AIRSTREAM Base Camp Complaints

17 consumer complaints on file.

#11772595October 21, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
While trailering the camper under normal road conditions, the front of the camper started to separate from the frame of the trailer. After a trip to [XXX] last summer(2025), I noticed that the bottom front trim and caulking was separating from the camper wall above. I re-caulked the area, thinking it was just a failed caulk seal. This fall, I noticed that the caulk was again cracked. When we took it to XXX Airstream Adventures(XXX) for maintenance this fall, they told us of the structural damage and sent us a video that showed the problem. The walls and floor or the camper do not appear to be adequately attached to the frame of the trailer. The failure of the attachment to the trailer could lead to detachment while under way. I did an internet search and found that this defect is not unique, in 2 other posts on the Facebook Basecamp Forum, others had experienced the same problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736513May 8, 2026
VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT
The contact owns a 2021 Airstream Basecamp. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V932000 (Visibility, Equipment). The contact stated that while parked in storage, he observed the rear entry glass window was shattered but was still holding together. The contact added that when he opened the rear entry door the glass window separated and fell to the floor shattering in pieces. The contact stated that he took pictures of the failure and sent it to a dealer where they advised him the the failure was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised him to contact a dealer to have the recall repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11576525March 11, 2024
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
See attached document for complaint
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552215October 27, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The bracket holding the spare tire, which hangs underneath the travel trailer, broke. The spare tire fell onto the road while traveling.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11524213May 28, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The positive wire attaching to the outside of the battery box shorted against the mounting bolt, creating burn marks on the wire, the nut, the bolt and the insulator. This was discovered during an upgrade. It was hidden from sight by the side of the battery box and appears to have come from the factory this way. It appears that the wire spun during installation, creating a short.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11507073February 13, 2023
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:120/240 VAC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:RECEPTACLE, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:120/240 VAC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2020 Air Stream Base Camp. The contact stated that while hauling the trailer, the trailer was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the three-foot cord loosened and melted the plug and cord. The contact stated that as a result of the failure, the hot water heater and furnace combo experienced an electrical short. The cord lost voltage and melted a hole in the receptacle. There were no warning lights illuminated. An independent mechanic noticed the plug attached to the receptacle was damaged. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the furnace and hot water heater combo was replaced. The manufacturer was notified by email, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11495595December 1, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The side door access window failed while driving down the interstate at the posted speed limit of 70 mph. The failure occurred without warning. The entire window detached from the door and flew onto the roadway. It shattered and was run over by a semi-tractor trailer. The safety of other drivers was at risk as there was no warning that the window would fail. The window area of the vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer and is currently in the process of being replaced. This is a known issue on older Airstream Basecamps (model years 2017 - 2018).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11456354March 11, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
