RoadVitals

2021 Airstream Base Camp

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.
4
Latest May 8, 2026
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.
6
Latest Dec 19, 2023
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Airstream Base Camp, most frequently naming the visibility and other / unspecified categories. 6 safety recalls have 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

  • Visibility375.0%
  • Other / unspecified125.0%

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

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

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
23V860000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Dec 19, 2023
1,587 units potentially affected
The defect: Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Basecamp 20X travel trailers. The spare tire carrier bracket may experience metal fatigue and break, allowing the spare tire to detach from the trailer.
The risk: A detached spare tire may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect the bracket, and replace and install additional support, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2024. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 ext. 7401 or 7411.
Airstream, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
23V614000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Sep 1, 2023
58 units potentially affected
The defect: Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2021-2023 16' Basecamp and 20' Basecamp travel trailers manufactured without an air conditioner. The 12-gauge wire for future air conditioner installation was not properly terminated inside the junction box.
The risk: An improperly terminated wire can cause an electrical shock, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will remove the wire from the circuit breaker and power converter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 ext. 7401 or 7411.
Airstream, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
23V134000

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:OVEN/STOVE/COOKTOP

Mar 1, 2023
6,827 units potentially affected
The defect: Airstream Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Basecamp, Bambi, Atlas, and Interstate travel trailers, equipped with certain SDS2 2-Burner Drop-in Cooktops. The internal aluminum burner tubes that connect to the gas valves may fracture and cause a gas leak.
The risk: A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will install a regulator support bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 29, 2023. Owners may contact Airstream Customer Service at 877-596-6111 (Travel Trailer ext. 7491) or (Touring Coach ext. 7401).
Airstream, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed May 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Airstream Basecamp. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V932000 (Visibility, Equipment). The contact stated that while parked in storage, he observed the rear entry glass window was shattered but was still holding together. The contact added that when he opened the rear entry door the glass window separated and fell to the floor shattering in pieces. The contact stated that he took pictures of the failure and sent it to a dealer where they advised him the the failure was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised him to contact a dealer to have the recall repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

NHTSA ID
11736513
Incident
Apr 25, 2026
Mileage
11,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 11, 2024

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID
11576525
Incident
Jun 30, 2023
Visibility
Filed Dec 1, 2022

The side door access window failed while driving down the interstate at the posted speed limit of 70 mph. The failure occurred without warning. The entire window detached from the door and flew onto the roadway. It shattered and was run over by a semi-tractor trailer. The safety of other drivers was at risk as there was no warning that the window would fail. The window area of the vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer and is currently in the process of being replaced. This is a known issue on older Airstream Basecamps (model years 2017 - 2018).

NHTSA ID
11495595
Incident
Nov 21, 2022
Filed Dec 18, 2021

I am writing about a 2021 Airstream Basecamp X AC unit. The bolts that hold the AC unit on top of the trailer stripped out of whatever was holding the unit on top of the trailer. Fortunately the trailer only suffered water damage during a rain storm but I understand that the unit was no longer secured to the roof and other owners have actually experienced the unit falling off the roof in transit. Because we didn't know this happened until the rainstorm and subsequent leak, it is certain we were unknowingly driving the vehicle on the road with an unsecured AC unit. Apparently there has been a recall for this problem on earlier models of the Basecamp and Airstream was to alter their production to address it. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 21V-195. It seems the problem has not been addressed in production. Clearly, if one of these units falls off in transit, it can cause a cataclysmic accident. Airstream has provided the local dealer with a kit of some sort to reinstall the unit but that doesn't speak to other units that have been manufactured since the recall date like ours that could experience the same problem. Because we were outside the recall dates, we were not informed about this and clearly there was the expectation by the NHTSA that Airstream corrected the problem in their manufacturing and installation process. Given what happened to our trailer, it would seem the problem has not been addressed.

NHTSA ID
11444261
Incident
Oct 21, 2021

Manufacturer communications

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

1STTSB1929082022

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; EQUIPMENT

In certain model year 2021 & 2022 Basecamp 20 travel trailers, the battery box lid gasket was not installed. In certain situations, the batteries may have the potential of outgassing, and without the gasket, the gases may enter the living area of the trailer.

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.

DexterTSB191

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC; WHEELS

It has come to Dexter’s attention that axles using the Nev-R-Lube bearing package have had on occasion electric brakes locking up when coming out of a complete stop. This brake lock up may be due to the hub-drum having an out of round condition. If the travel trailer was manufactured between January and May of 2021, and is experiencing a brake lock-up condition.

1STMON039112821

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

The newsletter provides process and tips to properly winterize Airstream travel trailers.

TSB189

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Certain Basecamps trailers may not have been properly high-pot tested. TSB 189 provides detailed instruction on how to properly complete a high-pot test.

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 Base Camp by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024010—
2023050—
2022150—
2021Viewing460—
2020240—
2019040—
2018040—
2017350—
2009000—
2008610—
2007010—
2006010—

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.