1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
15
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY
The 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY has received a total of 15 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer (2 complaints), Tires (2 complaints), and Electrical Systemwiring (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY, potentially affecting up to 173,391 vehicles.
Recall 07V120000 — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
| 167,096 vehicles affected
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.
Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
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...
View full details →Recall 00V204000 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
| 4,967 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX HYDRAULIC LINES ARE ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO A SHARP EDGE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE LINES TO RUPTURE AND RESULT IN A HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK.
Consequence: THIS FLUID LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FEATURE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPLACE OR REPAIR DAMAGED HOSES AS NECESSARY, AND RELOCATE THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES.
View full details →Recall 98V147000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
| 895 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS," FOR AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF TINT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER REDUCED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE SIDE WINDOWS WHEN BACKING UP, WHEN USING THE MIRRORS FOR LANE CHANGES, OR WHENEVER LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WINDOWS.
View full details →Recall 97V236000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 433 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A VINYL PROTECTIVE FRONT COVER. THIS COVER INCLUDES A MESH WHICH COVERS THE FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS MESH INTERFERES WITH THE PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE OF THE HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN A NONCOMPLIANCE TO FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: THE INTERFERING MESH CAUSES THE EFFECTIVE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS TO BE LESS THAN REQUIRED. THE DECREASE IN HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS CAN DECREASE THE ABILITY TO VIEW THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN OTHER INSTANCES WHERE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE NEEDED. ALSO, THE DECREASED BRIGHTNESS OF THE TURN SIGNALS WILL AFFECT THE VISIBILITY OF THESE SIGNALS TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND REPAIR PARTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THIS RECALL. IF OWNERS SO DESIRE, THEY CAN HAVE A DEALER PERFORM THIS REMEDY FOR THEM.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY
15 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiring | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingbrake Lights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingheadlights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinedelivery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemfanmotor | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemwindshieldelectrical Heating Element | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevicesexterior | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRES WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,663.
DURING A RECENT TRIP THE MOTORHOME EXPERIENCED THREE BLOWOUTS, THE TIRES HAD 33000 MILES ON IT (MICHELIN SIZE 235/80R/22.5 XTRV TIRES).
FRONT WINDSHIELD KEEPS POPPING OUT.*AK *TT
DURING A RECENT TRIP THE MOTORHOME EXPERIENCED THREE BLOWOUTS, THE TIRES HAD 33000 MILES ON IT (MICHELIN SIZE 235/80R/22.5 XTRV TIRES).
ON THE DATE INDICATED, WHILE THE MOTORHOME WAS PLUGGED INTO 115V 30 AMP A/C POWER, WITH ONE ROOF AIR CONDITIONER OPERATING, AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OCCURRED IN THE JUNCTION BOX. THE FIRE, APPARENTLY CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUIT, CONSUMED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WIRING INSULATION. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO OTHER MATERIAL. DAMAGE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWERTEK BREAKER BOX AND REPAIR OF THE WIRING. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED IN THIS MOTORHOME. A VERY SIMILAR ELECTRICAL SHORT AND FIRE OCCURRED IN JULY 2000. DAMAGE WAS NOT AS EXTENSIVE AND ONLY THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THESE INCIDENTS ARE BEING REPORTED TO NHTSA AS A SAFETY HAZARD. OTHER OWNERS OF THE DISCOVERY MOTORHOME HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR INCIDENTS. FLEETWOOD HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THE DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, FLEETWOOD HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM. NO RECALL HAS EVER BEEN ISSUED. THERE ARE NO SPECIAL PERIODIC MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL NOR HAVE ANY BEEN SENT TO OWNERS. *AK
Safety Rating for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY
FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
98348 — EQUIPMENT
SUBJECT ON DOMESTIC ICE MAKER INSTALLATION AND OPERATION. *YC
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY
- 1996 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY — 3 complaints
- 1997 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY (current)
- 1998 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY — 21 complaints
- 1999 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY — 18 complaints
- 2000 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY — 10 complaints
- 2001 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY — 9 complaints
- 2002 FLEETWOOD DISCOVERY — 2 complaints
Other FLEETWOOD Models
- FLEETWOOD BOUNDER — 460 total complaints
- FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND — 238 total complaints
- FLEETWOOD PACE ARROW — 216 total complaints
- FLEETWOOD PROWLER — 120 total complaints
- FLEETWOOD TIOGA — 95 total complaints
- FLEETWOOD FLAIR — 84 total complaints
- FLEETWOOD JAMBOREE — 77 total complaints
- FLEETWOOD FLEETWOOD — 76 total complaints