EXCESSIVE FLEXING AND TWISTING OF THE MAIN RAILS THAT SUPPORT THE FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER, CAUSED BREAKAGE OF THE SUPPORT SHACKLES, TIRE WEAR AND STRESS CRACKS. *TR
2002 Fleetwood Wilderness
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wilderness years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Structure complaints
4 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRAILER WAS TOWING CROOKED. ONCE AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE GAP BETWEEN THE AXLES WERE DIFFERENT. THEN, UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRAME, THE SHACKLE WAS HANGING FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IRON WELDS WERE WELDED. …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRAILER WAS TOWING CROOKED. ONCE AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE GAP BETWEEN THE AXLES WERE DIFFERENT. THEN, UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRAME, THE SHACKLE WAS HANGING FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IRON WELDS WERE WELDED. THE SHOP ALSO FOUND AT LEAST SIX MORE CRACKS IN THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 11/30/06.*JB
LEFT REAR SPRING SHACKLE CAME OFF AT WELD. MULTIPLE CRACKS IN BOTH FRAME RAILS. WELDS FOR SLIDEOUT AND REAR CROSSMEMBER BROKEN. FRAME RAILS BENT. *NM
FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS 5TH WHEEL MAIN FRAME WAS FAILING.*MR WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS CHECKING THE RV'S TIRE PRESSURE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS FAILING ON THE LEFT REAR SPRING BRACKET. THE BRACKET ITSELF WAS IN TACT BUT THE FRAME FLANGE ITSELF HAD BROKEN FROM THE VERTICAL PORTION OF THE FRAME (THE WELD DID NOT FAIL). THE REPA…
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FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS 5TH WHEEL MAIN FRAME WAS FAILING.*MR WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS CHECKING THE RV'S TIRE PRESSURE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS FAILING ON THE LEFT REAR SPRING BRACKET. THE BRACKET ITSELF WAS IN TACT BUT THE FRAME FLANGE ITSELF HAD BROKEN FROM THE VERTICAL PORTION OF THE FRAME (THE WELD DID NOT FAIL). THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE FRAME. *NM
Official recalls
207V120000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer
Mar 19, 2007
CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: FLEETWOOD WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). 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 YOU 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.
03V452000 · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer
Nov 4, 2003
ON CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, THESE OVENS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.
Remedy: SAMSUNG WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS SHOULD UNPLUG THEIR MICROWAVE, IF POSSIBLE. IF THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNPLUG THE MICROWAVE, THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR UNTIL THE PANEL IS REPLACED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NEVER USE THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR STORAGE OR LEAVE ANY TOWELS, PAPER, CLOTH OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MICROWAVE AFTER USE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAMSUNG AT 800-932-3837 OR FLEETWOOD AT 1-800-629-8454.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE06005 · Inadvertent SLIDE-OUT Extension Movement
Opened Jan 20, 2006 · Closed May 2, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON ODI'S RECEIPT OF A CONGRESSIONAL LETTER ON BEHALF OF A CONSTITUENT.THE CONSTITUENT REPORTED INCIDENTS WHERE THE SLIDE OUT ROOM OF HIS MOTOR HOME WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE (EXTEND) DURING HIGHWAY USE.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT A FULLY EXTENDED SLIDE OUT WOULD DEGRADE THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS AND/OR POSSIBLY IMPACT AN OBJECT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH.ODI CONTACTED FLEETWOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT SLIDE OUT ROOMS WERE INSTALLED IN MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FOLDING TRAILERS. AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION ODI VISITED A RV SHOW AND THE FLEETWOOD PAXINOS PLANT TO EXAMINE SLIDE OUTS IN VARIOUS NEW MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES AND GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SYSTEMS WORK.DURING THE INVESTIGATION ODI LEARNED THAT THERE ARE TWO METHODS USED TO EXTEND SLIDE OUT ROOMS.SOME MANUFACTURERS USE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS AND OTHERS, SUCH AS FLEETWOOD, USE AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)
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