National RV Dolphin Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 36 owner complaints across 21 model years of the National RV Dolphin (1978–2008). The most-complained-about year is 2003.

Pick your National RV Dolphin model year

• 1978
• 1979
• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008

What National RV Dolphin owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA. The 2003 model year has the most, with 9.

• Service brakes, hydraulic5
• Exterior lighting4
• Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2
• Electrical system2
• Tires: sidewall2
• Service brakes, hydraulic: caliper2
• Service brakes, hydraulic: pads2
• Fuel system, gasoline: filler pipe and cap1

All National RV Dolphin recalls (6)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a National RV Dolphin, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Exterior lighting

   NHTSA 07V456000 Reported September 27, 2007 1,150 vehicles potentially affected NATIONAL RV, INC.

   Certain motor homes fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, 'lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment'" certain front and rear side marker lights were not installed on the affected units.

   Remedy: Dealers will install the missing side marker lights free of charge. The recall began on november 8, 2007. Owners may contact national rv at 1-800-999-7260. The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA), an…

   Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008

2. Recreational vehicle/trailer (equipment)

   NHTSA 07V230000 Reported June 4, 2007 21,326 vehicles potentially affected NATIONAL RV, INC.

   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.

   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…

   Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

3. Delivery (fuel system)

   NHTSA 06V337000 Reported September 7, 2006 1,324 vehicles potentially affected NATIONAL RV, INC.

   Certain motor homes were not equipped with fuel fill ground cables.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a fuel fill ground cables free of charge. The recall began on october 27, 2006. Owners may contact national rv at 951-436-3000. The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA), an agency…

   Model years: 2006, 2007

4. Lamp (service brakes)

   NHTSA 03V059000 Reported February 21, 2003 2,761 vehicles potentially affected NATIONAL RV INC.

   Certain motor home chassis fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." the brake system warning indicator may not function as required by standard.

   Remedy: Dealers will reposition a light bult from one socket to another, and reattach a wire from one connector to another. Owner notification began september 2, 2003. Owners should contact national rv at 1-800-439-3653. The…

   Model years: 2001, 2002

5. Axle assembly (power train)

   NHTSA 91V060000 Reported April 12, 1991 8,000 vehicles potentially affected NATIONAL RV, INC.

   Rear axle bearings may fail due to a bending moment created by the aftermarket dual rear wheels from a variety of factors and especially when overloaded. Failure of the bearings create stresses on the rear axle, resulting in the breakage of the axle.

   Remedy: Replace rear axle assemblies with full-floating rear axle assemblies.

   Model years: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

6. Rim (wheels)

   NHTSA 86V154000 Reported November 19, 1986 1,692 vehicles potentially affected NATIONAL RV, INC.

   Dual rear wheels may have pin hole leaks and cracks around the old valve stem hole that had been welded. Consequence of defect: driving with the inner dual rear wheels flat could cause a blowout, and possible wheel bearing or axle failure.

   Remedy: Replace defective wheels.

   Model years: 1985

Other National RV models

• National RV31 complaints
• Sea Breeze21 complaints
• Seabreeze10 complaints
• Tropi-Cal10 complaints
• Marlin9 complaints
• Rage'n7 complaints
• Tradewinds7 complaints
• Surfside6 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.