The 1997 Fleetwood Southwind has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 167,337 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the parking brake. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT07V1200002007-03-19167,096 affected
Defect
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
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…
VISIBILITY96V2360001996-11-22241 affected
Defect
THE E-Z SLIDE-OUT ROOM CAN OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. WATER CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SLIDE-OUT ROOM CONTROL RELAY.
Consequence
IF THE SLIDE-OUT ROOM OPERATES UNEXPECTEDLY, THE MOTOR HOME WIDTH WILL INCREASE WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR WHILE THE MOTOR HOME IS PARKED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT CONTROL RELAY IN A WATERPROOF LOCATION ON THESE MOTOR HOMES.
Complaints by component
PARKING BRAKE
2
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
2
EQUIPMENT
1
1injuries
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
1
PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
STRUCTURE
1
1injuries
TIRES
1
Total complaints11
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Six (6) bct radial a/p tires were installed on 97 fleetwood southwind motorhome (model 32vs) on 3/19/11 at approx. 33000 miles. One tire failed with tread separation while driving on rt. 90,10 miles west of rochester, ny, on 7/2/13. Tread separation caused wiring damage to the right rear wheelwell…”
“The automatic electric step did not come out when suppose to upon opening the doors. This caused the consumer to fall out, and break his leg. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak”
“Automatic park brake did not engage, and the emergency parking brake did not prevent the vehicle from rolling from an incline. Vehicle was back and forth to the dealer on several occasions, but problem recurred. *ak”
“Automatic park brake did not engage, and the emergency parking brake did not prevent the vehicle from rolling from an incline. Vehicle was back and forth to the dealer on several occasions, but problem recurred. *ak”
“The automatic 12 volt step at the entrance door failed to extend when the door was opened in the dark . Causing my wife to fall since there was no step. Requiring surgery, a plate and screws to be put in her ankle. *jb”
“The autopark brake and manual park brake have failed several times allowing motorhome to drift (one time hitting another ) .last time 7/16/03. This is the second time I have reported this to you!*ak”
“The autopark brake and manual park brake have failed several times allowing motorhome to drift (one time hitting another ) .last time 7/16/03. This is the second time I have reported this to you!*ak”
“The "auto park brake" and the manually foot operated parking brake have failed three (3) times allowing the motorhome to drift freely or nearly so.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Fleetwood Southwind as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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