1998 Fleetwood Southwind: common problems

Owners of the 1998 Fleetwood Southwind filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 13

What fails most often

1 Suspension 31% of all complaints
2 Fuel system 15% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
4 Equipment 8% of all complaints
5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
6 Steering 8% of all complaints
7 Structure 8% of all complaints
8 Visibility 8% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Suspension: 4 complaints (31% of all).
Fuel system: 2 complaints (15% of all).
Electrical system: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Equipment: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Powertrain: 1 complaints (8% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 13 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 8%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 8%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Suspension	4	0	0
Fuel system	2	0	0
Electrical system	1	0	0
Equipment	1	0	0
Powertrain	1	0	0
Steering	1	0	0
Structure	1	0	0
Visibility	1	0	0
Other	2	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Tl contact owns a 1998 fleetwood rv. While driving 60 mph he heard a bang then felt wind coming from the top of the vehicle. When he pulled over, he noticed a crack on the driver side of the windshield. A representative inspected the rv and stated that the windshield needed more fiberglass.
Visibility · 2007-08-08 · NHTSA complaint #10198897
Tank developed leak at seam. Repair shop reported replacing several fuel tanks under warranty on this model in previous years. Appears to be prevelant problem with design.
Fuel system · 2001-12-19 · NHTSA complaint #755759
The fuel line to the generator rotted out and began leaking down the fuel tank.
Fuel system · 2001-09-13 · NHTSA complaint #751926
Suspension system of the motorhome is not adequate for the weight and distribution causing severe handling problems.
Suspension · 2000-05-30 · NHTSA complaint #552227
Vehicle is designed with steering problems, installation of an after market item needed to be purchased to illiminate steering problems. Mjs
Steering · 1999-09-21 · NHTSA complaint #548145
Also, electrical system burned out twice, and when vehicle was parked it caught on fire. A loud popping sound came from the kitchen sink. Consumer felt vehicle was very unsafe.
Electrical system · 1999-02-19 · NHTSA complaint #835097
Rear axle differential defective resulting in grinding of the gears, replaced unit however new unit failed also.
Powertrain · 1998-12-21 · NHTSA complaint #542928
Design of the motorhome has a hole between the engine compartment and the driver's feet just under the dash releasing fumes into vehicle.
Structure · 1998-10-20 · NHTSA complaint #539293

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19986
19992
20002
20012
20071

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Southwind has 5 complaints (33 years in the data). This year has 13, above average.

What to check before buying

Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Fleetwood Southwind?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, fuel system, electrical system. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Fleetwood Southwind?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1998 Fleetwood Southwind from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1998 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.