AI Damage1998 Fleetwood Wilderness: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Fleetwood Wilderness filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 50% of all complaints
- 2 Equipment 50% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 50% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (50% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Equipment: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (50% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
5th wheel trailer: the bargman 7-way electrical connector plug came loose from its bargman socket mounted in the wheel well of the owner's tow vehicle. As a result the electrical brakes on the 32 foot 5th wheel trailer were not working as the owner and his wife descended the very steep west side of the teton mountains…
"bargman electrical connector" came loose from socket while towing, resulted in loss of brakes on trailer, and causing an accident which resulted in a fatality. Bargman is an electrical conx that connects trailer to tow vehicle.
I received a recall notice from dometic informing me to take my unit to an authorized service center to have an update installed in the refrigerator to prevent a fire. I took the unit to camping world in denver, co and they did the recall update.
Design/location of the propane gas lines (outside frame)could be dangerous if tire blew out.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Wilderness has 4 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Fleetwood Wilderness?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, equipment, service brakes. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (25%), smoke, burning smell, fire (25%), tires: bulges, blowouts (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Fleetwood Wilderness?
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 Wilderness 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.