NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 National RV Dolphin Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 National RV Dolphin has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized National RV dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 National RV Dolphin. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1998 National RV Dolphin owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 National RV Dolphin, describing incidents dated March 23, 2004 to November 28, 2006.

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 2 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10392608 · Filed March 23, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NATIONAL DOLPHIN RV MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER SEALING AROUND THE DUAL PANE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WERE SEEPING OUT. THE SEAL WAS BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO FALL OUT. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE WINDOWS WILL NOT SEAL OR REPAIR THE WINDOWS. THE…
ODI #10177786 · Filed January 4, 2007
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET DOLPHIN MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE, THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE NEXT TOWN USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED…
ODI #10144418 · Filed December 4, 2005
DEFECTIVE DUEL PANE WINDOWS, FOUR OF THEM TO BE EXACT, IN MY MOTORHOME. *NM

Read all 4 complaints

REFRIGERATOR/DOMETIC

NHTSA #07V230000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported June 4, 2007 · NATIONAL RV, INC.

Potentially affected: 21,326 vehicles

Owners notified January 17, 2008 · Vehicles built January 1, 1996 – December 31, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 National RV Dolphin. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 National RV Dolphin.

Visibility

ODI #10392608

Incident: March 23, 2004 · Filed: March 23, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NATIONAL DOLPHIN RV MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER SEALING AROUND THE DUAL PANE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WERE SEEPING OUT. THE SEAL WAS BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO FALL OUT. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE WINDOWS WILL NOT SEAL OR REPAIR THE WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDOWS EVEN WHEN THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 1/6/12 *CN

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10177786

Incident: November 28, 2006 · Filed: January 4, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET DOLPHIN MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE, THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE NEXT TOWN USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED THE REPAIR SHOP THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES PER THE MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE 120 MILES HOME WITH NOT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO A CHEVY DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEM. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. SINCE THE INCIDENT. *AK UPDATED 1/29/2007 - *NM

Visibility

ODI #10144418

Incident: October 3, 2005 · Filed: December 4, 2005

DEFECTIVE DUEL PANE WINDOWS, FOUR OF THEM TO BE EXACT, IN MY MOTORHOME. *NM

Structure

ODI #10117503

Incident: March 1, 2005 · Filed: March 30, 2005

1998 NATIONAL RV DOLPHIN FRONT SEATS AND SEAT BELT EQUIPMENT WERE NOT ANCHORED TO THE METAL PLATES AND FRAME OF THE VEHICLE.*MR THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TO THE CONSUMER STRENGTHENING THE ANCHORAGE. *JB

Other National RV Dolphin model years

Check your 1998 National RV Dolphin VIN

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

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