AI DamageAirstream Sprinter Westfalia: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Airstream Sprinter Westfalia across 1 model years: 6 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 17% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 17% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
2005 airstream westfalia sprinter 2500 conversion van this vehicle is extremely unstable at highway speeds with the presence of cross winds or large trucks passing by. This problem existed from the very beginning when I purchased the van but only on windy days and/or highway speeds.
Running boards are falling off. They are made of solid aluminum and attached to the body with #12 self-drilling sheet metal screws. One of the running boards came off when I stepped on it to go somewhere. Out of the 16 screws (8 per running board), only two were tight, and I was able to tighten two more.
Possible fire and electrocution hazards due to an electrical outlet. This outlet is located behind the right-rear back door. It is about one foot below the water connector plug for the outdoor shower. All the mentioned equipment was built and sold by airstream. 1.
Supply voltage was measured in the airstream on two of these dates and found to be 120 volts ac (within specification). Tappan's written requirements specify a 15a line, but the airstream's circuit breaker is rated for only 13 amps. Note that airstream supplied the circuit breaker, oven and wiring in the new vehicle.
My wife and I bought a 2005 airstream westfalia 18 (dodge sprinter-based) camper conversion van in march of this year. After getting the unit home and giving it a once-over that included inflating the tires to the recommended pressures, we left upstate ny for a trip south through pa, to washington dc and then on to…
Wheel hub tore valve stem from tire ears stem valve from tire and lets out the air. The vehicle passenger side front tire went flat. The consumer believed that this failure was caused by the rotation of the wheel cover which was putting pressure on the chrome valve stem extender causing it to tear away from the tire.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.