The passenger side window that is part of the door started to come off. I was able to catch it coming loose in time to prevent it from coming completely loose. A Google search reveals that this is not an uncommon occurrence with the airstream basecamp models. There are several reports online from previous owners. We were lucky that the window didn’t come off during transit! I’ve called airstream dealer in Seattle several times but customer service won’t return my calls.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11444261December 18, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am writing about a 2021 Airstream Basecamp X AC unit. The bolts that hold the AC unit on top of the trailer stripped out of whatever was holding the unit on top of the trailer. Fortunately the trailer only suffered water damage during a rain storm but I understand that the unit was no longer secured to the roof and other owners have actually experienced the unit falling off the roof in transit. Because we didn't know this happened until the rainstorm and subsequent leak, it is certain we were unknowingly driving the vehicle on the road with an unsecured AC unit. Apparently there has been a recall for this problem on earlier models of the Basecamp and Airstream was to alter their production to address it. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 21V-195. It seems the problem has not been addressed in production. Clearly, if one of these units falls off in transit, it can cause a cataclysmic accident. Airstream has provided the local dealer with a kit of some sort to reinstall the unit but that doesn't speak to other units that have been manufactured since the recall date like ours that could experience the same problem. Because we were outside the recall dates, we were not informed about this and clearly there was the expectation by the NHTSA that Airstream corrected the problem in their manufacturing and installation process. Given what happened to our trailer, it would seem the problem has not been addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418019May 21, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
The Air Stream Basecamp rock guard shield Southco fasteners have repeatedly failed and dropped out while traveling. We had a full replacement of all the Southco fasteners for the three rock guard shields installed on our 2020 Air Stream basecamp X trailer while we were traveling July 2020. Replacement service was handled under warranty by an Air Stream service department. While on a May 2021 trip, we again had a Southco fastener drop out of a rock shield. We only notice the fasteners are missing when we stop for gas, not while in transit. We are working with with the local Air Stream service department to replace the current missing fastener, again under warranty. It would be extremely dangerous if both of the Southco rock guard fasteners fall out of a shield while driving down the road with the trailer. Nothing would stop the shield from swinging open, breaking off due to wind pressure, and hitting other vehicles, causing serious injury and expensive repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11042958November 3, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SIDE DOOR GLAZING BLEW OFF TRAILER ON I-75 FLORIDA. VEHICLE AND TRAILER SPEED AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE VIN HAS NO INFO. NO NONE REASON FOR FAILURE. *DT *TP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478818October 6, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT A NEW 2008 AIRSTREAM BASECAMP WITH THE 3000LB AXLE FROM AN AIRSTREAM DEALER IN 2010. IT IS CURRENTLY STILL NEW AND HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED AND USED BECAUSE WHILE STILL AT THE DEALER FOR OTHER WARRANTY WORK, IT HAD THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: SIDEWALLS HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE TOP CAP TOP CAP HAS 2-4 IN CRACKS IN NUMEROUS PLACES OF THE TOP THE DOOR DOWN LINE UP LEAVING A 1" SPACE AT THE BOTTOM AND .5" ON THE TOP (IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE DAYLIGHT THROUGH HE GAB) THE DOOR ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE AND THE RODE THAT LOOKS THE DOOR TOP AND BOTTOM KEEPS BENDING I WAS AMAZED TO HAVE ALL THESE ISSUES WITH A BRAND NEW UNIT BEFORE IT WAS EVER USED, THEN AS I WATCHED THE DEALER PULL HE TRAILER, I NOTICE THAT THE ENTIRE UNIT WAS LACKING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. WHILE THE UNIT WAS MOVING, THE BACK DOOR WHERE MOVING VERTICALLY AGAINST EACH OTHER AND THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TRAILER WERE SHAKING, SWING SIDE TO SIDE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL THOSE PROBLEMS MADE SENSE. CURRENTLY THE UNIT IS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND SAFE. IS THAT AN ISOLATED MANUFACTURING ISSUE RELATED TO THE FABRICATION OF MY TRAILER OR A OVERALL DESIGN FLAW? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274046June 16, 2009
