2021 Airstream Basecamp
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 2021 Airstream Basecamp. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
6 recalls name the 2021 Airstream Basecamp. Newest first.
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Basecamp 20X travel trailers. The spare tire carrier bracket may experience metal fatigue and break, allowing the spare tire to detach from the trailer.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A detached spare tire may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the bracket, and replace and install additional support, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2024. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 ext. 7401 or 7411.
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2021-2023 16' Basecamp and 20' Basecamp travel trailers manufactured without an air conditioner. The 12-gauge wire for future air conditioner installation was not properly terminated inside the junction box.
Risk and remedy
Risk
An improperly terminated wire can cause an electrical shock, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the wire from the circuit breaker and power converter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 ext. 7401 or 7411.
Airstream Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Basecamp, Bambi, Atlas, and Interstate travel trailers, equipped with certain SDS2 2-Burner Drop-in Cooktops. The internal aluminum burner tubes that connect to the gas valves may fracture and cause a gas leak.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a regulator support bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 29, 2023. Owners may contact Airstream Customer Service at 877-596-6111 (Travel Trailer ext. 7491) or (Touring Coach ext. 7401).
Airstream Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Basecamp 16, and 2021-2022 Basecamp 20 travel trailers. The adhesive bond between the glass and metal frame of the entry door window can fail, causing the glass to separate from the frame.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A window glass that detaches from the trailer can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy
Dealers will test the windows and replace, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2023. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 ext. 7401 or 7411. This recall is an expansion of recall number 20V-349.
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Basecamp, Bambi, Atlas, Interstate, and Interstate 19 travel trailers equipped with certain 2-burner cooktops. The burner control valves may become damaged, causing a gas leak.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A gas leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the cooktop, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 ext. 7401 or 7411.
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2021 Basecamp 16 trailers. The information printed on the Federal Certification and Tire Placard is 255/55R18 - 50 PSI, when the correct information is ST225/75R15E - 80 PSI. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If inflated per printed information the tires could be underinflated, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Airstream will notify owners, and dealers and will install corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 ext. 7401 or 7411.
Owner complaints
5 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Structure · Structure › Body · Unknown or other
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…
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)
- Equipment · Visibility
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…
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.
- Visibility › Glass, side/rear
See attached document for complaint
- 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…
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).
- 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…
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.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10222793In certain model year 2021 & 2022 Basecamp 20 travel trailers, the battery box lid gasket was not installed. In certain situations, the batteries may have the potential of outgassing, and without the gasket, the gases may enter the living area of the trailer.
- 10213176This newsletter provides information concerning filiform corrosion and the steps taken to neutralize it.
- 10211715This article discussed tire care and maintenance. It explains the meaning of nomenclature on the tire sidewall (i.e. the 4 digit date code, load range, and max load information.
- 10210436It has come to Dexters attention that axles using the Nev-R-Lube bearing package have had on occasion electric brakes locking up when coming out of a complete stop. This brake lock up may be due to the hub-drum having an out of round condition. If the travel trailer was manufactured between January and May of 2021, and is experiencing a brake lock-up condition.
- 10207841The newsletter provides process and tips to properly winterize Airstream travel trailers.
- 10202667Certain Basecamps trailers may not have been properly high-pot tested. TSB 189 provides detailed instruction on how to properly complete a high-pot test.
- 10202666certain scenarios on model year 2020-2022 Airstream Basecamp 16' & 20' the solar rocak guards 1/4 turn fastener is not locking properly into the rubber receptacle. The fastener should fit tight and not be loosely attached.
- 10199203It has come to Airstreams attention that the fresh water tank sensor on model year 2021 Basecamp 20' is not reading the correct percentage due to the sensor pad not being cut to the correct size. The tank used on the Basecamp 20 is the same tank used in our Bambi travel trailer. The tank can hold up to 27 gallons, however we are only able to use 23 gallons, therefore if the sensor is installed too low it will still show a percentage of usable water remaining but it cannot be pumped from the tank due to the pick up tube location. By replacing the sensor pad and installing it in the correct location the monitor will show the amount of usable water rather then the tank capacity.
- 10199200The service bulletin affects model year 2021 Basecamp 20' units which do not have sufficient air flow exiting the furnace through the furnace ducts. The how-to explains the remedy to correct the airflow issue.
- 10181840This newsletter provides detailed instructions regarding winterization of Airstream travel trailers and motorhomes.
- 10180785This issue of the newsletter provides information about the optional lithium battery package Airstream is offering on the 2021 my travel trailers. There is also information of what is needed to upgrade a travel trailer that was manufactured prior to the 2021 model year.
- 10180784This issue of the newsletter provides information about the optional lithium battery package Airstream is offering on the 2021 my travel trailers. There is also information of what is needed to upgrade a travel trailer that was manufactured prior to the 2021 model year.
Every Airstream Basecamp model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.