2005 Airstream SAFARI: complaints, problems and recalls

ON FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2005, WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH CHICAGO, OUR AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILER BRAKES BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY LOCKING WHILE BRAKING. LATER, WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON I-57, BREAK CONTROLLER BEGAN PERIODICALLY REPORTING AN OPEN CIRCUIT AND WHEN THE BREAKS WERE APPLIED, THE CONTROLLER REPORTED SHORT CIRCUIT. WE ARRIVED AT AN AIRSTREAM DEALER WHERE A TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO PERFORM A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRSTREAM BREAK WIRES. AFTER REMOVING THE BREAK DRUMS, THE TECHNICIAN OBSERVED THAT THE THREE METAL CLIPS WHICH HOLD THE TWO WHITE WI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126175 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AIRSTREAM SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON BOTH REAR TIRES IS SEPARATING. HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES ARE 30.5 INCHES HIGH IN DIAMETER, WHEN THEY SHOULD BE 28.5 INCHES. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE, WHICH WAS A SPARE, FAILED AT 2,500 MILES AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE FAILED AT 12,500 MILES. THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR MARATHON (SIZE ST225/75 R15) AND BOTH TIRES HAVE 65 PSI. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES AND THE ACTUAL TIRES IF NEEDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,500. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFO…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196136 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING IN THE HUB OF THE AXLE MAY FAIL, LEADING TO UNEXPECTED SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE AXLE. THIS FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF GREASE IN THE HUB ASSEMBLY OR THE GREASE IN THE HUB MAY BREAK DOWN UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS INTO A LIQUID THAT INADEQUATELY LUBRICATES THE OUTER BEARING. INADEQUATE LUBRICATION OF THE OUTER BEARING CAN BEGIN A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT COULD LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION.

Consequence: SEPARATION OF ONE OR MORE WHEELS FROM THE TRAILER COULD CAUSE THE TRAILER TO HANDLE ERRATICALLY OR GO OUT OF CONTROL. A LOST WHEEL COULD ALSO STRIKE AN ONCOMING OR FOLLOWING VEHICLE CAUSING A CRASH, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OF DEATH TO THOSE INVOLVED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE UNIT AND REMOVE THE WHEELS, INSPECT THE HUBS, INNER AND OUTER BEARINGS, RACES AND GREASE SEALS. IF NECESSARY, REPLACE PARTS AND REPACK THE WHEEL BEARING WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE GREASE AND REINSTALL THE HUB AND WHEELS. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AIRSTREAM AT 1-877-596-6505.

Reported: 2008-07-21 (July 21, 2008)

AIRSTREAM IS RECALLING 4,450 MY 2004-2007 SAFARI, INTERNATIONAL, INTERSTATE, LAND YACHT, CLASSIC, MY 2004-2006 SKYDECK, AND MY 2006 PARKWAY TRAVEL TRAILERS AND MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR 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.

Consequence: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: AIRSTREAM IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 THE OWNER 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 AIRSTREAM AT 1-937-596-6111.

Reported: 2009-05-15 (May 15, 2009)

AIRSTREAM IS RECALLING 2,052 MY 2002-2009 BAMBI, INTERNATIONAL, SAFARI, 75TH ANNIVERSARY, DWR, AND OCEAN BREEZE TRAVEL TRAILERS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE TRAVEL TRAILERS WERE BUILT WITHOUT REAR REFLEX REFLECTORS.

Consequence: INADEQUATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLE INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: AIRSTREAM WILL SEND DEALERS SEPARATE REFLECTORS TO THE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS AND DEALERS ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION. CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF INSTALLING THE REFLECTORS OR TAKING THE TRAVEL TRAILER TO THE NEAREST AIRSTREAM CERTIFIED DEALERS. THIS WILL BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 15, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRSTREAM AT 1-937-596-6849.