2018 Fleetwood Bounder: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2018 Fleetwood Bounder
On the 2018 Fleetwood Bounder, the failure owners report most often is fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure, with 3 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 10,000 miles.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 5 named failure modes on the 2018 Fleetwood Bounder, and the three most-reported carry 80% of everything filed, so the trouble here is concentrated rather than scattered.
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure leads with 3 reports and about 12 per 1,000 vehicles.
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin follows with 3 reports, median 20,000 miles.
Engine knock or bearing noise follows with 2 reports.
By system, the reports fall mostly into fuel (3), emissions (3) and engine (2).
The mileage the reports cluster at
Too few of the reports on this year carry an odometer reading to describe the timing: 6 of them do. The mileages quoted elsewhere on this page come from the modes that have enough of them.
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
Severity, and what it costs
Nothing in the reports on the 2018 Fleetwood Bounder mentions a crash, a fire or an injury. That is the ordinary case and it is worth stating: most defect complaints are about a car that stopped working, not one that hurt somebody.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.40, 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: fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure at $250–$1,800, exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin at $250–$2,000, engine knock or bearing noise at $2,500–$9,000 and cruise control failure at $200–$1,400. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
20% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 2k | — | 12.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 3 | 3 | — | 18k | — | 12.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 8.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 4.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 4.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
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 2018 Fleetwood Bounder draws about 40 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 96th percentile of complaint rates among 2018 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 249 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2018 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.
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure
We purchased a 2018 bounder 33c in february of 2018. This vehicle is dangerous and potentially life threatening. After purchasing this vehicle, we learned the suspension was not adequate for the amount of weight and the high center of gravity when moving, giving us the feeling that it would tip over when rounding curves and on local roads where it would rock back and forth, to the extent that when my wife followed me to the repair shop, she was greatly concerned about the rocking back and forth and said she was waiting for the tires to lift off the ground. The rv also porpoises. Relating to the suspension, there is a yellow warning tag (see attachment) on the screen door we were not told about before purchase. The warning sticker reveals that the weight limit for cargo on our rv has been 'reduced' to 2681 pounds and states, 'the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed: 1,216 kg or 2,681 pounds.' it gives the weight of a full load of water and states that the tongue weight of a towed trailer also counts as cargo. If all the tanks are maxed out and there is a towed vehicle, there is approximately 100 pounds of…
We purchased a 2018 bounder 33c in february of 2018. This vehicle is dangerous and potentially life threatening. After purchasing this vehicle, we learned the suspension was not adequate for the amount of weight and the high center of gravity when moving, giving us the feeling that it would tip over when rounding curves and on local roads where it would rock back and forth, to the extent that when my wife followed me to the repair shop, she was greatly concerned about the rocking back and forth and said she was waiting for the tires to lift off the ground. The rv also porpoises. Relating to the suspension, there is a yellow warning tag (see attachment) on the screen door we were not told about before purchase. The warning sticker reveals that the weight limit for cargo on our rv has been 'reduced' to 2681 pounds and states, 'the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed: 1,216 kg or 2,681 pounds.' it gives the weight of a full load of water and states that the tongue weight of a towed trailer also counts as cargo. If all the tanks are maxed out and there is a towed vehicle, there is approximately 100 pounds of…
Recalls on the 2018 model year
NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2018 Fleetwood Bounder, affecting an estimated 351 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 structure:body, equipment:recreational vehicle/trailer and equipment. 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.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
STRUCTURE:BODY
538 vehicles 2021-05-26- Defect
- REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Fleetwood Bounder P Model, Holiday Rambler Vacationer P Model, and 2018-2021 Fleetwood Southwind Model P motorhomes. The floor may have improperly sealed holes that could allow gases such as carbon monoxide to enter the living area.
- Consequence
- Gases entering the living area increases the risk of an injury and/or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reseal the floor area, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-509-3417. REV's number for this recall is 210521REV.
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
3,241 vehicles 2019-12-04- Defect
- REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Fleetwood Bounder, Holiday Rambler Vacationer, and 2018-2020 Fleetwood Southwind motorhomes. The generator exhaust pipe placement exits the motorhome within the vehicle's departure angle.
- Consequence
- If the generator exhaust pipe is damaged, it may cause carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle, increasing the risk of an injury or death.
- Remedy
- REV will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the generator exhaust pipe, free of charge. The recall began January 30, 2020. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-509-3417. REV's number for this recall is 191125REV.
EQUIPMENT
2,055 vehicles 2018-03-28- Defect
- REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2018 Fleetwood Axon and Pulse, Holiday Rambler Reno and Prodigy, Monaco Marquis and American Coach American Dream motorhomes, 2017-2018 Fleetwood Bounder, Discovery, Discovery LXE, Flair, Jamboree, Southwind, Pace Arrow, Pace Arrow LXE and Storm motorhomes, Holiday Rambler Admiral XE, Endeavor, Endeavor XE, Navigator XE, Navigator, Vacationer, Vacationer XE and Vesta and American Coach American Eagle motorhomes and 2017 Holiday Rambler Scepter, Monaco Diplomat, and American Coach American Revolution motorhomes. The mounting…
- Consequence
- If the satellite dish detaches from the roof while driving, it can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- REV will notify owners, and dealers will resecure the satellite dish to the roof with a metal reinforcement, free of charge. The recall began on May 14, 2018. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-509-3417. REV's number for this recall is 180322REV. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-802. Any vehicle repaired under that campaigned is not included in this one as the remedy for both recalls is the same.
EQUIPMENT
87 vehicles 2017-12-14- Defect
- REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2018 Fleetwood Axon, Bounder, Flair, Southwind, Pace Arrow and Pace Arrow LXE motorhomes, and 2018 Holiday Rambler Navigator, Navigator XE, Reno, Vacationer, and Vacationer XE motorhomes. The satellite dish on these vehicles may detach from the roof while driving and become a road hazard.
- Consequence
- If the satellite dish detaches from the roof while driving it can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- REV will notify owners, and dealers will resecure the satellite dish to the roof with a metal reinforcement, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-509-3417. REV's number for this recall is 171208REV.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
219 vehicles 2017-07-27- Defect
- REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Fleetwood Discovery and Discovery LXE, and Holiday Rambler Endeavor, Endeavor XE, and Admiral XE motorhomes, as well as 2018 Monaco Diplomat, Fleetwood Pace Arrow, Bounder, Flair, and Storm motorhomes, and Holiday Rambler Navigator and Vacationer XE motorhomes. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with headlights that do not have tempered glass lenses.
- Consequence
- If the headlamp lens is not tempered, it may crack or break, which may cause decreased illumination and/or premature failure of the headlight bulb, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- REV Recreation Group will notify owners, and authorized REV dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace non-tempered, defective headlamp lenses with new headlamp lenses, free of charge. The recall began on September 8, 2017. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-509-3417. REVs number for the recall is 170720REV.
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.
Where 2018 sits in the model line
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.
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.
Where these figures stop being useful
10 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 10 reports, 6 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 60% 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".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
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 2018 Fleetwood Bounder?
The most-reported failures are fuel tank, filler or evap failure (3 reports, median 2,000 miles), exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin (3 reports, median 20,000 miles) and engine knock or bearing noise (2 reports). 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.
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