SUSPENSION
NOTE: I USED A GENERIC AIRSTREAM TRAILER FOR THE PULL-DOWN MENU, AS YOU DO NOT HAVE A PULL-DOWN FOR "OTHER." THE TRAILER IN ? IS A CHALET RV LTW. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CHALET RV: CHALET RV INC. 124 41ST AVE SE ALBANY, OR 97322 VOICE: 541-791-4610 FAX: 541-791-4618 E-MAIL: [email protected] ISSUE: BOTH SPRINGS FAILED ON A CHALET RV LTW CAMP TRAILER WITH TRAIL BOSS OFF-ROAD PACKAGE. LFT SIDE SPRING FAILURE 8/29/08. RT SIDE SPRING FAILURE 5/23/09. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. BOTH SEMI-ELIPTIC SPRINGS FAILED AT THE SAME POINT, WHERE THE 1ST SUPPLEMENTAL LEAF MEETS THE PRIMARY LEAF, AND BOTH AT THE FRONT (FIXED) END. THESE FAILURE CAUSED THE AXLE TO ROTATE BACKWARDS AGAINST THE FLEXIBLE SHACKLE, MIS-LOCATING THE AXLE AND LEADING TO LOSS OF STABILITY. CONVERSATIONS WITH DEXTER AXLE INDICATE THAT THE AXLE/SPRING ASSEMBLY WAS MODIFIED - PROBABLY BY CHALET - AND IS NOT IN ACCORD WITH ESTABLISHED ENGINEERING PRACTICE. THUS FAR, CHALET RV HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO EMAILED CORRESPONDENCE. === TO: CHALET RV ON 06/05/09: DEAR SIRS: I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEXTERAXLE OVER THE TWO SPRING FAILURES OF MY CHALET LTW WITH THE TRAIL BOSS OFF-ROAD PACKAGE, VIN [XXX] PURCHASED FROM HOLIDAY TRAVEL TRAILER SALES OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM ON 08/01/08. BOTH OF THE ORIG. CHALET-PROVIDED SPRINGS HAVE FAILED IN SVC WITHIN THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH RICK KAPSA (574-296-7386) PRODUCT MGR AT DEXTER REVEALED THAT THEIR 3500 LB AXLE WAS SHIPPED FROM DEXTER WITH TWO EACH 26" 1500 LB SPRINGS IN A SPRING-UNDER-AXLE CONFIGURATION. SOMEONE, PERHAPS CHALET RV, REMOVED THE 26" 1500 LB SPRINGS AND REPLACED THEM WITH AN UNKNOWN CAPACITY 21" SPRING PAIR AND CHANGED THE CONFIGURATION TO SPRING-OVER-AXLE. AS THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN (A MISS-APPLICATION OF THE SPRINGS) IN THE ORIGINAL PRODUCT FROM CHALET RV THESE MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOW DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269352May 19, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES:SIDEWALL
HAULMARK TRAILER WITH HI-RUN LQ229 TIRES SIZE 205/75/D15 TIRES WORE OUT IN LESS THAN 3000 MILES. ALTHOUGH INFLATED PROPERLY A LARGE BUBBLE DEVELOPED ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE. THE BUBBLE BURST SOON AFTER DEVELOPING BUT THE TIRE STILL HELD AIR. BOTH TIRES WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED TO PREVENT A LIKELY BLOWOUT. CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE TREAD SHOWED THE TIRE THAT DID NOT HAVE THE BUBBLE HAD WORN ALMOST ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BELTS ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TREAD. NOT SURE IF THIS WAS BECAUSE OF TRAILER AXLE ALIGNMENT OR INTERNAL DEFECT OF THE TIRE. MAKE AND MODEL OF TRAILER AND TIRE ARE NOT ON ANY OF THE LISTS SO I HAD TO CHOOSE SOMETHING. TRAILER IS A HAULMARK 6X12 CARGO SINGLE AXLE. TIRE IS HI-RUN LQ229 205/75D15. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257266February 2, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE RACKANDROLL ?KD78? TRAILER I BOUGHT IN MAR08 HAS SUFFERED TONGUE FAILURE DESPITE BEING OPERATED WITHIN THE LOAD RATING. THE TRAILER WAS A NEW MODEL FOR 08, A LARGER VERSION OF THE ?KD? TRAILER. THEY DIFFER ONLY IN WIDTH, THE TWO TRAILERS SHARE ALL MAIN PARTS EXCEPT LATERAL MEMBERS. I ORDERED THE OPTIONAL HEAVY-DUTY SUSPENSION, WHICH RAISES THE LOAD CAPACITY TO 300 LBS (PER THE OWNERS MANUAL). WHEN I FIRST STARTED TO LOAD THE TRAILER FOR USE, I NOTICED THAT THE SUSPENSION SEEMED TO STRUGGLE TO SUPPORT THIS LOAD. THE TRAILER USES A COIL-OVER SUSPENSION SYSTEM, WHICH CONSISTS OF ONE SHOCK ABSORBER WITHIN A SPRING ON EACH SIDE. BOTH THE STANDARD AND HD SHOCK USE A PROGRESSIVELY WOUND SPRING. THE SMALLER SPRING COILS GO INTO ?COIL BIND? WITH A 300 LB LOAD, MEANING THOSE COILS ARE COMPRESSED TOGETHER DESPITE A PROPERLY DISTRIBUTED LOAD (BETWEEN THE TONGUE & WHEELS). WHEN I CALLED RACKANDROLL, THEY INSISTED THEIR LOAD RATING WAS CORRECT, SO I ASKED FOR THE CORRECT LOAD CAPACITY STICKER FOR MY SHOCKS, BUT THEY WERE EVASIVE. THIS BACK-AND-FORTH DISCUSSION WENT ON FOR A WHILE, AND AFTER NO PROGRESS, I BEGAN EMAILING INSTEAD OF CALLING, TO DOCUMENT THE EVENTS. THE RATING STATED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT EVEN MAKE SENSE, AS IT DOESN?T ACCOUNT FOR THE GREATER WEIGHT OF THE WIDER TRAILER, EVEN WITH THE BASE SHOCKS. THE RATING FOR BOTH KD & KD78 IS A GVWR OF 400 LBS AND A LOAD CAPACITY OF 250 LBS. BUT THE KD78 WEIGHS MORE, AND WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT TO RACKANDROLL, THEY OFFERED TO REFUND MY MONEY. BUT AGAIN I COULD NOT GET THEM TO FOLLOW THROUGH. AS I WAS PUTTING THE TRAILER AWAY FOR THE WINTER, I FOUND THE TRAILER TONGUE WOULD NO LONGER TELESCOPE BACK INTO THE REAR SECTION FOR STORAGE. REMOVING THE TONGUE REVEALED A SHARP ?KINK? IN IT WHERE IT PASSED INSIDE THE LARGER, REAR SECTION. I AGAIN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CLAIMED THEY WOULD TAKE THE TRAILER BACK AND REFUND ME, BUT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THEM TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OR HONOR THEIR REFUND COMMITMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251894December 15, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:MARKINGS
I EXPERIENCED A TIRE FAILURE ON 9/1/08 ON HWY 44 IN MO. THE TIRE WAS ON A TRAILER PURCHASED 3/20/08. THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD BEEN CHECKED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AS IT HAD BEEN ON THE DAY OF THE TRIP ORIGIN. TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS ADJUSTED ON THE DAY OF DEPARTURE, BUT NO AIR NEEDED TO BE ADDED ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE. THE TRAILER IS TYPICALLY LOADED TO CAPACITY, SO I AM CAREFUL TO MONITOR TIRE PRESSURE (40 PSI PER THE OWNERS MANUAL). WHEN THE TIRE DEFLATED, IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE. THE FAILED TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE DEFORMED AFTER OVERHEATING, BUT AS NOT PUNCTURED. I CONTACTED THE TRAILER MAKER, AND THEY IMMEDIATELY OFFERED TO SEND A SET OF THE OPTIONAL WHEELS OFFERED FOR THE TRAILER, AND I WAS TO RETURN THE ORIGINALS. THE SPARE TIRE I HAD INSTALLED AT THE TIRE FAILURE WAS RETAINED, AND IT WAS REINSTALLED ON THE TRAILER AS THE SPARE. AFTER NOTICING THAT THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE STATED THAT THE TIRE SHOULD BE MOUNTED ON A WIDER RIM, I QUESTIONED THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS. I ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE TIRE DOESN'T SEEM TO CONFORM TO DOT TIRE LABELING REQUIREMENTS IN THAT THERE IS NO DATE OF MANUFACTURE CODE. HOWEVER, BOTH OF MY CONCERNS WERE DISMISSED. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT THE TUBE VALVE STEM DOES NOT SEEM COMPATIBLE WITH THE WHEEL RIM. THE OPENING APPEARS INTENDED FOR USE WITH A SPECIAL VALVE STEM, NOT THE THREADED METAL STEM THE TUBE HAS, WHICH APPEARS TOO SMALL FOR THE OPENING. A NUT IS THREADED ONTO THE STEM, BUT THE MISFIT IS STILL OBVIOUS. I ACTUALLY NOTIFIED THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER OF THIS WHEN I FIRST RECEIVED THE TRAILER, AS ONE OF THE THREE WHEELS (ONE IS A SPARE) ARRIVED WITH THE STEM OF THE TUBE STICKING OUT AT AN ANGLE, INDICATING THE TUBE WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED ON THE RIM DURING THE MOUNTING OF THE TIRE. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE WHEEL TO A MOTORCYCLE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE REMOUNTED, WHICH I DID. A FRIEND OF MINE PURCHASED A 'KD65' TRAILER LATER IN THE YEAR, AND ONE OF HIS THREE WHEELS WAS DELIVERED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242481September 16, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AIRSTREAM CLASSIC LIMITED (NA). THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES, SIZE 225/75R/15 (NA). ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE TREAD BELT SEPARATION, WHICH RESULTED FROM BOTH THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE FOUR DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REIMBURSE THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 12-04-08 *BF AIR WAS SEEPING INTO THE LINER OF THE TIRE. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS NOTICED ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE WHICH WAS DELAMINATING. THE THIRD TIRE FAILURE WAS INSTANT BLOWOUT. UPDATED 12/10/08.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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