- The problem
- Vehicle description: motor homes built on freightliner chassis. The rear floor support leg attachments could fail, causing force to the lpg line fittings and could result in leakage.
- The risk
- Damaged steel lpg lines could result in a leak that could cause a fire or explosion, resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Dealers will re-enforce the rear floor support with a support leg welded to a steel tube. The old legs will be left in place and the new support leg fitted over the floor support tube, and the support welded in place at the floor support tube and the chassis rail. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. 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 1-877-596-6505.
Vehicle safety record
1997 Airstream XC Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 1997 Airstream XC with NHTSA, most often about the equipment & accessories (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash, 1 fire and 2 injuries. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in March 2001 for the frame and members. For comparison, the 1998 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical XC year, for its age
#338 most complained-about 1997 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1997 Airstream XC problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1997 Airstream XC recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Vehicle description: motor homes built on freightliner chassis. The liquid propane gas (lpg) lines can be damaged due to the fresh water tank sagging down, resulting in leakage.
- The risk
- Damaged steel lpg lines could result in a leak that could cause a fire or explosion, resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a steel support bracket that runs fore and aft under the fresh water tank between two chassis cross members below the tank. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. 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 1-877-596-6505.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: motor homes built on freightliner chassis. The anti-lock braking system (abs) rear brake valves can be damaged due to the fresh water tank sagging downward.
- The risk
- This will result in automatic application of the emergency brake causing a rapid deceleration and stopping of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a steel support bracket that runs fore and aft under the fresh water tank between two chassis cross members below the tank. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. 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 1-877-596-6505.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 1997 Airstream XC
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Dt*: the contact stated an after market trailer hitch was purchased. The hitch was installed on a 2003 ford extended van and was attached to a 1997 airstream travel trailer that was 34 feet long and eight and half feet wide. The hitch was suppose to allow the tow vehicle to control the direction of the trailer. However, an inner piece of the hitch failed. The hitch has a spring bar accompanied by a grease zerk. The grease zerk is a hollow bar-like housing about the length of the human finger that has a...
Read the full complaint
knob on top. The grease zerk's knob broke off and allowed the trailer to sway back and forth on the highway. The hitch came apart , and due to the uncontrollable swaying, the contact lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a crash. After colliding with a guard rail the lock pin pulled loose from the hitch and the trailer separated from the vehicle. The trailer stopped by itself with an emergency braking device. The vehicle rolled and came to a stop upside down along the road side. Once the vehicle stopped a fire erupted from the battery compartment area while the passengers were still inside. The passengers escaped with minor injuries. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was taken at the scene. Both the vehicle and trailer were determined totaled by the insurance adjustor. *Ak
Airstream XC: every year compared
All XC years1997 Airstream XC vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Airstream XC | 1 | 3 | D | |
| 1997 Airstream Land Yacht | 2 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 1997 Airstream Excello | 1 | 0 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1997 Airstream XC
Does the 1997 Airstream XC have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 1997 Airstream XC: frame and members (March 2001); hoses, lines / piping, and fittings (March 2001); antilock / traction control / electronic limited slip (March 2001). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Airstream XC?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the equipment & accessories (1).
How many complaints has the 1997 Airstream XC had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 4, 2006 and the latest on January 4, 2006. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1997 Airstream XC a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 26 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Airstream XC year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 1997 Airstream XC has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data