- The problem
- Fleetwood is recalling 509 my 2001-2008 class a motor homes equipped with axles that include bosch zops or zoht pin slide hydraulic disc brakes. When combined with occasional or seasonal vehicle operation may experience calipers sticking in the applied position. This can result in abnormal heat generation at the wheel end causing brake drag. The driver would normally have warning of the brake drag if undetected by the driver.
- The 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 brake fluid boil, and possible extended stopping distance increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components free of charge. Workhorse is handling the remedy for this campaign please see 09v-110. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-246-7731. Workhorse will conduct the owner and dealer notification.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Fleetwood Bounder Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 28 complaints about the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder with NHTSA, most often about the visibility & wipers (11) and the brakes (10). Those complaints describe 1 crash. It is covered by 10 recalls, the latest in June 2009 for the service brakes, air. For comparison, the 2003 has 13 and the 2005 has 17.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Bounder year, for its age
#185 most complained-about 2004 vehicle
- Complaints
- 28
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2004 Fleetwood Bounder problems
Share of all 28 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2004 Fleetwood Bounder recalls 10
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Fleetwood is recalling 70,101 my 2003-2007 southwind, pace arrow, bounder, flair, storm, fiesta, terra gas class a motor homes; bounder, discovery, providence, excursion, expedition, revolution, american eagle, american heritage, american tradition diesel class a motor homes; jamboree tioga class c motor homes; and prowler, wilderness, terry, mallard, pioneer, pride and triumph conventional and fifth wheel travel trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerators manufactured by the dometic corporation. The refrigerator 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.
- The risk
- If this solution is exposed to an ignition source under certain specific circumstances, it can result in a vehicle fire.
- The fix
- Fleetwood is working with dometic to repair these refrigerators (please see 08e032). 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 the owner 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- On certain motor homes built on workhorse chassis and equipped with general motors 8.1L v8 engines, improper hardening during the heat treatment process can cause the fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip to fracture, resulting in inadequate retention of the damper. If the damper becomes loose, fuel could be pumped by the fuel pump into the under hood area.
- The risk
- In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could result.
- The fix
- Workhorse is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign (please see 06v225). Dealers will replace the fuel rail pulse damper retainer clips on these engines free of charge. Owners may contact workhorse at 877-294-6773 or fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
- The problem
- Certain motor homes built on workhorse chassis and equipped with actia corporate instrument clusters fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 101 "Controls and displays" and no. 105 "Hydraulic and electric brake systems." If the brake fail input falls below a voltage of 1.5V, the brake failure lamp and alarm will be activated. Also activation of the abs telltale when the abs is not properly functioning does not always occur.
- The 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 could increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Workhorse is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign and reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-246-7731 or Fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
- The problem
- Certain motorhomes do not have brake lights that illuminate considerably brighter than the running or turn signal lamps if all are on at the same time.
- The risk
- This condition may result in a crash if the following vehicle's operator is unaware that you have applied your brakes.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and modify the wiring harness. The recall began on october 1, 2004. Owners should contact fleetwood at 1-800-509-3418.
- The problem
- Certain motor homes equipped with draw tite hitch receivers may be missing one or more welds between the hitch receiver box and the bottom support plate.
- The 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the hitch receiver. The recall is expected to begin during august 2004. Owners should contact fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
- The problem
- On certain motor homes equipped with polar mach and polar cub air conditioners, the solar panel rubber well nuts could fracture the plastic shroud in the immediate area of the attachment hole.
- The risk
- The rubber well nuts could pull out of the plastic shroud, causing the solar panel to leave the top of the motor home, and increasing the risk of a road hazard or a crash.
- The fix
- Airxcel will reinforce the solar panels with metal mounting brackets free of charge. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact airxcel at 719-676-2326 or fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
- The problem
- On certain travel trailers equipped with samsung microwave ovens, these ovens were produced with a defective panel. An electrical short can occur between circuit patterns on the membrane panel, especially overlapped by a "jumper" or jump wire. This may cause the oven to activate without pressing any key pads.
- The risk
- An electrical short can occur causing the oven to activate without pressing any key pads. This could result in excessive heat, smoke, or possibly a fire.
- The fix
- Samsung will notify customers and repair the panel free of charge. In the meantime, consumers should unplug their microwave, if possible. If the consumer is unable to unplug the microwave, they should leave the door ajar until the panel is replaced. Consumers should never use the microwave oven for storage or leave any towels, paper, cloth or other products in the microwave after use. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact samsung at 800-932-3837 or fleetwood at 1-800-629-8454.
