2021 Airstream reviews

This review is for a BaseCamp 20X. This is a copy of the letter I wrote to Airstream/Thor. To whom it may concern. After 2 1/2 years of ownership, 11 service visits, and approximately 7 months total, in the shop, I’ve given up on ever getting the advertised airstream “experience”. (It’s currently in the shop since August 10th). I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in your product and its shocking lack of quality and dependability. This was my retirement gift to myself, always wanting to experience the airstream “life on the road”. After looking at other trailers, the BaseCamp 20X seemed like a perfect model to see how we liked RV traveling. Though we spent much more on the BaseCamp compared to the others we looked at, we believed it would be a better quality trailer and be more dependable on the road. We could not have been more wrong! In the 24 trips we have taken, we have yet to have ONE trip, where everything worked properly and we didn't have to make a list for another trip to service. Here is a brief list of the issues: 1. Heater did not work on our first trip, fixed after the second visit, when I had to tell the dealer that there was a service bulletin. 2. Fresh water tank only is 20 gallons, even though my owners manual and the original information on-line showed 27 gallons. Huge difference! Your customer service said that’s the way it is, no apology of course. Weird how you can misrepresent your product like that with no repercussions. 3. All the interior panels in the bathroom were cracking, and had to be reskinned. 4. Black water flush inoperative. The valve was installed backwards from the factory. 5. LP cover warped, replaced, but is warped again. Looks so cheap. 6. Bathroom floor squeaks loudly, 3 visits to repair. 7. Vinyl floor blistering around same area as squeak around wet bath. 2 repairs. I’m assuming the glue was not good and I will be seeing this again. 8. Gray tank sensor not reading correctly. 2 repairs. 9. Water pump issues. 6 repairs!! They are replacing the pump again on this visit. It’s still in the shop. 10. Propane leak, arrived at campsite with no propane one time! 11. Our last trip, the a/c would barely cool, so we left our trip a day early. They say they can not find anything wrong with it. It has cooled perfectly prior, even in our 110 degree temps in Phoenix. This is a concern, as we travel with 2 dogs and we leave them in the trailer by themselves at times. Not any more, I can’t trust or depend on this trailer to be safe for them. 12. Both rear table tops delaminating. In the shop now for this. Seems to be a problem on other trailer models as well based on a customer I met in service. 13. Approximately a dozen other minor issues that one should not expect at any price. It was easier for me to fix some of them myself, rather than deal with the service department. (For the most part, another huge disappointment) Until now, I just kept patiently thinking we would get everything fixed for good and not have to be in service so much. After over 2 1/2 years that hasn’t happened, and does not seem that it will. At this point we just feel so duped into believing the airstream quality myth. Once an iconic brand, you seem to be just another Thor trailer company now, only shinier and more expensive. I’m nervous every time we take it out, knowing something else will likely fail, possibly ruining a trip. We have loved RV living and will continue our camping adventures. Our plan is to upgrade to a 22-23 ft trailer, originally planning on a 23ft flying cloud. Even after all this, we still thought we wanted to stay with airstream. That last cling to your brand was given up on when I dropped it for the current service visit . Another customer in the shop with a new flying cloud, had all the interior panels delaminating! We would feel stupid to pay another 60-70K to upgrade to a larger airstream, and have the quality issues we have now. I can’t pay for a name again. Show less

We bought the Airstream Bambi 22FB specifically because we could tow it behind our Ford Explorer (GVWR 5000lbs). We put several thousand miles on our Bambi with two adults, two children under 5, and two 40lbs dogs. Towing was easy. The smaller size of the Bambi (and the single axle) makes it very maneuverable - great for tight campsites and turnarounds. The layout was great for our family. Our longest trip was two weeks. Thought we would have trouble with the smaller refrigerator/freezer but it wasn't an issue. The limiting factor for boondocking was actually the greywater storage capacity - four quick showers and some hand & dishwashing over two or three days was enough to fill it up. Our longest boondocking session was three nights, four days, in a national park with no hookups... it was perfect! Show less

Love this RV, easy to drive, drives smooth, can park in a regular parking spot, air ride suspension, easy auto leveling jacks, generator, fully independent, macerator, heated tanks, lithium ion batteries, drives so easy, anyone can drive it. Blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, gust protection built in, leather seats all over, electronic window shades::: you name it, this is luxury on wheels. And 17.4 miles per gallon diesel!! 15.4 towing a car as well. Show less

