RoadVitals

1997 Coachmen Coachmen

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Aug 30, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 7, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Coachmen Coachmen, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and steering categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels952.9%
  • Brakes211.8%
  • Steering211.8%
  • Suspension211.8%
  • Interior & seats15.9%
  • Other / unspecified15.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06V430000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Nov 7, 2006
9,845 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES BUILT WITH DOMETIC TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATORS, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE BOILER TUBE IN THE AREA OF THE WELD BETWEEN THE BOILER TUBE AND THE HEATER POCKET. A FATIGUE CRACK MAY RELEASE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT.
The risk: THE RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: COACHMEN IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO HAVE THESE REFRIGERATORS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET SUBMITTED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COACHMEN AT 1-574-825-5821 OR DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157.
COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

SQ97003ClosedInvestigation

BILINGUAL LABELING

Opened Mar 5, 1997
Closed Mar 17, 1997

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CANADA'S CMVSS 108 EXCEED THE REQUREMENTS OF FMVSS 108.THIS IS NOT A COMPLIANCE ISSUE ON THE VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.

EQUIPMENT
SQ97004ClosedInvestigation

CLEARANCE LIGHTS NONCOMPLAINANCE

Opened Mar 5, 1997
Closed Mar 17, 1997

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CANADA'S CMVSS 108 EXCEED THE REQUREMENTS OF FMVSS 108.THIS IS NOT A COMPLIANCE ISSUE ON THE VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 17
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 30, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE COMPLETE TREAD OF THE TIRE CAME OFF, LEAVING THE SIDEWALL INTACT AS WELL AS THE CORE OF THE TIRE. SPEED WAS APPROX 50 (OR SPEED LIMIT) AND ON A GOOD ROAD (HWY 95 SO OF JORDAN VALLEY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10088850
Incident
Oct 24, 2002
Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPRINGS ON THE AXLE KEEP BREAKING CAUSING THE TIRES TO BLOW OUT. THIS HAPPENED SIX TIMES. *MR MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE WITH HEAVIER DUTY SPRINGS, HOWEVER CONSUMER REJECTED OFFER AS AN INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. MODEL 297RK. *TT

NHTSA ID
8020287
Incident
Oct 7, 2000
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 19, 2002

LABEL FOR TIRE INFLATION BY SHASTA INDUSTRY LISTS TIRE PRESSURE THAT IS TOO LOW FOR TYPE MOTORHOME. ALSO, OWNER ACKNOWLEDGED THE LABEL GIVES WRONG RIM SIZE AND TIRE SIZE. *AK *NLM A NEW LABEL IS TO BE PROVIDED BY COACHMAN. *JG *JB

NHTSA ID
8016659
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 11, 2001

ORIGINAL TIRES ON A COACHMAN, CLASS 31 C MOTOR HOME, 1997, DOT VD111L1XD187, 22575/16. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH INSIDE DUAL TIRES SIDEWALL ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWOUT. CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID
897602
Incident
Oct 7, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 23, 2000

THIS INFO IS IN ADDITION TO MY COMPLAINT # 734470 PREVIOUSLY. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/75R1 )

NHTSA ID
734941
Incident
Oct 22, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 18, 2000

BLOWOUT ON RIGHT REAR INSIDE DUAL TIRE. (WE FELT FORTUNATE IT WASN'T A FRONT TIRE) BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE WE REPLACED THE 2 FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS; WE WILL BE REPLACING THE 4 REAR DUAL TIRES AND SPARE WITH NON-FIRESTONE TIRES SOON. (TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/75R1 )

NHTSA ID
734635
Incident
Sep 24, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 16, 2000

ALL OF THESE TIRES HAD A BLOWOUT THROUGH THE TOP UNDER THE TREAD.I HAVE THE LAST 2 TIRES FOR EXAMINATION IF YOU OR ANYONE DESIRES TO DO SO (TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )

NHTSA ID
734470
Incident
Feb 28, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 2, 2000

TIRE HAD NO PROBLEM WHEN WE LEFT LAREDO TX AT 23839 MILAGE BUT IT SOON DEVELOPED WHAT I FIRST THOUGHT WAS A WASHBOARD ROAD. IT GOT WORSE AND I COULD NOT SEE ANY CHANGE IN THE ROAD SO STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES. PRESSURE OK. PROCEEDED SLOWLY(35-40). TREAD CAME OFF AT 23876 MILAGE FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF AIR. DAMAGED EXHAUST AND VALVE EXTENDERS. THEY GAVE ME A PRORATE ON A NEW TIRE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE ON LONG TRIPS AFTER MY EXPERIENCE.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )

NHTSA ID
733145
Incident
Nov 5, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

4068

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE NEUTRAL (WHITE) WIRES FROM THE GENERATOR ARE CONNECTED TO THE NEUTRAL (WHITE) WIRES GOING TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH. THIS CONNECTION IS MADE WITH ONE WIRE CONNECTOR INSIDE THE SEALED METAL J-BOX. WHEN BOTH AIR CONDITIONERS ARE RUNNING, THE WIRES MAY GET HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THIS CONNECTOR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WIRES TO SEPARATE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Coachmen Coachmen by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003110—
2002210—
2001320—
2000510—
1999151144.0
1998161034.8
1997Viewing171240.6
1996402—
1995101031.2
1994810—
1993610—
1992410—
1991110—
1990110—
1989110—
1988111—
1987211—
1986014—
1985025—
1984024—
1983002—
1982002—
1981002—
1980101—
1979001—
1977010—
1976010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.