RoadVitals

2002 Airstream 396XL

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Dec 31, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 13, 2002
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2002 Airstream 396XL, most frequently naming the other / unspecified category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 12 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Other / unspecified1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
02V247000

STRUCTURE

Sep 13, 2002
149 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN DIESEL MOTOR HOMES, WHEN THE UNIT IS FULLY LOADED WITH FUEL, FLUIDS, AND PASSENGERS, THE FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) COULD BE EXCEEDED. FURTHERMORE, THE UNIT MAY HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE FRONT AXLE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION THAT COULD RESULT IN AN OVERLOAD CONDITION ON THE FRONT TIRE OF THE MOTOR HOME.
The risk: THIS OVERLOAD CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE FRONT TIRE CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTOR HOME, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A POPPET KIT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADDED WIDTH OF THE NEW FRONT TIRES. THIS REMEDY WILL INCREASE THE FRONT GAWR. A NEW SET OF VEHICLE WEIGHT LABELS WILL BE ISSUED TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 25, 2002. 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 AIRSTREAM AT 1-937-596-6111, EXT. 7418 OR 7400.
AIRSTREAM, INC.Manufacturer number 128View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Other / unspecified
Filed Dec 31, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AIRSTREAM 396XL RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NDR1062. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY. HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF AMMONIA AND NOTICED A YELLOW RESIDUE LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000(EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE DOMETIC CUSTOMER CENTER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL KIT; HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COOLING MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WOULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE ADDRESSED IN THE SAFETY DEFECT. A NEW REFRIGERATOR WAS PURCHASED. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. UPDATED 02/09/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10253340
Incident
Feb 7, 2007

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

1STMON042052822

STRUCTURE

This newsletter provides information concerning filiform corrosion and the steps taken to neutralize it.

1STMON041042822

EQUIPMENT; TIRES

This article discussed tire care and maintenance. It explains the meaning of nomenclature on the tire sidewall (i.e. the 4 digit date code, load range, and max load information.

1STMON02282021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Power awning maintenance and care tips.

1STMON037102820

EQUIPMENT

This newsletter provides detailed instructions regarding winterization of Airstream travel trailers and motorhomes.

1STMON03692820

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

This issue of the newsletter provides information about the optional lithium battery package Airstream is offering on the 2021 my travel trailers. There is also information of what is needed to upgrade a travel trailer that was manufactured prior to the 2021 model year.

1STTTN01192820

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

This issue of the newsletter provides information about the optional lithium battery package Airstream is offering on the 2021 my travel trailers. There is also information of what is needed to upgrade a travel trailer that was manufactured prior to the 2021 model year.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Airstream 396XL by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007010—
2006010—
2002Viewing110—
2001010—
2000010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.