Recall 13V388 affects 28 2013-2014 Excel Rv travel trailers for awning motor screws that shear. Repair is free through Excel or Dometic.
Excel is recalling 28 2013-2014 Rv travel trailers under recall 13V388 because screws in the Dometic-brand power awning motor assembly can shear after a design change. If those screws shear, the awning can unfurl while parked or in transit, which raises the risk of personal injury or a crash; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The power awning motor assembly on 2013-2014 Excel Rv travel trailers is the electric drive unit that extends and retracts the awning. It sits at the awning hardware and uses mounting screws to hold the motor in place while it turns the awning mechanism. Those screws are part of what keeps the awning hardware secured during normal use.
On the recalled trailers, a design change in the Dometic-brand power awning motor assembly left the motor assembly screws vulnerable to shearing. When a screw shears, it breaks across its shaft instead of staying clamped in place. That leaves the motor assembly less secure, so the awning hardware no longer has the fastening support it was designed to have.
There is no warning sign before failure. Do not rely on noise, looseness, or slow awning movement as advance notice unless an Excel dealer confirms the awning system has been inspected.
Who's affected?
Covers 2 model years with the same equipment component.
| 2013 Excel Rv | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2014 Excel Rv | Equipment |
| Units affected | 28 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific RV is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the awning motor screws shear, the awning can unfurl without warning while parked or in transit. That raises the risk of personal injury or a crash. Schedule the repair before travel and keep clear of the awning area. Repair will be free at any franchised Excel dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2014 Excel Rv is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the trailer until the awning-motor repair is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the trailer has to be moved for service; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact Excel customer service at 1-800-368-3759 to confirm repair availability for the Dometic awning-motor replacement that prevents the awning from unfurling unexpectedly.
- Reference recall number 13V388 when you call, and bring the owner notice if you have it.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the trailer until the awning motor repair is performed. Excel will notify owners, and Dometic staff will replace the affected power awning motors with motors of a different design. The repair path is tied to the awning motor assembly, where the screws can shear. Because the remedy status is not listed as available here, treat the final dealer repair as free once available and ask the service desk how the Dometic motor replacement will be handled.
Timeline
| August 21, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
|---|---|
| August 28, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V388?
Recall 13V388 covers 28 2013-2014 Excel Rv travel trailers with Dometic power awning motor assemblies. The motor assembly screws can shear, allowing the awning to unfurl unexpectedly at rest or in transit and increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
What should I do if my 2013-2014 Excel Rv is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 13V388. If it is, keep the trailer off the road until the awning motor repair is complete. Contact Excel at 1-800-368-3759 and reference recall 13V388 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be completed at no cost to the owner. For recall 13V388, Dometic staff will replace the affected awning motors with motors of a different design.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is an awning that unfurls unexpectedly while the trailer is parked or moving. That creates a personal-injury risk around the trailer and a crash risk in transit. The repair path is the awning motor replacement covered under recall 13V388.
What if I bought this Excel Rv used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the current owner or where the trailer was purchased. Check your VIN, then contact Excel with recall number 13V388 if your 2013-2014 Excel Rv is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V388000 |
|---|---|
| Excel customer service | 1-800-368-3759 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V388 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V388000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →