← New search

1997 Fleetwood Bounder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Bounder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

29 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BRAKES STICK AND WON'T RELEASE. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE FORD MANUFACTURER. REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS WERE REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848170

Mileage unknown · May 18, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

LEVELING JACK HYDRAULIC FLUID RESERVOIR IS MOUNTED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FRONT TIRE, AND HAS NO PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS THROWN FROM THE TIRE WHICH CAUSES CORROSION ON THE HYDRAULIC LINES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838082

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 1999
Suspension

I HAVE A 1996 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER MOTORHOME MODEL 32H ON A FORD F-SUPER DUTY MOTORHOME CHASSIS WITH A 460 CID ENGINE. WITH 12,200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN I CAME TO TO THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRIDGE, THERE WAS A LEVEL CHANGE BETWEEN THE BRIDGE AND THE HIGHWAY. I FELT A …

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 1996 FLEETWOOD BOUNDER MOTORHOME MODEL 32H ON A FORD F-SUPER DUTY MOTORHOME CHASSIS WITH A 460 CID ENGINE. WITH 12,200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN I CAME TO TO THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRIDGE, THERE WAS A LEVEL CHANGE BETWEEN THE BRIDGE AND THE HIGHWAY. I FELT A SMALL JAR AND IMMEDIATELY THE FRONT END WENT INTO A VIOLENT BACK AND FORTH VIBRATION WITH LOTS OF AMPLITUDE. I THOUGHT THE MOTORHOME WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE FRAME. THE BACK AND FORTH MOTION DID NOT STOP UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ABOUT 10-20 MILES FURTHER, THE SAME CONDITIONS RESULTED IN THE SAME VIOLENT REACTION. THE MOTORHOME NOW HAS 15,200 MILE ON IT AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER I AM AWARE THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND AM VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN I APPROACH A BRIDGE. HOWEVER, I AM CERTAIN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF A CHUCKHOLE IS ENCOUNTERED. I LIVE IN FEAR THAT I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WILL CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT'S DOUBTFUL SHE COULD HAVE HANDLED IT. I TALKED WITH A FORD REPRESENTATIVE IN ARIZONA, PHONE 1-800-444-3311 EXT 261 AND HE TOLD ME TO HAVE THE WHOLE FRONT END INSPECTED AND TO HAVE THE STEERING STABILIZER REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURED AT 12,200 MILES. WHAT COULD WEAR AT 12,200 MILES TO CAUSE SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM? DOES THIS MEAN I SHOULD HAVE THE STEERING STABILIZER REPLACED EVERY 10,000 MILES? OTHER MOTORHOME OWNERS WITH FORD CHASSIS HAVE HAD THE EXACT EXPERIENCE. TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES IS SCARRY AS IT'S USUALLY SO IDENTICAL TO WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I FEEL WHAT THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IS A SMOKESCREEN. THERE IS AN AFTER-MARKET PRODUCT CALLED A DAVIS TRUTRAC BAR THAT KEEPS THE AXLE FROM SWINGING BACK AND FORTH,THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. IT COSTS $332.10. FORD SHOULD PAY FOR ITS INSTALLATION OR COME UP WITH A FIX OF THEIR OWN. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #703125

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1998
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainSuspension

FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE TO DIE.

NHTSA ODI #539411

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 1998
Parking Brake

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE AUTOMATIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY STOP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827101

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER HAS RECALL FOR EGR VALVE, MANUFACTURER RECALL NO. 97S92. CANNOT GET RECALL WORK DONEDUE TO PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826026

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE FLUID DOES NOT RETURN TO THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CAUSES A BUILD UP OF PRESSURE WHICH THEN CAUSES THE FLUID TO BOIL, THEN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819633

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 1997
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT CUTS OFF, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT . THE TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED LEAKING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE . OWNER CONTACTED MANFUFACTURER, MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAING ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814068

Mileage unknown · May 9, 1997
Structure

VEHICLE IS OVERWEIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #517109

Official recalls

5

07V120000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer

Mar 19, 2007

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 & remedy

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 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.

98V147000 · Visibility:windshield

Jun 26, 1998

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 & remedy

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.

97V178000 · Equipment:mechanical:integrated Jack/leveler/stabilizer

Oct 7, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES. THE HYDRAULIC HOSES WHICH OPERATE THE LEVELING JACK SYSTEM IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING THE HOSE TO MELT, RELEASING HYDRAULIC FLUID.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN IGNITE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED HOSES, AND RELOCATE THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC LINES.

96V236000 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

Nov 22, 1996

THE E-Z SLIDE-OUT ROOM CAN OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. WATER CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SLIDE-OUT ROOM CONTROL RELAY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SLIDE-OUT ROOM OPERATES UNEXPECTEDLY, THE MOTOR HOME WIDTH WILL INCREASE WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR WHILE THE MOTOR HOME IS PARKED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT CONTROL RELAY IN A WATERPROOF LOCATION ON THESE MOTOR HOMES.

96V220000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Nov 1, 1996

MISWIRING OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP RECEPTACLE FOR THE REPLACEABLE HALOGEN LAMP CAUSES A NONCOMPLIANCE TO FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES REDUCED LIGHTING LEVELS WITH THE LOW BEAM OPERATION RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING DARK DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND MODIFY THE MOTOR HOME WIRING TO PROVIDE CORRECT CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.