2003 Fleetwood Pace Arrow Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Apr 20, 2012 · 12 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Pace Arrow years
More complaints than other years 4th of 22 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. That ranks 4th out of 22 Pace Arrow model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (4 complaints, 33%), typically at around 27,443 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2003 Fleetwood Pace Arrow problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic4 · ~27,443 mi
Equipment3 · ~18,750 mi
Exterior Lighting2 · ~27,079 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline1 · ~44,326 mi
Seats1 · ~100 mi
Suspension1 · ~6,300 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Service Brakes, Hydraulic433%27,443——
Equipment325%18,750——
Exterior Lighting217%27,079——
Fuel System, Gasoline18%44,326——
Seats18%100——
Suspension18%6,300——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2006, with 4 complaints
2004: 1200412005: 1200512006: 4200642007: 2200722008: 1200812010: 1201012011: 1201112012: 120121

n = 12 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2003 Fleetwood Pace Arrow recalls (7)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

EquipmentJul 28, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V312000 · 6,684 vehicles

Problem: Fleetwood rv is recalling certain model year 2005 and 2006 motorhomes manufactured between july 24, 2004 and march 11, 2005, equipped with norcold model 1200lr, 1200lrim, and 1201lrim refrigerators with serial numbers between 1273701 and 1536607, non-consecutively. A fatigue failure in the section of the cooling unit which contains the refrigerant could allow the liquid solution to slowly leak. If a leak occurs and the refrigerator continues to be operated after solution circulation has ceased the heat source could generate very high temperatures. At such high temperatures, the cooling unit could rupture.

Risk: If a leak occurs and the unit is continues to operate, hydrogen gas may be expelled and can be ignited, resulting in a fire, possibly causing serious injury or death.

Fix: Fleetwood rv will notify owners and the vehicle's refrigerator will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during september 2009. Owners may contact fleetwood rv at 1-800-509-3418 or norcold's recall center at 1-800-767-9101.

Service brakes, airJun 2, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V198000 · 509 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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/trailerJul 15, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V320000 · 70,101 vehicles

Problem: 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 coolant solution could be released into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present.

Risk: If this solution is exposed to an ignition source under certain specific circumstances, it can result in a vehicle fire.

Fix: 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.

Equipment:recreational vehicle/trailerMar 19, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V120000 · 167,096 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.

Fix: 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.

Electrical systemApr 12, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V115000 · 7,205 vehicles

Problem: Certain motor homes built on workhorse chassis and equipped with actia corporate instrument clusters fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 101 "controls and displays" and no. 105 "hydraulic and electric brake systems." if the brake fail input falls below a voltage of 1.5v, the brake failure lamp and alarm will be activated. Also activation of the abs telltale when the abs is not properly functioning does not always occur.

Risk: At night the instrument cluster lights may fail and the driver may not be able to see the instrument panel gauges and the brake warning light indicator which could increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Workhorse is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign and reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-246-7731 or fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.

Trailer hitchesJul 20, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V352000 · 8,969 vehicles

Problem: Certain motor homes equipped with draw tite hitch receivers may be missing one or more welds between the hitch receiver box and the bottom support plate.

Risk: The welds could break, allowing the hitch receiver box and the towed load to separate from the towing vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the hitch receiver. The recall is expected to begin during august 2004. Owners should contact fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.

Equipment:mechanical:integrated jack/leveler/stabilizerSep 16, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V344000 · 1,100 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorhomes built on workhorse chassis, the hydraulic hose operating the leveling jack system was routed so it places the hose too close to the engine exhaust. The hot exhaust can cause the hydraulic hose to melt or abrade, releasing hydraulic fluid.

Risk: If the hydraulic fluid should ignite by an exhaust gas recirculating tube or other heat source, this could cause a fire.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace damaged hoses and relocate the affected hydraulic lines. Owner notification is expected to begin october 3, 2003. 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 fleetwood at 1-800-322-8216.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Inadvertent slide-out extension movement (PE06005) — opened Jan 20, 2006, closed May 2, 2006.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 fleetwood pace arrow. The contact stated that while driving on the highway, he smelled a fuel odor within the cabin. The contact maneuvered to the shoulder of the highway and then the vehicle caught on fire. The dealer diagnosed that the exhaust pipe broke in half…

Fuel System, Gasoline · received Apr 20, 2012 · NHTSA complaint 10455888

I was returning home from florida this spring and had heard a noise like i had hit something in the road but did not see anything at the time. When we stopped for fuel walking around the motorhome i saw that the head light assembly was missing from the passenger side of my 37a 2003 pace arrow that…

Exterior Lighting · received May 1, 2011 · NHTSA complaint 10398422

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 fleetwood pace arrow equipped with a workhorse chassis. While driving at 35 mph, the driver and passenger side rear brakes failed. The contact received a recall notice regarding the brakes for the chassis but the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received May 4, 2010 · NHTSA complaint 10328736

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 fleetwood pace arrow with the 2003 workhorse chassis. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact smelled burning brakes. The brakes failed when he attempted to stop; however, he was able to pull the vehicle over. He checked the brakes and noticed that both front…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Aug 4, 2008 · NHTSA complaint 10236904

2003 pace arrow motor home with brake failure. Consumer states that the brakes have failed twice putting his family and others in danger. He states that the brake fluid in the passenger side reservoir was very hot. *kb the consumer stated when the failure occurred, the brake pedal went all the way…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Dec 7, 2007 · NHTSA complaint 10211689

Other Fleetwood Pace Arrow years

← 2002 Pace Arrow · 2004 Pace Arrow →

See all Fleetwood Pace Arrow problems by year, every Fleetwood model, or the VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Fleetwood Pace Arrow?

Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, equipment, exterior lighting problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 4 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Fleetwood Pace Arrow?

Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2003 Fleetwood Pace Arrow a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Pace Arrow model years, the 2003 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.