NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Airstream 396XL Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Airstream 396XL has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Airstream dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Airstream 396XL. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2002 Airstream 396XL owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2002 Airstream 396XL, describing incidents dated February 7, 2007.

Most-cited components

Equipment 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10253340 · Filed December 31, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AIRSTREAM 396XL RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NDR1062. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY. HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF AMMONIA AND NOTICED A YELLOW RESIDUE LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THROUGH ONLINE…

Read the full complaint

AIRSTREAM/WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

NHTSA #02V247000 · Structure · NHTSA notice

Reported September 13, 2002 · AIRSTREAM, INC.

Potentially affected: 149 vehicles

Airstream campaign 128 · Owners notified September 25, 2002 · Vehicles built June 1, 1999 – January 31, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN DIESEL MOTOR HOMES, WHEN THE UNIT IS FULLY LOADED WITH FUEL, FLUIDS, AND PASSENGERS, THE FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) COULD BE EXCEEDED. FURTHERMORE, THE UNIT MAY HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE FRONT AXLE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION THAT COULD RESULT IN AN OVERLOAD CONDITION ON THE FRONT TIRE OF THE MOTOR HOME.

Safety consequence

THIS OVERLOAD CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE FRONT TIRE CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTOR HOME, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A POPPET KIT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADDED WIDTH OF THE NEW FRONT TIRES. THIS REMEDY WILL INCREASE THE FRONT GAWR. A NEW SET OF VEHICLE WEIGHT LABELS WILL BE ISSUED TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 25, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AIRSTREAM AT 1-937-596-6111, EXT. 7418 OR 7400.

Notes

ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2002 Airstream 396XL. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Airstream 396XL.

Equipment

ODI #10253340

Incident: February 7, 2007 · Filed: December 31, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AIRSTREAM 396XL RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NDR1062. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY. HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF AMMONIA AND NOTICED A YELLOW RESIDUE LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E076000(EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE DOMETIC CUSTOMER CENTER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL KIT; HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COOLING MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WOULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE ADDRESSED IN THE SAFETY DEFECT. A NEW REFRIGERATOR WAS PURCHASED. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. UPDATED 02/09/09. *JB

Other Airstream 396XL model years

Check your 2002 Airstream 396XL VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Airstream 396XL at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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