2005 Fleetwood Bounder: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder
On the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder, the failure owners report most often is other visibility problem, with 7 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 15,000 miles. Overall it scores 81 out of 100, severe risk for a 2005.
Severe risk for a 2005 — 7th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. 24 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder
Owners have reported 7 named failure modes on the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder, and the three most-reported carry 63% of everything filed, so the trouble here is concentrated rather than scattered.
Other visibility problem leads with 7 reports and about 12 per 1,000 vehicles.
ABS module or sensor failure follows with 4 reports, median 25,000 miles. 4 of those reports mention a fire.
Other brake problem follows with 4 reports, median 10,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into brakes (9), glass (7) and wheels (3).
When these failures get reported
23 of the reports on the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 15,000 miles.
The busiest stretch is between 10,000 and 20,000 miles, which alone holds 39% of the dated reports.
83% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 4 a fire. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.50, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other visibility problem at $150–$1,400, ABS module or sensor failure at $500–$2,400, other brake problem at $300–$1,800 and tire blowout or tread separation at $200–$1,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
8% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other visibility problem | glass | 7 | 6 | — | 15k | — | 12.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 27k | — | 6.8 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 9k | — | 6.8 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 3 | 3 | — | 40k | — | 5.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 2 | 2 | — | 4k | — | 3.4 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 2 | 2 | — | 12k | — | 3.4 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 17k | — | 1.7 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Unclassified problem | other | 1 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 1.7 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder draws about 41 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 94th percentile of complaint rates among 2005 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 584 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2005 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other visibility problem
Fogged windows in my 2005 fleetwood rv. Hard to see out the driver window and see side mirrors due to heavy glare from the fogging. 11 out of 12 windows are fogging in my 2005 fleetwood bounder 32w class-a motorhome. Se-gi windows. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 fleetwood bounder rv. The contact stated that five windows on the driver side, including the front driver window were defective and remained foggy, making it very difficult to see the roadway. The manufacturer was not contacted in regards to the failure. The drivers window was replaced. The failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 42,000.
ABS module or sensor failure
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 fleetwood bounder rv. While driving approximately 55 MPH pressure was applied to the spongy brake pedal, followed by no power response. The antilock brake system warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The engine was turned off and after waiting a few moments the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was able to resume in operation, although the brakes remained spongy. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the technician stated that the components which required replacement were the calipers, rotors, brake shoes and the antilock brake system sensor which had melted. The vehicle was repaired at the expense of the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 27,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 fleetwood bounder rv. While driving approximately 55 MPH pressure was applied to the spongy brake pedal, followed by no power response. The antilock brake system warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The engine was turned off and after waiting a few moments the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was able to resume in operation, although the brakes remained spongy. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the technician stated that the components which required replacement were the calipers, rotors, brake shoes and the antilock brake system sensor which had melted. The vehicle was repaired at the expense of the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 27,000.
Other brake problem
The air lines on my motorhome were improperly installed causing them to rub together in transit. Eventually a hole wore in one of the air lines causing my brakes to totally fail. Please note freighliner llc is the manufacturer of the chassis. They refused to pay for the repair. Also, please note that the model is expedition. I noted bounder since it is the model closest to mine.
Bad brake noise in front wheels. Brakes smoke after very short trips downhill. Had dealer pull all wheels said things looked fine. On the way home,lost some pedal,but came back. Smoked brakes again. Let cool for 2 hrs and eased on home. Need to pull wheels again and check. Want to cross the country in nov. And now don't know what to do. Workhorse said they can't fix anything until it frays. *tr
Recalls on the 2005 model year
NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder, affecting an estimated 1,342 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover equipment:recreational vehicle/trailer:lpg systems, service brakes, air, equipment:recreational vehicle/trailer and engine and engine cooling. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS
683 vehicles 2009-06-26- Defect
- Fleetwood is recalling 683 my 2005-2006 bounder 35e class a motor homes when the refrigerator is operated in the lpg mode, the refrigerator exhaust may vent into the interior of the refrigerator cabinet rather than exhaust to the exterior through a vent for that purpose.
