Atlas problems after 2020

[KAGRIFFIN]

We have a 2022 Atlas and it had nothing but problems as well. I too think we purchased a very expensive lemon. We recently discovered our Atlas has body cracks above the windshield. Our coach has been in the shop since mid December 2023. We bought it brand new and have been fighting and arguing with Airstream over every manufacturing issue. Crack on the roof (from the factory) that allowed water in and stained the cedar closets. Now cracks on the housing body above the windshield.
For some unknown reason there was a stripped washer on the bolt that holds the coach door shut which bent the door shield.

Too many issues to go into. From my perspective, garbage in results in garbage out.
Sad.

[cazm]

Wow! Thank you for sharing your experience. Airstream seems to be hiding bad engineering or manufacturing issues. I am relieved that we aren't the only ones, but frustrated that so many people are going through the same thing. Please keep me posted!

[cazm]

We finally received our Atlas RV back after all the repairs. We took it out last week and still had a couple of issues: door not locking properly and stabilizing jack alarm staying on. My husband repaired the locking mechanism - incorrect wiring. We have to take it back in for the stabilizing jack alarm. I am glad we left the RV at the dealer until all the repairs were made, even though it was almost 9 months. I recommend to new owners to make sure they test drive the Atlas RV extensively before purchasing - especially new vehicles.

[Tim Clinton]

List of Factory Issues to Date on Airstream Atlas 2022
1. Water leaking from plastic tubing never crimped at factory, day one.
2. Plugged into the two USB charging ports on the sofa and out popped a piece of black plastic rendering this unusable. These are defective and need to be replaced.
3. Exterior storage compartment door hits the exhaust pipe when opening and closing. This has resulted in the door finishing being chipped off.
4. The USB charging port above the passenger’s seat is also not working.
5. Luggage door alarm has been an issue for over 10 months!
6. The large cabinet doors are falling off, the hinge screws are coming out.
7. The wardrobe closet shelf falls from bracket, it was cut to short. MB of Scarborough stated it was repaired, not sure how as I still have the short shelf here in my garage. It will need a new shelf.
8. The plastic cap located in the water fill compartment is broken.
9. Silverware and wardrobe closets open when driving
10. The door hinges on the camper access door coming apart.
11. The exterior coating is cracking where the roof meets the rear quarter panel. FIRST TIME!
12. Roof white seam tape is peeling off.
13. The panel under the passenger side seat falls off when you open the door.
14. The canopy caught on the extender arm and damaged the fabric. The canopy was worked on at MB of Scarborough as it was leaning to one side, the technician adjusted the arms to remove the tilt.
15. Airstream recall notice received “cooktop gas may leak.”
16. First camping trip after the Atlas was in the shop for two weeks the macerator was not working, Airstream of Ohio found wipes in the waste line. We have never flushed wipes, it’s only my wife and I using the RV. Now I am paying for a new macerator pump. Turned out to be blue mechanic wipes, waived the cost.
17. The small storage carpet is always wet, photo sent in a previous email to Airstream.
18. Couch motor fails, couch in down position for most of the trip.
19. Re-cracking of the body for second time
20. Rear cracking for third time, evidently the structural issue was not addressed. Patched and painted and sent back out only to crack in less than 160 miles.
21. The sofa failing to return to the upright position, sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.
22. Stabilizer jacks not extending, “stabilizers down” alarm sounds when in drive mode until silenced.
23. Water ponding on canopy in a very light rain. This was replaced once but thinking the arms need adjustments to allow water to run off and not puddle up.
24. The roof fan in the bathroom works intermittently, I checked the fuse all are fine. Has a mind of its own.
25. Atlas was returned filthy from the paint and crack repair work
26. The wardrobe draws open on right turns but closes back up on the left turns.
27. Paint is cracking in the same location for SECOND TIME.
28. Recliner closest to the driver’s seat works intermittently. It also catches on to the fabric if you don’t hold up the seat cushion when working.
29. Water leaking though the slide out.
30. The canopy fabric is failing again, noted in prior emails the extender arms are out of alignment after the previous repair work on the canopy.
31. The side entry door hinge fixed prior has paint coating coming off again in the same location.
32. Stabilizers had to be replaced $2200
33. The canopy had to be replaced, do not rely on the built-in wind sensor.
34. Back in Jackson Ohio Airstream Facility for two months being repainted for the THIRD TIME.
35. They say I will need to fly from Maine to Ohio to pick it up at my expense, not sure why when they transported it back after the second paint repair work was completed.
36. Paint cracking for the FOURTH TIME in same location. Takes the Atlas out of use for 2 months every time they paint it. I tried to tell them it is a structural issue, but they insist it just needs another paint job. Oh Boy! Crazy!
37. After two years they figured out why the batteries drain overnight without shore power. After I wasted 2K on new batteries.
To date out of pocket expense for trip to Ohio and repairs work exceed 10K.

[Robkhoo]

We were at WeareAirstream Chandler AZ picking up our 2nd Atlas, a 2023 Atlas E1.
During our walk through for which we were charged a mandatory $979, our guide informed us that he knew nothing about the Volta electric system and the Timberline hydronic heat system. Despite WeAreAirstream’s painstaking prep of our new unit, we found:
1. Firefly touch screen in the galley not working - replacement will be delivered in 3 weeks requiring a trip back for replacement.

2. Bodywork issue silver trim separated from body passenger side

3. As we drove 20 feet we found that the brake lights and turn signals didn’t work due to a problem with the Airstream wiring harness. We had to leave the Atlas at WeareAirstream….we left without our unit
These defects escaped detection at the factory and were missed by the dealer.

WeareAirstream Chandler sent our unit to Mercedes Gilbert who didn’t know how to fix the brake light and turn signal problem. At our insistence, the Atlas was sent to Kate Gurerra at Airstream Phoenix - she found and fixed the problem in 48 hours.

4. Then the air conditioner compressor stopped working and the Timberline heat stopped working - eventually these were all fixed by Kate.

5. After 6 weeks we took the Atlas on a cross country trip and as we neared Texas, the skylight would not securely close and would open when we were driving over 50 mph. Jackson Center, OH was on the way so we stopped in for repair. The Airstream tech said the skylight was incorrectly installed.

6. He also found the external battery compartment door wouldn’t securely close, the kitchen hot and cold pipes were switched, the pantry door lock was broken and wouldn’t open, the bedroom curtain wouldn’t close - rail crooked, the Firefly panel bedroom kept falling out of holder - adjusted & secured, the Timberline needed adjustment of the mixer for hotter water, the couch won’t go up easily, have to pull/assist it, the slide maked scraping sound under couch going in/out as metal frame warped and hits table holder, passenger outside cabinet full of water after driving through rain storm, water pump very noisy, rattling - the tech fixed all these issues at Jackson Center.

7. The shower pan was not correctly installed as it doesn’t drain requiring us to bail water into the drain for 20+ minutes - the tech said this would require a longer repair later as we had to be on our way to Boston.

8. As we got near Boston, the inside dually tire lost pressure - we installed Tireminders on extenders placed by Airstream Phoenix. We brought the Atlas to Mercedes Boston - diagnosis was a faulty tire extender which was replaced with a shorter one. 
For the first 18 weeks of ownership, this Atlas was in the shop for repairs for 15 weeks - 80% of the time.

9. March 2024 Atlas was at Airstream Phoenix to fix a leaking toilet seal - wouldn’t hold water into bowl.

10. May 3 2024 trip north to Calgary, noticed inside dually right side alarm low pressure down to 12 psi - unable to inflate. Went to Henderson Nevada Discount Tire - problem was not the tire or the rim but with a loose extender rusted, fell off. That was replaced no charge.

11. July 5 2024 driving through Texas in rain - leak inside slide area, massive leak main cabin entry door - water pouring into van

12. July 8 2024 - 2nd visit to Jackson Center
1. Shower pan fix - removed excess foam that was humping up drain, placed metal bracket around drain hole. Installed new drain pipe. No need to remove shower.
2. Slide mechanism adjusted, with new outer seals.
3. Couch rubbing due to bent frame - fixed.
4. Couch motor replaced, new lubrication
5. Awning above slide was folding in while retracted, causing water to get inside and cause leakage underneath - incorrectly installed - fixed
6. Firefly damage was due to poorly installed air conditioning, condensation tube, causing leakage in the wall - water damage - fixed
7. Water intrusion outer passenger cabinet - new seals and water tested
8. Leak in cabin door seals not well done and new seals added as well as seal door lock
9. Leveling system calibrated
10. Repaired heat vent
11. Volta experts installed Softstart on AC to prevent start up surge

13. Atlas in one year has been seen in 6 Mercedes service centers across the US: Mercedes Benz Gilbert AZ, Mercedes Benz of Phoenix AZ, Mercedes Benz Chesterfield MO, Mercedes Benz of Boston MA, Mercedes Benz of Rochester MN, Mercedes Billings MT for check engine warning, loss of Active Brake Assist function, loss of Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC - unable to use cruise control, gummed up EGR valve, tire extender issues, etc.

This is just a brief list of problems encountered in a “quality” RV with a MSRP of $324,000.