1998 National Rv DOLPHIN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
| Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear | 1 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1; Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear: 1; Visibility:Windshield: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10117503 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
1998 NATIONAL RV DOLPHIN FRONT SEATS AND SEAT BELT EQUIPMENT WERE NOT ANCHORED TO THE METAL PLATES AND FRAME OF THE VEHICLE.*MR THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TO THE CONSUMER STRENGTHENING THE ANCHORAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144418 · 2005-12-04 (December 4, 2005)
DEFECTIVE DUEL PANE WINDOWS, FOUR OF THEM TO BE EXACT, IN MY MOTORHOME. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 31,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177786 · 2007-01-04 (January 4, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET DOLPHIN MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE, THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE NEXT TOWN USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED THE REPAIR SHOP THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES PER THE MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE 120 MILES HOME WITH NOT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO A CHEVY DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE'S PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392608 · 2011-03-23 (March 23, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NATIONAL DOLPHIN RV MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER SEALING AROUND THE DUAL PANE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WERE SEEPING OUT. THE SEAL WAS BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO FALL OUT. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE WINDOWS WILL NOT SEAL OR REPAIR THE WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE WINDOWS EVEN WHEN THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 1/6/12 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392608 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V230000 · Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
Reported: 2007-06-04 (June 4, 2007)
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.
Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
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 OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST OWNERS IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR NATIONAL RV AT 1-800-999-7260, EXT. 4335. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA), AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT NATIONAL RV, INC. AND ITS HOLDING COMPANY, NATIONAL RV HOLDINGS, INC., HAVE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. NHTSA HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT OWNERS WHO WISH TO PURSUE CLAIMS RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THEIR NATIONAL RV VEHICLES MAY FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM WITH THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE DIVISION. THE CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS MATTER IS 07-17941. THE PROOF OF CLAIM FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE COURT'S WEBSITE WWW.CACB.USCOURTS.GOV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BANKRUPTCY AND ITS PROCEEDINGS MAY ALSO BE FOUND AT WWW.OMNIMGT.COM/NATIONALRV. NATIONAL RV'S PHONE NUMBER IS (951) 943-6007. INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY RECALLS ON NATIONAL RV'S PRODUCTS MAY BE FOUND AT WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV. THE NHTSA WISHES TO ADVISE OWNERS OF RECALLED PRODUCTS THAT, IN THE INTERESTS OF THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC, ALL SAFETY RECALL WORK SHOULD BE PERFORMED ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