1999 Fleetwood Bounder

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.

Risk. 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 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.

I WAS DRIVING THE MOTORHOME UP THE DRIVEWAY AT MY HOME AND HAD NOTICED VERY WEAK BRAKING ON MY RETURN TRIP FROM REFUELING THE VEHICLE (5 MILES) AS I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY UP A HILL AND TOWARDS MY HOME, I ENGAGED THE BRAKES AS I GOT CLOSER AND THE PEDAL PUSHED RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED IT A FEW TIME, AND DID GET SOME BRAKING, WITH CONSIDERABLE IMMEDIATE FADE. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BY ACTIVATING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. EXITING THE VEHICLE, I FOUND A LARGE STREAM OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY SURFACE. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, I FOUND A STEEL BRAKE LINE DRIPPING FLUID, AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE FLUID SHOOTS OUT, AT A HIGH RATE AND LARGE VOLUME.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE RV WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 07V120000 (EQUIPMENT: RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR FAILED AS IT LEAKED AND WOULD NOT KEEP COOL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,790.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. WHILE HEADING TO A SERVICE STATION APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES FROM HOME, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG AMMONIA ODOR. HE PULLED INTO A DUMP SITE AND CLEANED OUT THE VEHICLE. HE CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE SMELL REMAINED. HE SHUT OFF THE REFRIGERATOR TO GET GASOLINE; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SMELL THE ODOR ANYMORE SINCE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS OFF. HE TURNED THE VALVE BACK ON AND HIS WIFE SMELLED AMMONIA AGAIN. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE SIDE COMPARTMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BURNER HOUSING COMPARTMENT AND ALSO HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND IN THE BURNER TUBE. HE WAITED A MOMENT UNTIL THE CRACKLING STOPPED. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE LOCATED A RECALL ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A NOTICE SENT BY DOMETIC. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING THE HEAT SHIELD ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT NOT FOR ANY OTHER REPAIRS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,225.

1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE RECALL PROBLEM. *KB THE DEALER OFFERED TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE CONSUMER DECLINED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD ARRIVE. THE CONTACT DID NOT GET THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,120. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

ON MY 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER MOTORHOME, GENERATOR WAS UNABLE TO DRAW FUEL FROM MAIN FUEL TANK. SUBSEQUENT INQUIRY ON BOUNDER WEB PAGE I FOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS HAD IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND UPON HAVING THE MAIN FUEL TANK REMOVED FROM COACH FOUND A RUBBER FUEL LINE HAD DISINTEGRATED AND THAT FUEL HAD BEEN PERMEATING THE FLOOR OF THE COACH FOR SOME UNDETERMINED TIME. I NOTIFIED FLEETWOOD CUSTOMER OWNER RELATIONS MR. DUANE MIXON AND HIS SUPERVISOR, MR. KEN COWLES WHO ASSERTED THAT IS WAS JUST LIKE A TELEVISION THAT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT FLEETWOOD HAD NO OBLIGATION TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE MATTER ALTHOUGH I TOLD THEM THAT AT LEAST ONE OTHER OWNER HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ( I HAVE SINCE HEARD FROM ANOTHER OWNER WITH SAME PROBLEM). I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE DETERIORATED LINE AND THE AREA PERMEATED WITH FUEL BELOW THE LIVING COMPARTMENT OF THE COACH. I AND MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SOME DEGREE OF JEOPARDY FROM THIS INVISIBLE DANGER AND I FEEL THAT AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THESE COACHES IS IN ORDER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 MOTOR HOME ON THE HIGHWAY IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO MAKE A VERY LOUD POPPING SOUND. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND AFTER PUZZLING OVER THE PROBLEM CALLED AAA TO GET TOWED. THE MOTOR HOME WAS TOWED TO COURTESY FORD IN POULSBO, WA. I SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THEY OPENED I TOLD THE MECHANIC WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED. IT TOOK HIM LESS THAN 5 MIN TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HE DIAGNOSED A BLOWN SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FORD V10 ENGINE. HE INDICATED TO ME THAT HE HAS SEEN MANY OF THESE AND EVEN SAW ONE THAT CAME IN WITH ABOUT 10,000. MY ENGINE HAS 43,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE NEVER HAD THE SPARK PLUGS WORKED ON AS FORD DOESN'T RECOMMEND A TUNE UP FOR AN ENGINE WITH LOW MILES LIKE MINE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS QUOTED ME A PRICE OF JUST UNDER $5000. AFTER SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME RESEARCHING THIS I FIND THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS ENGINE AND CLEARLY NHTSA SHOULD PRESSURE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO COMPENSATE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. *JB