- The problem
- On certain motorhomes built on workhorse chassis, the hydraulic hose operating the leveling jack system was routed so it places the hose too close to the engine exhaust. The hot exhaust can cause the hydraulic hose to melt or abrade, releasing hydraulic fluid.
- The risk
- If the hydraulic fluid should ignite by an exhaust gas recirculating tube or other heat source, this could cause a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace damaged hoses and relocate the affected hydraulic lines. Owner notification is expected to begin october 3, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
What owners say
Be the first Bounder owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
28 complaints about the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 fleetwood bounder 35e rv equipped with a workhorse w22 chassis. The contact stated that the front windows on the driver and passenger side fog up and he was unable to see. A window repair shop repaired the vehicle. The contact was informed that the dual pane had lost its seal which caused the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000 and the current mileage was approximately 36,000. Updated 2/23/11 *cn
The driver side window, passenger side window, and the window behind the passenger seat are fogging between the panes of glass.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 fleetwood bounder rv. The contact stated the passenger and driver side window, as well as the rear bedroom window are foggy and it was very difficult to see out the windows. The windows had not been replaced. The failure mileage was 36,000 and the current mileage is 39,835 updated 03/08/11
2004 Fleetwood bonder diesel pusher 8 fixed windows fogging worst is driver side I have trouble seeing rear view mirror. *Tr
Several windows in our motorhome are fogging between the double pane glass. This started to appear approx. 4 Yrs. Ago. The drivers side and passenger side windows have become so cloudy that when the sun reflects on those windows it is becoming very difficult to see the side mirrors making lane changes very hazardous to complete. Fleetwood has politely said sorry and informed me that it will cost approx. $1000 To correct the problem. I know of many fleetwood motorhomes that have this same problem and I refer...
Read the full complaint
you to the dec. 2010 Issue of bounder sounder(article----foggy, but not the weather) the official publication of bounders united (a national assoc. Of bounder motorhome owners). I have a copy of my correspondence with fleetwood. Thank you for your assist in this matter............ *Tr
Inadvertent brake application causing excessive heat and damage to front brake parts. Took rig to local service center where the damage was discovered and repaired. We had not received any recall notice from workhorse so paid for repair in full. After initial recall notice was received, contacted workhorse but claim was denied because it didn't fall in their specific time frame. *Tr
2004 Fleetwood bounder 34 f. Consumer requests reimbursement for refrigerator failure issues*tgw the consumer stated the norcold refrigerator stopped cooling and all of the refrigerant leaked out due to fatigue failure.. The consumer was informed his rv was not covered by the norcold recall, because his model was not on the list. *Jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 fleetwood bounder rv. The contact stated that when applying the brakes, the brake pedal would intermittently fall into the floorboard and would exhibit resistance to braking pressures. This caused an unusual increase in stopping distance. The contact received notification of recall campaign id number 09v198000 (service brakes, air) and contacted the manufacturer where he was advised they were working on obtaining parts to make the necessary repairs. An appointment was scheduled for repairs october, 2009. The manufacturer advised that the parts were still not available as of october, 2009. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 26,000.
2004 Fleetwood bounder built on a workhorse chassis. Both rear brakes failed and lost brake pedal. This unit has been on the recall list for a while but the replacement part are not in the system yet. This is a 22,000 lb motor home. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 fleetwood bounder. The contact was driving approximately 45 mph and the brakes locked without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired for the malfunction. The failure and current mileages were 25,000. The vin number was not available.
The driver and passenger windows on my 2004 fleetwood bounder are fogging on the inside of the dual pane window. This makes it hard to see your side mirrors and vehicles on your side. I have another window that is also fogging. *Tr
Brake caliper seized on my 2004 bounder motorhome with workhorse chassis. The dragging brake on right rear became hot enough to cause the brake fluid to boil which caused the brake system to fail to the point of the brake pedal going all the way to the floor before any type of braking occurred. Vehicle was towed to a workhorse dealer where it was inspected and confirmed that the incident had occurred. Eventually the caliper released and the brakes seemed to be in working order. Nothing was fixed nor done and...
Read the full complaint
after several months the vehicle was removed form the dealer and has been in storage. The brakes failed for no reason and nothing has been done to fix them or prevent recurrence. *Tr
Front right & rear left brake calipers locked up on our 2004 w-22 workhorse chassis. Burned out abs left. Rear sensor. Waited until brakes cooled, managed to drive home. First time this occured. Mileage 23,446.4 Miles. Checked at local w/h dealer, informed that would have to wait until new replacement parts where available in oct./Nov./Dec.. They suggested not to drive unit with present brake system as was unsafe.
Tl*- the contact owns a 2004 fleet wood bounder. The manufacturer of the glass is se-gi products inc. The contact stated that the drivers side windows are not clear, which impairs his visibility. A reduction in visibility increases the risk of vehicle crash. He is in the process of replacing the windows at an expense of 300.00. He contacted the manufacturer and a representative stated that because the warranty was expired, they would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 22,800. The current mileage is 24,300.
2004 Bounder coach purchased new in aug/sept 2003. I (2nd owner) purchased coach in dec 2006. Coach put directly into storage until feb 2007, when I discovered the drivers side window and the l/r window were fogged. Thought it was film from being stored. It was not after inspection. Windows have completely lost their seal. Can not see out of drivers window when it rains or when sun is shining on them. Upon closer inspection found that all the windows ( 11 ) have some degree of fogging. I contacted fleetwood who...
Read the full complaint
said they could do nothing and told me to contact se-gi products in california. I did and they said to send them pictures and a description of problem. They called me after receiving them and said the coach was out of the 3-year warranty and they could not do anything. I called fleetwood again they said "things have changed in the past month or so and she would call segi and see what she could do. She told me she just had another coach in the past few weeks with almost the identical problem and received help for them". 4 Days later she called me back and said "se-gi is unwilling to do anything, not even sell me windows at cost!" "Sorry" I emailed her and told her this was un-acceptable. Fleetwood told me the original owner contacted them in sept. 2006 About the windows, but fleetwood told them there was not recall at that time. (I was not aware of this, until fleetwood told me when I called them) this call by the original owner was within a month of the warranty expiring. My call was 6 months after the 3 year (so called warranty). I could possibly see fleetwood/se-gi not warranting 1 or 2 windows, but all 11 windows. This is definitely a serious defect. I can not drive the coach until at least the drivers window is replaced. Very serious safety issue. Thank you *tr
Multiple brake issues on 2004 rv with chevy workhorse chassis - overheating disc brake calipers and poor performance. Rv has less than 10,000 miles on it at this time and we have been stranded on the side of the road with the same or similar brake issue four times in the past 8-10 months. The authorized workhorse dealer couldn't identify the problem so just tried different things to try to fix it. The brake lines were bled, calipers were replaced the last time and there is an abs issue this time. *Tr
Left front brake locked up and caused a brake system failure. This occurred after brake were used in stop and go driving. Same thing happened last year with right front brake under same conditions. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 fleetwood bounder. While driving between 30-45 mph, the brake shoes rubbed against the rotors. They do not release properly and continue to tighten, causing the vehicle to veer unexpectedly to the left or right. The contact called the manufacturer and was notified of a class action suit for the same issue regarding the design, which is a very common failure. The manufacturer stated that they would need to replace the entire braking system with calipers and rotors in order to repair the failure. The current and failure mileages were 8,000.
My wife and I left our home in surfside beach, sc for a weekend of nc camping. We passed through conway, sc on hwy 501. My wife asked if I left the emergency brake on, because there came a smell of overheated brakes. My brake was off, and we thought the smell was coming from traffic ahead of us. The smell got stronger, the transmission was not shifting into overdrive and I also noticed a decrease in fuel economy (on board mpg computer). We were doing about 55 mph. As I pulled into a gas station in aynor, sc to...
