NHTSA Complaint #10158299 — 2005 AIRSTREAM SPRINTER WESTFALIA

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 NYC, RETURNING HOME AFTER PUTTING ON ABOUT 1200 MILES. DURING THE TRIP WE NOTICED THAT THE VAN HAD NOTICEABLE BODY ROLL (TO BE EXPECTED FOR A HIGH-TOP CAMPER) BUT THE HANDLING AT SPEED, IN ANY TYPE OR WIND CONDITIONS OR WHEN PASSING OR BEING PASSED BY LARGE VEHICLES, THE VAN WAS UNSTABLE AND DARTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE (AWAY FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE). AT THE ABSOLUTE WORST (CROSSING THE SESQUEHANNA (SP)) ON I-95, THE VAN WAS A FRIGHTENING HANDFUL TO KEEP IN LANE. I HAVE ASKED AIRSTREAM/WESTFALIA/SPRINTER TO PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION THAT SHOWS THE VAN IS PROPERLY EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-ROLL OR SUSPENSION DAMPENING EQUIPMENT FOR A MODIFIED VEHICLE WITH THE HEIGHT INCREASE OF THE CONVERSION. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION THOUGH I HAVE COOPERATED WITH THEIR REQUESTS AND REPORTED THE CONFIGURATION OF MY VEHICLE TO THEM. I FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE/UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE SUSPENSION SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE MANUFACTURER(S). *JB