2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

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 WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE BRAKES. THE ROTORS, CALIPERS SENSORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/19/16.*JB

Mileage: 28,000

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 APPROXIMATELY 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,948.

Mileage: 14,000

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 EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS AND STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BRAKES WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AFTER MARKET BRAKES TO REPLACE THE CURRENT BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPLACING THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS THE CALIPERS BEGAN TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS REFERRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND THE BRAKE PADS. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WORKHORSE DID COMPENSATE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

Mileage: 26,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND RV. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 50-55 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH NO POWER RESPONSE. SUDDENLY, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES WITH NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. UPDATED 09/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/14/10

Mileage: 29,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND MOTOR HOME. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SAW BRAKE FLUID UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 16,000.

Mileage: 16,000

FRONT END HAD BEGUN TO MILDLY VIBRATE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ON CURSORY INSPECTION COULD TELL THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE FRONT ROTORS WAS CRACKED CLEAR THROUGH. CALLED WORKHORSE, WAS DIRECTED TO CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP. FOUND BOTH FRONT ROTORS WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS, SOME CLEAR THROUGH ON BOTH FRONT. BRAKE PADS ONLY 1/3 GONE, NO EVIDENT GLAZE OR HEAT SIGNS APPARENT (PICTURES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) ON THE PADS. CALIPERS WERE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AS SAFETY PRECAUTION. I KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THE CALIPERS WHICH GUIDES ME TO BELIEVE THAT SOME HOW THEY ARE RELATED DIRECTLY TO MY ROTOR FAILURES. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT THAT WOULD BE DUE TO CONTINUOUS HARD BRAKING OR RIDING THE BRAKES. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER (50 YEARS) AND I KNOW HOW TO AVOID OVERHEATING THE BRAKES, PRIMARILY TO KEEP THEM FUNCTIONING WHEN YOU NEED THEM. THESE REPAIRS (AT 34,000) COST $954, I SENT REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO WORKHORSE WHICH WAS PROMPTLY DENIED. SO NOW I AM FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 34,000

AFTER 75 MILE TRIP, RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS HOT AND SMOKING, NO LOSS OF BRAKING, RETURN TRIP 8 DAYS LATER NO PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 29,942

AFTER 100 MILE TRIP, LOST BRAKING ON MY MOTORHOME, WITH THE SMELL OF BRAKE BURNING, WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. REAR WHEEL LINERS BOTH SIDES WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, BRAKE FLUID COOLED OFF AND BRAKING RETURNED. RETURN TRIP OF 100 MILES 3 DAYS LATER WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

AFTER 90 MILE TRIP, LOST BRAKING ON MY MOTORHOME, WITH THE SMELL OF BRAKE BURNING, BRAKE PEDAL AT THE FLOOR. REAR WHEEL LINERS BOTH SIDES WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, BRAKE FLUID COOLED OFF AND BRAKING RETURNED. RETURN TRIP OF 90 MILES 2 DAYS LATER WITH NO PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 22,500

RETURNED FROM 75 MILE TRIP, RIGHT REAR BRAKE AND WHEEL LINER VERY HOT AND SMELL OF BRAKE BURNING. *TR

Mileage: 29,942

COMING THROUGH MOUNTAINS IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE MILLAGE WAS ABOUT 25000. RIGHT REAR BRAKE LOCKED AND OVERHEATED. I WAS NOT RIDING THE BRAKES, ONLY RIGHT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP. I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT BRAKES WITH MILLAGE AT 18000 OR SO. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

BRAKE FAILURE ON A 2003 FLEETWOOD WORKHORSE CHASSIS MOTORHOME. PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *TR

Mileage: 20,888

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FLEETWOOD SOUTHWIND W22. ON JULY 3 2007, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $837. ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CALIPER ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED UNTIL THE CALIPER RELEASED. SHE THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT THE COST OF $873. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,722 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,162. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF

Mileage: 24,162