RoadVitals

2003 Dutchmen Classic

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.
3
Latest Dec 7, 2010
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 Nov 12, 2003
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Dutchmen Classic, most frequently naming the body & structure and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Body & structure250.0%
  • Tires & wheels250.0%

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
03V465000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Nov 12, 2003
24,113 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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 DUTCHMEN AT 574-537-0700.
DUTCHMEN MANUFACTURING, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 7, 2010

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WITH WHOM I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT. I HAVE DEFECTIVE TIRES ON MY 2003 DUTCHMEN RV AND HAVE HAD TWO TIRES OF THE SAME TYPE (GENERAL TIRES LT-225-75R16, AMERI*550AS) SEPARATE THE TREAD FROM THE CASING WHILE PARKED BESIDE MY HOME. I REPLACED BOTH TIRES IN FRONT WHEN THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NOW THE ONE IN THE REAR DID THE SAME THING. I WAS JUST FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I NOW FEEL I MUST REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES IN THE BACK AND THE SPARE AS A MATTER OF SAFETY. WHO DO I ADDRESS THIS TO. I APPEARS THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUITE TO MAKE THE TIRE MANUFACTURE REPLACE OR PAY FOR THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES. MY TIRES HAVE ONLY 10,000 MILES ON THEM AND A LOT OF TREAD. I ALSO TOOK PICTURES OF THE TIRE BEFORE, AND THE ONE NOW TO DOCUMENT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369549
Incident
Dec 5, 2010
Mileage
13,200 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 30, 2006

2003 ADIRONDACK TRAVEL TRAILER, MODEL 30FB. WE NOTICED SAW DUST APPEARING ON THE COUNTER TOPS, STOVE AND SINK AREA. I NOTICED THAT THE TV SHELF ABOVE THE KITCHEN TABLE WAS BROKEN AND DINING BOOTH BRACE AND COUNTER HAD SHIFTED. IN ADDITION, CABINET HAD COME AWAY FROM THE FLOOR. THE SKID BARS SUSTAINED A SMALL BEND OR SCUFF. THERE WAS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT SOMETHING HAD BEEN HIT WITH ANY FORCE, CERTAINLY NOT WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO CAUSE THIS SORT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRAME. IF A COLLISION HAD ACTUALLY OCCURRED THE SKID BARS WOULD HAVE BEEN BE COMPLETELY CRUSHED, AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHER SIGNS OF DAMAGE ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE TWO-INCH BALL 5,000 LB HITCH COUPLER THAT WAS ON OUR TRAILER AND CONTINUED INTO A FRAME THAT WAS NOT DESIGNED OR INTENDED TO SUPPORT A 30-FOOT TRAILER THAT HAS A GVWR OF 6,000 LBS. THE WEIGHT PUT TOO MUCH STRAIN ON THE CENTRE OF THE TRAILER, WHERE THE FRAME HAS BEEN WEAKENED BY THE DESIGN OF THE AXLE CLEARANCE. THIS PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY AGGRAVATED BY THE TANDEM AXLES, PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE FRAME DURING TURNING MANEUVERS. THE DESIGN LIMIT WAS BEING PUSHED TOO FAR, FROM THE 5,000 LB COUPLER TO A FRAME THAT DID NOT SEEM CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF A 30-FOOT TRAILER. I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF OUR TRAILER. UNLESS THE FRAME WERE SIGNIFICANT REINFORCED AND FOUND TO BE STRENGTHENED SUFFICIENTLY I WOULD NOT BE CONFIDENT THAT THE PROBLEMS WOULD NOT RECUR. NOTWITHSTANDING ALL OF THE ABOVE, TRAILERS SHOULD BE RUGGED ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE NORMAL SEASONAL USE FOR WHICH THEY WERE INTENDED. TRAILERS SHOULD NOT BE SO DELICATE THAT A SMALL SCRAPE ON A SKID BAR CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. I WAS POSSIBLY VERY LUCKILY TO NOTICE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE ANOTHER EXTENDED TRIP AS THIS PROBLEM COULD GO UNCHECKED, AND THE TRAILER COULD VERY WELL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BEING OUT OF CONTROL AND HAVE LIFE THREATENING RESULTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10149055
Incident
Nov 15, 2005
Mileage
4,000 mi
Body & structureTires & wheels
Filed Apr 20, 2004

TRAILER WAS MANUFACTURED WITH SOFT COPPER PROPANE LINES INSIDE THE WHEEL WELD. VEHICLE SUFFERED A BLOW OUT, WHICH BLEW OUT THE REFRIGERATOR, HEAT AND WATER HEATER. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER TOLD HIM IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. *AK THE TIRE BLEWOUT WHEN THE CAP CAME OFF OF THE WHEEL. *SC THE TIRE BLEW OUT BECAUSE IT COULD NOT HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF THE RV. *JB

NHTSA ID
10059193
Incident
Oct 14, 2003
Mileage
3,500 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dutchmen Classic by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003Viewing310—
2002010—
2001010—

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.