2000 National Rv Surfside 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 2000 National Rv Surfside, 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 & structure133.3%
- Brakes133.3%
- Other / unspecified133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BIN ABOVE THE TAIL PIPE WAS MELTED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A HEAT SHIELD BETWEEN THE TAIL PIPE AND THE PLASTIC BIN. THE GENERATOR TAIL PIPE IS ALSO LOCATED UNDER A PLASTIC BIN WITHOUT A HEAT SHIELD *SCC *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NATIONAL RV SURFSIDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE VERY HOT AFTER THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES WERE LOCKING UP AND OVERHEATING. HE WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V084000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF
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
ON 1/27/07 WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON MY 2000 NATIONAL RV SURFSIDE WE STARTED SMELLING PROPANE GAS, AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM THE STOVE. WE CHECKED IT AND FOUND NOTHING, WHEN WE MADE IT TO OUR DESTINATION AS I GOT OFF THE RV I SMELL PROPANE GAS IN THE EXTERIOR SO DECIDED TO CHECK THE TANK. WHEN I OPENED THE PROPANE DEPARTMENT I HEARD THE TANK HISSING, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE A FITTING HAD COME LOOSE, BUT AFTER CHECKING THE TANK WITH SOAP AND WATER I FOUND THAT IT WAS LEAKING FROM A BRACKET WELDED TO THE TANK FOR MOUNTING. ON 01/29/07 CONTACTED NATIONAL RV TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND BASICALLY THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW TANK SINCE IT WAS NOT COVERED ANYMORE. I TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THE REASON THE TANK CRACKED WAS BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS MOUNTED (RIGID) TO THE BRACKETS AND FRAME. THEN THE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED ME TO CALL THE LP TANK MANUFACTURE IN CHICAGO, WITCH I DID TODAY (01/30/07) AND I TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM TANK MANUFACTURE ADVISED ME THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE WAY NATIONAL RV MOUNTED THE TANK (RIGID) WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT ALL ALONG. SHE ALSO SUGGESTED I CALL NATIONAL RV BACK AND TRY TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE TANK AND MOUNTED IN A SAFER WAY, SO I DID. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE OWNER SERVICE SUPERVISOR, HE TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK AND WOULD BE GLAD TO SELL ME A TANK FOR $678.33 + SHIPPING. MY REASON FOR FILING THIS COMPLAINT IS TO HOPEFULLY THIS GETS LOOKED INTO BY NHTSA AND HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND NO LIVES WILL BE LOST. *NM
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 .