2003 Fleetwood BounderProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 13 owner complaints about the 2003 Fleetwood Bounder, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 24, 2010. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Fleetwood Bounder has problems

13 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Fuel system, other10
Parking brake10
Power train10
Service brakes, air10
Steering10
Structure10
Tires10
Vehicle speed control10
2 other systems20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

8 recalls

2003 Fleetwood Bounder recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Equipment

Recall 09V-312 · Jul 28, 2009 · 6,684 vehicles

Risk. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Service brakes, air

Recall 09V-198 · Jun 2, 2009 · 509 vehicles

Risk. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 08V-320 · Jul 15, 2008 · 70,101 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 07V-120 · Mar 19, 2007 · 167,096 vehicles

Risk. RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 4 more recalls
–no report yet

Electrical system

Recall 06V-115 · Apr 12, 2006 · 7,205 vehicles

Risk. AT NIGHT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS MAY FAIL AND THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR WHICH…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Trailer hitches

Recall 04V-352 · Jul 20, 2004 · 8,969 vehicles

Risk. THE WELDS COULD BREAK, ALLOWING THE HITCH RECEIVER BOX AND THE TOWED LOAD TO SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer

Recall 03V-452 · Nov 4, 2003 · 60,877 vehicles

Risk. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Mechanical: integrated jack/leveler/stabilizer

Recall 03V-344 · Sep 16, 2003 · 1,100 vehicles

Risk. IF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID SHOULD IGNITE BY AN EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATING TUBE OR OTHER HEAT SOURCE, THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Fleetwood.

Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Bounder year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Bounder median. How we score

'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Fleetwood Bounder, and the recalls they led to.

  1. INADVERTENT SLIDE-OUT EXTENSION MOVEMENTPE06005 · closed May 2, 2006
    No recall
In owners' words

What Bounder owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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.…
Complaint 10260419 · Mar 2, 2009 · 25,180 miles
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…
Complaint 10246982 · Oct 28, 2008 · 21,000 miles
IN JUNE, AFTER TIRE REPLACEMENT, A CERTIFIED BRAKE AND ALIGNMENT SHOP DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKE CALIPERS HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY STICKING WHICH CAUSED SEVERE OVERHEATING OF ALL BRAKE AND BEARING COMPONENTS. THE ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND ALL BEARINGS HAD FAILED. THIS WAS INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED BY…
Complaint 10201990 · Sep 5, 2007 · 20,238 miles

Own a 2003 Bounder?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.