Model year record

1985 FLEETWOOD Southwind

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1 owner complaint on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V138000

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

Component
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Manufacturer
FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.
Vehicles affected
12,459
Reported to NHTSA
1985-10-25

Defect description

GENERATOR TAILPIPE CAN BECOME DAMAGED SO THAT IT TERMINATES UNDER THE MOTORHOME BODY ALLOWING EXHAUST GASES TO LEAK UNDER THE MOTORHOME AND SEEP INTO THE MOTOR HOME. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: GENERATOR EXHAUST GASES INSIDE OF THE MOTORHOME CAUSES CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH TO OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer remedy

REROUTE AND/OR MODIFY GENERATOR EXHAUST SYSTEM TO ASSURE THAT EXHAUST PIPE REMAINS OPEN, UNBROKEN, AND EXTENDS PAST THE SIDE OR END OF THE BODY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V106000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
Manufacturer
FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.
Vehicles affected
28,545
Reported to NHTSA
1985-08-27

Defect description

MAIN FUEL TANK FILLER CAP MAY DISENGAGE SUDDENLY WHEN REMOVING THE CAP FOR REFUELING. THE SUDDEN CAP DISENGAGEMENT PERMITS EXPULSION OF VAPOR AND UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, SPRAYS GASOLINE AROUND THE SURROUNDING AREA OR PERSONS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE GASOLINE SPILLAGE MAY CAUSE A FIRE AND/OR AN EXPLOSION IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SINGLE STAGE BAYONET CAP WITH A TWO STAGE CAP WHICH REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL ROTATION PRIOR TO REMOVAL. ALSO A WARNING LABEL STICKER WILL BE ISSUED TO BE INSTALLED JUST ABOVE THE GASOLINE FILL OPENING.

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V056000

Trailer hitches

Component
Trailer hitches
Manufacturer
FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.
Vehicles affected
15,857
Reported to NHTSA
1985-05-01

Defect description

TRAILER HITCHES CAN CRACK AT THE MOUNTING FLANGES AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORHOME WHILE BEING USED IN TRAILER OR CAR TOWING SERVICE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF COMPLETE SEPARATION OCCURS, CONTROL WOULD BE LOST OF THE TOWED VEHICLE; THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

MODIFY OR REPLACE HITCH, AS REQUIRED.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Tires1

The 1984 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 1986 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.