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1998 Fleetwood Southwind

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
13Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
199511
19968
199713
19987
19998
20004
2001
Compare all Southwind years →

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

What owners reported most

Suspension
4Fuel System, Gasoline
2Unknown Or Other
2Electrical System
1Equipment
1
All reported categories
Power Train
1Steering
1Structure
1Visibility
1

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: 1 of 13 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

13 reports
16,000 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FLEETWOOD RV. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE HEARD A BANG THEN FELT WIND COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE PULLED OVER, HE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. A REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE RV AND STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED MORE FIBERGLASS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FLEETWOOD RV. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE HEARD A BANG THEN FELT WIND COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE PULLED OVER, HE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. A REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE RV AND STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED MORE FIBERGLASS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WOULD CAVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,337 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ODI #10198897

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

TANK DEVELOPED LEAK AT SEAM. REPAIR SHOP REPORTED REPLACING SEVERAL FUEL TANKS UNDER WARRANTY ON THIS MODEL IN PREVIOUS YEARS. APPEARS TO BE PREVELANT PROBLEM WITH DESIGN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755759

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL LINE TO THE GENERATOR ROTTED OUT AND BEGAN LEAKING DOWN THE FUEL TANK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751926

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2000
Unknown Or Other

WHILE USIG RV GENERATOR C0 DETECTOR ALRM GOES OFF WHILE COOKING/SLEEPING/ WATCHING TV, OR ANY UNRELATED ACTIVITY. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM, CALLED MANUFACTURER, AND CAN NOT EXPLAIN PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876559

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2000
Suspension

SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THE MOTORHOME IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION CAUSING SEVERE HANDLING PROBLEMS. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #552227

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1999
Steering

VEHICLE IS DESIGNED WITH STEERING PROBLEMS, INSTALLATION OF AN AFTER MARKET ITEM NEEDED TO BE PURCHASED TO ILLIMINATE STEERING PROBLEMS. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548145

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 1999
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire

VEHICLEE HAD AN ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WERE NINE LEAKS IN THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING IN THE SHOWER/KITCHEN AND OTHER AREAS. ALSO, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED OUT TWICE, AND WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. A LOUD POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE KITCHEN SINK. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS VERY UNSAFE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835097

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1998
Power Train

REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL DEFECTIVE RESULTING IN GRINDING OF THE GEARS, REPLACED UNIT HOWEVER NEW UNIT FAILED ALSO.

NHTSA ODI #542928

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1998
Suspension

WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO UNGREASED WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH CAUSED THEM TO FREEZE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828164

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1998
Structure

DESIGN OF THE MOTORHOME HAS A HOLE BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE DRIVER'S FEET JUST UNDER THE DASH RELEASING FUMES INTO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #539293

Official recalls

1

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.

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.