1995 Dutchman 1203 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Dutchman 1203, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure240.0%
- Other / unspecified120.0%
- Powertrain (other)120.0%
- Tires & wheels120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CABLE FOR LIFT SYSTEM ON DUTCHMEN CAMPER SNAPPED WHILE RAISING CAMPER. CAP WEIGHS 500 POUNDS & WAS 4 FEET IN THE AIR WHEN CABLE SNAPPED. THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE, AS YOUR HANDS HAVE TO BE UNDER CAP WHILE IT IS BEING RAISED/LOWERED TO TUCK IN/PULL OUT FABRIC OF CAMPER...AND ALSO WHY INSTALLING COVERS FOR SUPPORT BRACKETS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE CABLE SNAPS YOU HAVE 500 POUNDS OF CAP COMING DOWN ON YOUR HANDS...WHICH COULD BE SEVERED BECAUSE THERE IS A METAL ON THE CAP AND THE CAMPER EDGE WHERE THE CAP AND CAMPER BODY MEET. CAP CAME DOWN SO HARD AFTER CABLE SNAPPED, THAT THE CAMPER CAP WAS RUINED. ALSO, I INSPECTED THE CABLE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS SHREDDED FROM RUBBING AGAINST SOMTHING IN THE LIFT SYSTEM EVERY TIME CAMPER WAS LOWERED AND RAISED. THE CAMPER IS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND I HAVE USED THE CAMPER (RAISED AND LOWERED IT) LESS THAN A DOZEN TIMES. AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, I WENT THROUGH MY OWNER'S MANUAL AND FOUND NOTHING IN THERE REGARDING MATIENCE OF THE CABLE LIFT SYSTEM, OR WHAT TO DO IF THE LIFT/CABLE SYSTEM FAILS. I HAVE OWNED CAMPERS BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS DUTCHMEN CAMPER AND HAVE NEVER HAD OR HEARD OF THE CABLE SNAPPING ON THE LIFT SYSTEM...THIS IS DANGEROUS!*AK
REAR AXLE AND THE TIRES ARE NOT RATED HIGH ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. OWNER CONTINUES TO HAVE BLOW OUTS BECAUSE OF THIS. DEALER/MANUFACTURE ADMIT THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK THE ORIGINAL ROOF ON THE TRAILER WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED ON TOP WHICH ALLOWED MOISTER TO GATHER IN THE ROOF AND CREATE A ROOF THAT WAS FAR TO HEAVY FOR THE CABLE SYSTEM TO LIFT. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
POP UP TRAILOR WAS FULLY CRANKED UP WHEN IT COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE CABLE TO BREAK.*AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR AXLE AND THE TIRES ARE NOT RATED HIGH ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. OWNER CONTINUES TO HAVE BLOW OUTS BECAUSE OF THIS. DEALER/MANUFACTURE ADMIT THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK THE ORIGINAL ROOF ON THE TRAILER WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED ON TOP WHICH ALLOWED MOISTER TO GATHER IN THE ROOF AND CREATE A ROOF THAT WAS FAR TO HEAVY FOR THE CABLE SYSTEM TO LIFT. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR AXLE AND THE TIRES ARE NOT RATED HIGH ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. OWNER CONTINUES TO HAVE BLOW OUTS BECAUSE OF THIS. DEALER/MANUFACTURE ADMIT THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK THE ORIGINAL ROOF ON THE TRAILER WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED ON TOP WHICH ALLOWED MOISTER TO GATHER IN THE ROOF AND CREATE A ROOF THAT WAS FAR TO HEAVY FOR THE CABLE SYSTEM TO LIFT. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .