The Airstream Safari spans 2007–2026 with 4 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2007, 2026, 2025 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2008, 2009, 2010. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Airstream Safari is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2007 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Airstream Safari VIN — every digit explained
Every Airstream Safari carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Airstream and the country it was built in (real Airstream codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Safari.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- —1AB · 1SC · 1SM · 1ST · 45Z · 4UJ
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Safari, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Airstream Safari have?
The Airstream Safari has 4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2007–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2009 Airstream Safari recalls 1
Exterior Lighting
What's wrong. Airstream is recalling 2,052 my 2002-2009 bambi, international, safari, 75th anniversary, dwr, and ocean breeze travel trailers for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the travel trailers were built without rear reflex reflectors.
Risk. Inadequate lighting could reduce visibility of vehicle increase the potential for a crash.
Fix. Airstream will send dealers separate reflectors to the affected customers and dealers along with instructions for proper installation. Customers will have the option of installing the reflectors or taking the travel trailer to the nearest airstream certified dealers. This will be done free of charge. The recall began on may 15, 2009. Owners may contact airstream at 1-937-596-6849.
2008 Airstream Safari recalls 1
Exterior Lighting
What's wrong. Airstream is recalling 2,052 my 2002-2009 bambi, international, safari, 75th anniversary, dwr, and ocean breeze travel trailers for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the travel trailers were built without rear reflex reflectors.
Risk. Inadequate lighting could reduce visibility of vehicle increase the potential for a crash.
Fix. Airstream will send dealers separate reflectors to the affected customers and dealers along with instructions for proper installation. Customers will have the option of installing the reflectors or taking the travel trailer to the nearest airstream certified dealers. This will be done free of charge. The recall began on may 15, 2009. Owners may contact airstream at 1-937-596-6849.
2007 Airstream Safari recalls 2
Exterior Lighting
What's wrong. Airstream is recalling 2,052 my 2002-2009 bambi, international, safari, 75th anniversary, dwr, and ocean breeze travel trailers for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the travel trailers were built without rear reflex reflectors.
Risk. Inadequate lighting could reduce visibility of vehicle increase the potential for a crash.
Fix. Airstream will send dealers separate reflectors to the affected customers and dealers along with instructions for proper installation. Customers will have the option of installing the reflectors or taking the travel trailer to the nearest airstream certified dealers. This will be done free of charge. The recall began on may 15, 2009. Owners may contact airstream at 1-937-596-6849.
Equipment:recreational Vehicle/trailer
What's wrong. Airstream is recalling 4,450 my 2004-2007 safari, international, interstate, land yacht, classic, my 2004-2006 skydeck, and my 2006 parkway travel trailers and motor homes equipped with a two-door refrigerator manufactured by the dometic corporation. The refrigerator 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.
Risk. If this solution is exposed to an ignition source under certain specific circumstances, it can result in a vehicle fire.
Fix. Airstream is working with dometic to repair these refrigerators (please see 08e032). 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 the owner 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 airstream at 1-937-596-6111.
Best and worst years for the Airstream Safari
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 20 tracked years, the worst years are 2007, 2026, 2025 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2008, 2009, 2010.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Safari | Suspension | Avoid | |
| 2008 Safari | — | Best | |
| 2009 Safari | — | Best | |
| 2010 Safari | — | Best | |
| 2011 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2012 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2013 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2014 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2015 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2016 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2017 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2018 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2019 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2020 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2021 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2022 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2023 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2024 Safari | — | Average | |
| 2025 Safari | — | Avoid | |
| 2026 Safari | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Airstream Safari problems?
The most-reported Airstream Safari problems are Suspension (1 reports) — out of 1 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Suspension 1 Read
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 airstream safari 20 foot travel trailer. While driving 60 mph, the wheel separated from the axle. The dealer could find no failures and could not explain why the bolts snapped. Another dealer stated that the bolts were not properly heat stressed during production and referenced nhtsa campaign id number 04v506000 (suspension:front:wheel bearing), which seemed relevant to the failure. However, because the vehicle was a 2007 travel trailer and the recall only covered 2004-2005 models, the contact was offered no assistance in terms of the recall. He spoke with the manufacturer who was supposed to call him back after calling the dealer, but they have not called him back yet. The failure mileage was unknown.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Airstream Safari specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Airstream Safari. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Airstream Safari window sticker.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Airstream Safari cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Safari holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Airstream Safari tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Airstream Safari get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Airstream Safari have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Airstream Safari cost to own?
A Airstream Safari depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Safari is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Safari loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Safari ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Airstream Safari safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Safari yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Airstream Safari last?
A well-maintained Airstream Safari typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Airstream Safari’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Safari’s VIN free →All Airstream Safari model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Airstream Safari — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2021 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2020 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2019 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2018 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2017 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2016 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2015 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2014 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2013 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2012 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2011 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2010 Safari | 0 | — | — |
| 2009 Safari | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2008 Safari | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2007 Safari | 2 recalls | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Safari?
By owner-complaint volume, 2007, 2026, 2025 drew the most reports. 2008, 2009, 2010 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Safari have?
4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2007–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a Safari last?
A well-maintained Safari typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Safari reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Safari is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Airstream Safari warranty?
New Airstream models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Airstream dealer.
Where is the Airstream Safari made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Safari's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Airstream may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Safari have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.