"This is not your Dad's Airstream" I do like the Atlas. But they could do a much better job with quality control. The Airstream Customer Service is very disappointing. Atlas Airstream issues to date, number one was before we pulled out of the driveway for our first trip. We ordered it prior to the pandemic but with manufacturing delays it took 11 months to arrive. I received an email from Steve Hartmann the regional director for Airstream stating the reasons for the delay was availability of parts and most of all they do not rush the process to ensure they deliver the best possible product. Not sure but my Atlas missed the quality control that he spoke about in his email. 1. Water lines never crimped and came apart at the fittings. Water lines were leaking before we left the driveway on our first trip. It’s evident that these lines were never tested and raised concern if the same person was responsible for the LP gas lines. 2. Plugged into the two USB charging ports on the sofa and out popped a piece of black plastic rendering this unusable. 3. Exterior storage compartment door hits the exhaust pipe when opening and closing. This has resulted in the door finish being chipped off. 4. The USB charging port above the passenger’s seat is also not working 5. As we were driving on Route 95 an alarm sounded and the light flashed on the driver’s console. Managed to pull off the highway to see on the screen that the luggage door was open. Checked the door and it was closed and locked. This alarm continued to sound off at random times all the way home. My wife had to leave her seat to silence the alarm on the multiplex panel. 6. When I went to turn on the battery heater as the temperature was dropping the key just spins 360 degrees. 7. Water pump is extremely loud and vibrates, told this is normal 8. The large cabinet doors are falling off and the hinge screws are coming out. 9. In the help videos it says that a LP quick connect hose is provided, I never received the hose. 10. Wardrobe closet shelf falls from bracket; it was cut to short 12. The canopy when extended is leaning on one side 13. Plastic cap located in water fill compartment is broken 14. Silverware and wardrobe closets open when making turns 16. Door hinge on camper access door coming apart (Photo attached) 17. Exterior coating is cracking where roof meets the rear of the camper (Photo attached) They will need the Atlas for 3-weeks to fix these cracks. 18. Roof seam tape is peeling off (Photo attached) 19. Received recall notice on the emissions 2020 Sprinter Show less

We bought our beautiful Airstream Atlas for as much as some people pay for a house. It was a huge investment. Our experience with Mercedes was excellent, as they had recalls. Airstream was the opposite. When we lost hot water in New Mexico and were to be on the road for a month we called Airstream customer service. We were told to use the public bathrooms (during Covid). This was the first experience. It only got worse once we dropped it off to get the heater fixed. It sat at the dealer for 7 months because Airstream refused to replace the unit ($360.00). I could go on and on but we’ve never had such a terrible service experience. No repair we dropped it of for, even small, was ever fixed. The dealers complain about Airstream service and Airstream is not customer friendly so the customers needs go unfulfilled. This beautiful RV went from a dream to a nightmare due to Airstream pathetic customer service. It would be bad enough to not have something repaired but to have to deal with Airstream’s rude representatives was unbelievable. It was enough to make us give up. We’re too old to keep fighting them. I’m writing this because we just sold it back to the dealer at an over 75,000 loss and I’m just really sad about the whole experience and sorry for the person who buys it. Show less

Do not buy an Airstream Atlas. Ours has consistently broken down. Airstream blames Mercedes, Mercedes Blames Airstream. We are caught in the middle. Our dealership, North Trail RV in Fort Myers, has been no help. I do not recommend any Airstream coaches. Show less

Great unit with plenty of interior room due to the twin bed configuration. This bed configuration also allows for much more outside storage under each bed. It's a very modern interior unit with indirect and dimmable lighting. With dual venting and all the panoramic wrap around as well as opening windows it's easy to keep the unit cool and an eye on the view outside. Highly reccomend! Show less

High quality components but poor assembly quality control. Overall is still higher quality than your traditional RV box but could be better at the price point. Warranty service is good and responsive. Control screen for all systems is great but there are no manual overrides in case it fails specially for the Air condition units. Show less

Just a wonderful practical and well build unit to be enjoyed frequently. The BaseCamp 20X has everything you need for both novices and camping experts alike. Plenty of storage space within the BaseCamp 20X and wonderful windows to enjoy the views Awesome large tires BaseCamp 20X can be towed almost anywhere! Easy to tow and park. Show less

Our Dream RB drove and handled like a race car. Very stable !! Solar panels recharging the high powered Lithium batteries were great.. storage under bed in back was very adequate. Fridge and freezer worked great.... Black tank masserator worked perfect to liquify waste. Gas Mileage with the Turbo Diesel was Amazing, 18-20 mph WOW !! Seats were Very Comfortable ! Show less