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2003 Fleetwood SouthwindProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 24 owner complaints about the 2003 Fleetwood Southwind, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls8Free fix at dealersOwner complaints241 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage25kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 22, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Fleetwood Southwind has problems

24 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, hydraulic131
Equipment20
Service brakes, air20
Service brakes10
Suspension10
Trailer hitches10
Electrical system10
Engine and engine cooling10
Fuel/propulsion system10

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

8 recalls

2003 Fleetwood Southwind 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 Southwind 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 Southwind median. How we score

'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

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

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

What Southwind owners report

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY WHEN DEPRESSED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE LATER, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. THE VIN…
Complaint 10907560 · Sep 19, 2016 · 28,000 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND 36B. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; THE CALIPERS STUCK AND THE ABS NO LONGER FUNCTIONED AFTER HAVING THEM REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS WAS SET TO NOT WORK. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Complaint 10368213 · Nov 29, 2010 · 14,000 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTORHOME ON A WORK HORSE CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND THEN CONTINUED TO DRIVE. WHEN THE CONTACT REACHED HIS DESTINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE…
Complaint 10344921 · Jul 23, 2010 · 26,000 miles

Own a 2003 Southwind?

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