RV GLOBAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE -- ENGINE FAILED AT 65 MPH -- EACH DAY AFTER THE REFRIG/GENERATOR/LEVELING JACKS/ AC/LITES/ ALL FAILED ONE AT A TIME. *AK

REAR AXLE IS OVER LOADED, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF AXLE. *AK WHEN THE RV WAS LOAD WITH NORMAL CARGO (FUEL, WATER AND CONSUMERS BELONGINGS) THE REAR AXLE WAS OVERWEIGHT WHICH CAUSED POOR HANDLING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (99V013000). THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE 13 FOOT OVERHANG FROM THE REAR AXLE MAY BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. *TS *NLM

WE OWN A 1999 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER 36S ON THE FORD F-53 CHASSIS. IT WAS ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR GENERATOR FAILING TO START. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO A DEALER (CAROLINA COACH & CAMPER IN HICKORY, NC). THEIR SERVICE DEPT. DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A HOSE LEAK FROM THE PICK-UP TUBE IN THE GAS TANK TO THE GAS LINE TO THE GENERATOR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE PIECE OF HOSE WAS NOT THE BEST QUALITY AND THAT IT WAS INSTALLED WITH A SHARP "U" BEND WHICH STRETCHED THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOSE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. MY WIFE HAS COMPLAINED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF SMELLING GAS WHEN THE BEDROOM WINDOW WAS OPEN. I CHECKED EACH TIME AND COULD NOT FIND ANY GAS ESCAPING. I FIGURED IT WAS PROBABLY A GAS VENT. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I HAD THE GENERATOR FAILURE THAT THE PROBLEM REALLY SURFACED. THE HOSE FINALLY CRACKED ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE ITS' PRIME. THE REASON I AM BRINGING THIS YOUR ATTENTION NOW IS THAT I READ OF SEVERAL BOUNDER'S BEING BURNED DUE TO A GAS LEAK FROM THE GENERATOR LINE IN THE "BOUNDER BEACON", A BOUNDER'S OF AMERICA NEWSLETTER. THE HOSE IN MY RV WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. IT IS NOT AN EASY ITEM TO REPLACE AS THE GAS TANK HAS TO BE EMPTIED AND DROPPED TO GET AT IT. FLEETWOOD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL COACHES WITH THIS CONFIGURATION AND REPLACE THE HOSE WITH AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FUEL LINES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJU

THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTING THE GAS LINE TAKE-UP TO THE GENERATOR LINE WAS INSTALLED WITH A SHARP "U" SHAPE. THIS CAUSED THE HOSE TO BE STRESSED AND RESULTED IN CRACKS THAT SPLIT. MY WIFE HAD MENTIONED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT SHE SMELLED GASOLINE WHEN THE REAR BEDROOM WINDOW WAS OPEN. I COULD NEVER FIND ANY GAS DRIPPING AND THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLY A VENT FOR THE GAS TANK. FINALLY, THE GENERATOR FAILED TO START. I THOUGHT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO CAROLINA COACH & CAMPER AND FOUND OUT REAL PROBLEM WAS THE KINKED HOSE. IT COST ME 50 GALLONS OF GAS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DRAIN AND DROP THE GAS TANK TO REPLACE THE $2.00 HOSE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE GAS OR THE FUMES EMANATING FROM THE SPLIT HOSE DID NOT EXPLODE FROM CONTACTING SOMETHING HOT UNDER THE COACH. THE MOTORHOME WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD AND THE GENERATOR HAD LESS THAN 100 HOURS ON IT WHEN I HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL FLEETWOOD USED AND IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AN INFERIOR GRADE OF GAS LINE HOSE. FLEETWOOD SHOULD RECALL ALL BOUNDERS THAT WERE ASSEMBLED USING RUBBER HOSE TO CONNECT THE GAS LINE TO THE GENERATOR WITH AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FUEL LINES. *JB

