHEN THEY PULL MY WHEELS THAT ALL IS WELL. THE MH HAS 23,385 MILES ON IT. TWO YEARS AGO A ZRK FITTING WAS INSTALLED ON THE BELL CRANK. *TR

BRAKE FAILURES(2) ON 2003 BOUNDER MOTORHOME WITH WORKHORSE W22 CHASSIS. CHASSIS PURCHASED NEW ON JAN.14,2004. LR BRAKE FAILED ON 8-29-08 ON I-5 AT OLYMPIA, WA, WITH APPROX. 21,100 MILES ON VEHICLE. RR BRAKE FAILED ON 9-29-08 ON HWY. 20 IN COUPEVILLE, WA AT APPROX.21,482 MILES. WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND ROADS WERE DRY; DUAL HOLDING TANKS WERE EMPTY; 100 GAL WATER TANK WAS ALSO EMPTY; FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/2 FULL (35 GAL.). MOTORHOME WAS NOT OVERLOADED AND NO VEHICLE WAS IN TOW. 8-29 FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE SLOWING IN PRE-LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRAFFIC AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ON INITIAL APPLICATION. REPEATED APPLICATIONS OF BRAKE PEDAL GAVE ABOUT 1/2 PEDAL TRAVEL WITH GREATLY LESSENED DECELERATION TIME AND STOPPING DISTANCE . THE SECOND FAILURE ON 9-29-08 OF THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS LESS SURPRISING AND BRAKE PEDAL PUMPING WAS MORE INSTINCTIVE. STOPPING A 24,000 POUND MOTORHOME ON AN EMERGENCY BRAKE THAT MERELY CLAMPS AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION. REPAIRS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ALL AFFECTED BRAKE ROTORS, BOSCH CALIPERS, AND BRAKE PADS, PLUS A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FOR THE ABS SYSTEM ON THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE FAILURE. APPROX. $2200 IN REPAIR COSTS FOR TWO BRAKES. A NEIGHBOR OF MINE WITH EXACT SAME YEAR AND MODEL MOTORHOME/CHASSIS AS MINE IS NOW AT A REPAIR FACILITY IN YUBA CITY, CA HAVING EXPERIENCED FAILURE OR BURN-OUT OF ALL 4 BRAKE ASSEMBLES WHILE ENROUTE FROM RENO,NV TO SACRAMENTO,CA.. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE SAFETY RECALL ON W-22 BRAKE SYSTEMS NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE CHASSIS #33356806 CUTOFF SPECIFIED IN NHSTA RECALL 04V084000. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR