RoadVitals

1998 Dutchmen Trailer

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 Jun 9, 2011
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 Jan 5, 2004
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 1998 Dutchmen Trailer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and interior & seats 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

  • Tires & wheels266.7%
  • Interior & seats133.3%

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
04V015000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE

Jan 5, 2004
21,508 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRAVELTRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SUBURBAN FURNACES, THE FURNACE EXHAUST VENT MAY NOT BE PRESENT.
The risk: WHEN THE FURNACE IS IN USE THIS COULD ALLOW CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES TO VENT INTO THE TRAILER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE PASSENGERS.
The remedy: OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE EXHAUST VENT AND FOR HOT EXHAUST AIR ESCAPING FROM THE FURNACE EXHAUST. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DUTCHMEN AT 1-219-534-1224.
DUTCHMEN MANUFACTURING, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 9, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DUTCHMAN EXPRESS. THE TIRES WERE COOPER DISCOVERER LOAD RANGE E, THE TIRE SIZE WAS 225/75/R16, AND THE DOT#UE1LC5M0309. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. HE DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING ON THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. THE FIVE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SEND THEM THE OLD TIRES AND THEY WOULD WORK WITH HIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/27/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RV ORIGINALLY CAME WITH GENERAL TIRES LOAD RANGE D WHICH HE REPLACED WITH COOPER LOAD RANGE D N 2005. UPDATED 08/01/11

NHTSA ID
10405741
Incident
Jun 8, 2011
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 3, 2005

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1998 DUTCHMEN 'FOUR WINDS' TRAVEL TRAILER WITH VIN: [XXX]. THE LIGHTS IN THE TRAILER ARE GETTING TOO HOT, IN FACT THE BULBS ARE MELTING THE PLASTIC OF THE LIGHT LENSES. I CHECKED WITH THE MFGR TO MAKE SURE THE PROPER BULBS/FIXTURES WERE PRESENT AND THEY WERE. THE MFGR SUGGESTS USING LOWER WATTAGE BULBS, BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SINCE THE ONLY LOWER WATTAGE BULBS THAT FIT DO NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING. THE BULB CALLED FOR IS A TYPE 904. I FEEL IF THESE LIGHTS ARE LEFT ON THERE COULD BE A FIRE OR MELTING PLASTIC DRIPPING AND CAUSING SEVERE BURNS. THANK YOU. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10131446
Incident
Jul 4, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 17, 2005

THE TRAILER STARTED SWAYING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRES AND DRIVE TO THE DEALER. CARLISLE 235/85R16, DOT 3E0R2403. *AK THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO

NHTSA ID
10115364
Incident
Mar 17, 2005

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dutchmen Trailer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
20041810—
2003220—
2002120—
2001010—
2000110—
1999210—
1998Viewing310—
1997110—
1996010—
1995610—
1992100—

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.