- Consequence
- The hot exhaust may result in heat damage to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet and could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the refrigerator cabinet and install a baffle in the rear of the refrigerator cabinet to divert the hot exhaust to the exterior vent. The remedy will performed free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact fleetwood motor homes at 1-800-509-3418.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
509 vehicles 2009-06-02- Defect
- Fleetwood is recalling 509 my 2001-2008 class a motor homes equipped with axles that include bosch zops or zoht pin slide hydraulic disc brakes. When combined with occasional or seasonal vehicle operation may experience calipers sticking in the applied position. This can result in abnormal heat generation at the wheel end causing brake drag. The driver would normally have warning of the brake drag if undetected by the driver.
- Consequence
- The driver would normally detect the brake drag but if undetected the temperature increase at the wheel end can eventually lead to soft pedal conditions due to brake fluid boil, and possible extended stopping distance increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components free of charge. Workhorse is handling the remedy for this campaign please see 09v-110. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-246-7731. Workhorse will conduct the owner and dealer notification.
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
70,101 vehicles 2008-07-15- Defect
- Fleetwood is recalling 70,101 my 2003-2007 southwind, pace arrow, bounder, flair, storm, fiesta, terra gas class a motor homes; bounder, discovery, providence, excursion, expedition, revolution, american eagle, american heritage, american tradition diesel class a motor homes; jamboree tioga class c motor homes; and prowler, wilderness, terry, mallard, pioneer, pride and triumph conventional and fifth wheel travel trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerators manufactured by the dometic corporation. The refrigerator may have a defect in the boiler tube. Pressurized…
- Consequence
- If this solution is exposed to an ignition source under certain specific circumstances, it can result in a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Fleetwood is working with dometic to repair these refrigerators (please see 08e032). 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 the owner in locating dealerships or service centers and will provide assistance with scheduling of appointments. Owners may contact dometic/stericycle at 1-888-446-5157 or fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7,858 vehicles 2006-10-04- Defect
- On certain motor homes built on workhorse chassis and equipped with general motors 8.1l v8 engines, improper hardening during the heat treatment process can cause the fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip to fracture, resulting in inadequate retention of the damper. If the damper becomes loose, fuel could be pumped by the fuel pump into the under hood area.
- Consequence
- In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could result.
- Remedy
- Workhorse is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign (please see 06v225). Dealers will replace the fuel rail pulse damper retainer clips on these engines free of charge. Owners may contact workhorse at 877-294-6773 or fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
STEERING
947 vehicles 2006-06-19- Defect
- On certain class a motor homes built on workhorse chassis may have been equipped with incorrect steering intermediate shafts. The spline can strip while the steering wheel is being turned.
- Consequence
- This steering condition could result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Workhorse is conducting this recall (please see 06v148000) and will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering intermediate shafts. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-294-6773 or fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2005 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2005 sits in the model line
Severe risk for a 2005 — 7th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 10 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1996 comes out best at 65 and 2003 worst at 81, with 2005 itself at 81.
If the model year is negotiable, 1996, 1998, 2000, 1999, 1997 and 2002 score lower than 2005 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2000–2007 generation specifically, 2000 is the strongest year at 72 and 2003 the weakest at 81.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2000-2007 generation, 2000 Fleetwood Bounder scores best at 72 and 2003 Fleetwood Bounder worst at 81.
What this page cannot tell you
24 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 24 reports, 23 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 96% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder?
The most-reported failures are other visibility problem (7 reports, median 15,000 miles), abs module or sensor failure (4 reports, median 25,000 miles) and other brake problem (4 reports, median 10,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2005 Fleetwood Bounder reliable?
It scores 81 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 7th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2005 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Fleetwood Bounder is best?
Within the 2000–2007 generation, 2000 scores best at 72 out of 100 and 2003 worst at 81. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed