RoadVitals

2003 National Rv Dolphin LX

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.
2
Latest Apr 22, 2009
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 Jun 4, 2007
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 National Rv Dolphin LX, most frequently naming the brakes category. 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

  • Brakes2100.0%

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
07V230000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Jun 4, 2007
21,326 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
The risk: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: NATIONAL RV WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST OWNERS IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR NATIONAL RV AT 1-800-999-7260, EXT. 4335. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA), AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT NATIONAL RV, INC. AND ITS HOLDING COMPANY, NATIONAL RV HOLDINGS, INC., HAVE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. NHTSA HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT OWNERS WHO WISH TO PURSUE CLAIMS RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THEIR NATIONAL RV VEHICLES MAY FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM WITH THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE DIVISION. THE CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS MATTER IS 07-17941. THE PROOF OF CLAIM FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE COURT'S WEBSITE WWW.CACB.USCOURTS.GOV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BANKRUPTCY AND ITS PROCEEDINGS MAY ALSO BE FOUND AT WWW.OMNIMGT.COM/NATIONALRV. NATIONAL RV'S PHONE NUMBER IS (951) 943-6007. INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY RECALLS ON NATIONAL RV'S PRODUCTS MAY BE FOUND AT WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV. THE NHTSA WISHES TO ADVISE OWNERS OF RECALLED PRODUCTS THAT, IN THE INTERESTS OF THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC, ALL SAFETY RECALL WORK SHOULD BE PERFORMED ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT.
NATIONAL RV, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Apr 22, 2009

ABS LIGHT CAME ON BRAKES GOT VERY HOT. TOOK M/H TO DEALER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS AND LESS THAN 3 THOUSAND MILES THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED.. DEALER SAYS FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS RUINED AND VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266380
Incident
Apr 12, 2009
Mileage
32,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 14, 2008

I HAVE A 2003 NATIONAL DOLPHIN MOTORHOME WITH APPROXIMATELY 7,342 MILES. I EXPERIENCED THE LEFT REAR BRAKE HEATING UP AROUND APRIL 2007 AND TOOK IT TO A WORKHORSE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND A BRAKE SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THIS MONTH, JULY 2008, WE WERE DRIVING TO A LOCAL PARK AND, WAS TOLD THAT 3 CALIPERS CEASED, AFTER WE LIMPED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER WERE WITH ME WHEN THE BRAKES TIGHTENED UP AND I COULD NOT DRIVE THE MOTORHOME ANY FASTER THAN 35MPH. THEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND SEVERAL TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL BOTTOMED OUT ON THE FLOOR CAUSING ME TO ALMOST REAR END SEVERAL VEHICLES. HAD A MOTORCYCLE OR PEDESTRIAN CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY I COULD HAVE STOPPED. TODAY I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3500 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND THAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE "DEFECT". AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH ON WORKHORSE BRAKE PROBLEMS I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED WORKHORSE TO INQUIRE WHAT COULD BE DONE AND WAS ADVISED THE FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVE, BILL O'NEAL, ONLY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FOUND THAT A RECALL CAME OUT IN JANUARY 2005 LISTING SEVERAL VIN NUMBERS IN 2001, 2002, AND 2003 WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT THE NUMBERS STOPPED SHORT OF MY VIN NUMBER IN 2003. THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPT MANAGER TOLD ME I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLS. NOW I HAVE AN OUTLANDISH BILL AND THE MOTORHOME IS STUCK IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS BECAME TOO HOT FOR IT TO BE DRIVEN. I AM VERY ANGRY THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT RECALLED, I'M STUCK WITH A $3500 BILL, AND THAT I ALMOST HAD 2 ACCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE WORKHORSE TO RECALL MY VIN, REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY, STAND GOOD FOR THE CHARGES, AND PERMANENTLY FIX THIS DEFECT SO NO ONE IS INJURED IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234269
Incident
Jul 12, 2008
Mileage
7,342 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

National Rv Dolphin LX by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008010—
2007020—
2006020—
2003Viewing210—
2002020—

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.