NAR 02/10/2003.. THE RV HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE WINDSHIELD FALLING OUT, THE ROOF LEAKED, THERE WAS A PROPANE GAS LEAKED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE, THE STEERING SYSTEM HAD TO MUCH PLAY, THE BOLTS IN THE U-JOINT FELL OUT, THE WIRES FEEDING THE ALTERNATOR WERE TOO TIGHT, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLIP BROKE, RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, THE HANGARS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE BROKE. THE SHOWER HEAD, DRINKING FAUCET, WALL MIRRORS, THE SLIDE ROOM COMPARTMENT, THE VERTICAL PANEL UNDER THE BED CAME APART, MULTIPLE CLIPS ON THE DOOR BROKE, THE TAIL PIPE RUSTED, LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE, THE WOOD TRIM CAME LOOSE, THE MICROWAVE WAS LOOSE IN THE CABINET. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF DONAL AND HELEN SCHROEDER) *JB

THIS VEHICLE STYLE IS KNOWN, BY FLEETWOOD, TO HAVE SEVERE ISSUES WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD EITHER CRACKING, OR POPPING OUT OF PLACE. I HAVE BOTH PROBLEMS, CURENTLY, AND IT IS *VERY* DANGEROUS, SHOULD ONE FALL OUT, AT SPEED. THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BUT IT DID ON THE 150 MI. DRIVE HOME, AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE, AS NOW, I CAN SEE/FEEL THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE GLASS. FLEETWOOD CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AS IT IS WAS NOT REPORTED BY EITHER OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS, YET THEY HAVE 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM FOR OTHERS WHO ARE LONG OUT OF WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO DISCUSSIONS WITH OWNERS OF OTHER FLEETWOOD VEHICLES WHICH EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM, FLEETWOOD DOES HAVE A FIX WHICH SEEMS TO INCLUE ADDITIONAL ALUMINUM BRACING IN THE 'FRONT CAP', WHICH CORRECTS FURTHER WINDSHIELD MOVEMENT, BUT IT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU CAN HAVE DONE BY THE LOCAL 'GLASS SHOP'. FLEETWOOD ENGINEERED BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND TRUE SAFETY ISSUES, SUCH AS THIS, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. THIS IS A LACK OF COMPLETE ENGINEERING, OR LACK OF TESTING, ISSUE...NOT USE, ABUSE, OR WEAR, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THEY WOULD NOT 'FIX', WHICH IS ALSO 100% REASONABLE.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A LEAK IN GAS TANK AND A HOLE IN HOSE.*AK

TIRE--MICHELIN XRV 235/80R/22.5---GRAPEFRUIT SIZE BUBBLE ON DRIVER FRONT TIRE---TIRE EXPLODED---SIDEWALL FAILURE

CONSUMER COMMENTS THAT WHILE ON HIS TRAVELS AND AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR THE EVENING HE WAS UNABLE TO RESUME HIS JOURNEY THE NEXT MORNING DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER NOT DISENGAGING FROM THE PARK POSITION. HAD MECHANIC TO LOOK IT OVER. MECHANIC GOT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO SEE A MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZED IN THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ROLL FREELY. *JG

CHASSIS FAILURE/OVERWEIGHT ON REAR/NO WAY TO BALANCE WEIGHT/CANNOT CARRY POSTED WEIGHT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MPH FRONT AIR CONDITIONER COVER SHATTERED AND BLEW OFF INTO PIECES ALL OVER HIGHWAY. COLEMAN THE MAKER OF THE COVER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. COLEMAN REPLACED FRONT COVER AND REAR COVER BECAUSE REAR WAS ALSO STARTING TO CRACK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IF ON HIGHWAY PLASTIC WOULD FLY EVERYWHERE.*AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD KEEPS POPPING OUT AND CHASSIS KEEPS SEPARATING FROM FRAME. *AK *SLC

PROPANE FUEL TANK PIPE IS TOO CLOSE TO ROAD CLEARANCE CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK WHEN DRIVING OVER A CURB. *AK