By year
Owner complaints about Western vehicles peaked at 51 in 2009
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 1999 to 2026. 2026 runs through October.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints and recalls files. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Make
Western
The complete NHTSA record for Western vehicles: owner complaints, recall campaigns, defect investigations and manufacturer communications, for every model and model year on file.
Most Western recalls are filed by Western RV, part of Daimler Truck.
Owner complaints in the last five years091 on file in all, across 18 models
Recall campaigns360 in five years
Severity index2.2Crash, fire, injury or death per 100 complaints
Investigations241 service bulletins
Components
Steering draws the most owner complaints about Western vehicles, 41% of them
Share of all owner complaints on file, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI.
Models
The Alpine Coach has the most complaints of any Western model
Every Western model with complaints or recalls on file, by complaints. Counts are not rates: NHTSA publishes no sales volumes.
| Model | Model years | Complaints | Severity index | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Coach | 1998 to 2006 | 42 | 2.4 | 21 | 0 |
| Alpine | 1990 to 2007 | 20 | 5.0 | 8 | 6 |
| Alpenlite | 1989 to 2008 | 19 | 0.0 | 21 | 0 |
| Apex | 2006 to 2007 | 8 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Avalanche | 2004 to 2006 | 1 | 0.0 | 6 | 0 |
| Western | 1980 to 2004 | 1 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 |
| RWL Series | 1980 to 1984 | 0 | None | 15 | 0 |
| RWS Series | 1980 to 1984 | 0 | None | 15 | 0 |
| WL Series | 1980 to 1984 | 0 | None | 10 | 0 |
| WS Series | 1980 to 1984 | 0 | None | 10 | 0 |
| RL Series | 1980 to 1984 | 0 | None | 8 | 0 |
| RS Series | 1980 to 1984 | 0 | None | 8 | 0 |
| Dreamer | 1995 to 1999 | 0 | None | 5 | 0 |
| Wilderness | 1989 to 1999 | 0 | None | 5 | 0 |
| Travellite | 1989 to 1990 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| Aspen | 2003 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| Tank Trailers | 1980 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| Western Star | 1989 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Recall counts add campaigns across model years, so a campaign covering three years counts three times.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns listing a Western product
- 08V-005 Jan 9, 2008
On certain motor homes equipped with atwood sealed burner ranges, the range and slide-in burner tubes leading from the gas manifold to the burner…
Equipment · 85 vehicles - 07V-313 Jul 20, 2007
On certain motor homes built with cummins isl cm850 diesel engines, the connecting rod contains a machining defect in the wrist pin bushing of the…
Engine and cooling · 58 vehicles - 07V-121 Mar 21, 2007
Certain motor homes, truck campers, fifth wheel and travel trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerator, manufactured by the dometic…
Equipment · 6,188 vehicles - 06V-272 Jul 26, 2006
On certain fifth wheel trailers equipped with dexter axles, the disc brake caliper mounting bolts may strip
Brakes · 4 vehicles - 05V-435 Sep 26, 2005
On certain fifth wheel trailers equipped with tredit wheels, the rims may have poor weld quality and insufficient press fit between the wheel rim…
Wheels · 44 vehicles - 05V-250 Jun 2, 2005
On certain recreational vehicles equipped with vansco vmm 2820 modules, the module may experience a failure of all operational function
Electrical system · 89 vehicles - 05V-230 May 20, 2005
On certain class a motor homes equipped with vehicle systems' aqua-hot and hydro-hot water heaters, which use webasto burner tubes, the burner…
Equipment · 111 vehicles - 04V-372 Jul 27, 2004
On certain recreational vehicles equipped with vansco vmm 2820 modules, the module could experience an incorrect fault indication on its…
Electrical system · 78 vehicles - 04V-035 Jan 28, 2004
On certain motorhomes, an incorrect 250-amp ground fuse was used to protect battery ground
Electrical system · 963 vehicles - 02V-243 Sep 9, 2002
On certain motor homes (36', 38' and 40") built with bosch two-piston pin-slide brake assemblies, the brake calipers can hang-up on any or all wheels
Brakes · 254 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.