Read the full complaint
check things I discovered I had no brakes (pedal went to the floor). I pumped the brakes and managed to pull in; we could feel heat coming off the rear wheels (and smell) when we walked around the coach. The abs malfunction light was also illuminated. Our rv is a 2004 36 ft. Bounder on a w22 workhorse chassis. The rv was built in july, 2003 (07/03), and has less than 20,000 miles on it. I called workhorse and asked for the closest service center. I was given the name of a myrtle beach, sc center, so I called them to arrange a tow. The tow truck operator did not want to tow my rv from aynor to myrtle beach with a rear brake problem. I paid $1303.29 For parts (2 rear calipers, 2 rotors, brakes , 2 abs sensors and 2 axle seals) which I purchased from the myrtle beach workhorse center and carried to the aynor service station where I paid $506.26 For them to install the new parts. Note: the right rear abs sensor melted out of the rear wheel on the passenger side. I have the old parts. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 fleetwood bounder. While driving at any speed, the vehicle will suddenly shut off. When the failure occurs and the accelerator pedal is depressed, the vehicle will restart while still in motion. The failure occurs intermittently. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current mileage was 21,500 and failure mileage was 18,000. Updated 07/15/08 *bf the crankshaft position sensor was repalced. Updated 07/15/08
The cover over the engine compartment inside the motorhome is made of fiberglass. The fiberglass has cracked to the point that I cannot stand on it for fear of falling through it onto the engine. The cover is in a place where you have to stand on it to get to the driver's and passenger seat. It also has to be stepped on to get to entertainment center. I contacted fleetwood and got no response back. *Tr
2004 Bounder coach purchased new in aug/sept 2003. I (2nd owner) purchased coach in dec 2006. Coach put directly into storage until feb 2007, when I discovered the drivers side window and the l/r window were fogged. Thought it was film from being stored. It was not after inspection. Windows have completely lost their seal. Can not see out of drivers window when it rains or when sun is shining on them. Upon closer inspection found that all the windows ( 11 ) have some degree of fogging. I contacted fleetwood...
Read the full complaint
who said they could do nothing and told me to contact se-gi products in california. I did and they said to send them pictures and a description of problem. They called me after receiving them and said the coach was out of the 3-year warranty and they could not do anything. I called fleetwood again they said "things have changed in the past month or so and she would call segi and see what she could do. She told me she just had another coach in the past few weeks with almost the identical problem and received help for them". 4 Days later she called me back and said "se-gi is unwilling to do anything, not even sell me windows at cost!" "Sorry" I emailed her and told her this was un-acceptable. Fleetwood told me the original owner contacted them in sept. 2006 About the windows, but fleetwood told them there was not recall at that time. (I was not aware of this, until fleetwood told me when I called them) this call by the original owner was within a month of the warranty expiring. My call was 6 months after the 3 year (so called warranty). I could possibly see fleetwood/se-gi not warranting 1 or 2 windows, but all 11 windows. This is definitely a serious defect. I can not drive the coach until at least the drivers window is replaced. Very serious safety issue. Thank you *jb
2004 Fleetwood bounder purchased in july 2003 is progressively loosing the seals in my dual pane tempered windows. It started with the drivers window and has now progressed to all of the windows. Now I cannot see out my drivers side window to the outside mirror. This is extremely dangerous. Se-gi products told me it is out off warranty and is my responsibility to get them repaired. This is definitely a manufacturing defect. The coach is only 3 1/2 years old diesel with only 25,000 miles. *Jb
Fax from consumer re the problem experienced with 2004 fleetwood bounder rv. *Ts when he consumer received the rv it was leaning to the right and the ride was uncomfortable. The transmission slipped. The slides came out while driving down the road. Rain water accumulated in the ceiling and the dashboard. The water damaged an outlet. The vehicle was taken tot he dealer for the leaning. The dealer took the coach off it's frame and added spacers but that did not correct the problem. The consumer would like the dealer to buy back the rv. *Nm
There is a glare in the window that disturbs the view of the driver when the motor home is on the road. Manufacturer was contacted, and was aware of the problem.*Ak the glare is actually a reflection/mirroring distortion, that obstructs the view of traffic when trying to use either side mirror. *Bf *nm
Fleetwood Bounder: every year compared
All Bounder years2004 Fleetwood Bounder vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Fleetwood Bounder | 28 | 10 | F | |
| 2004 Fleetwood Discovery | 12 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Fleetwood Expedition | 5 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Fleetwood Fiesta | 4 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Fleetwood Advantage | 4 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2004 Fleetwood Gear Box | 2 | 1 | - | Compare |
| 2004 Fleetwood Excursion | 2 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Fleetwood American Tradition | 2 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Fleetwood Flair | 1 | 7 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder
Does the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder: service brakes, air (June 2009); recreational vehicle / trailer (July 2008); recreational vehicle / trailer (March 2007); engine and engine cooling (October 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the visibility & wipers (11), brakes (10), body, doors & structure (2).
How many complaints has the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder had?
28 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 5, 2003 and the latest on December 29, 2010. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2004 Fleetwood Bounder a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 18 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Fleetwood Bounder year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Fleetwood Bounder years have the most complaints?
1999 (35), 1997 (29), 2004 (28). See every Fleetwood Bounder year compared.
What should I do if my 2004 Fleetwood Bounder has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data