RoadVitals

1997 Coachmen Santara

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.
3
Latest Jul 4, 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 Apr 12, 1999
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.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Coachmen Santara, most frequently naming the body & structure, electrical and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Electrical133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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
99V076000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Apr 12, 1999
3,073 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES WITH BASEMENT CONVERTERS AND BASEMENT FREEZERS. A GROMMET MAY BE MISSING ALLOWING THE 110-VOLT WIRE TO RUB AGAINST A METAL EDGE.
The risk: IF A DIRECT SHORT WERE TO OCCUR, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTOR HOMES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUBJECT WIRES ARE PROPERLY PROTECTED. IF THEY ARE NOT, PROPER PROTECTION WILL BE ADDED, AND IF NECESSARY, THE WIRING WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED.
COACHMEN RV COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Jul 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING FROM NEVADA TO ILLINOIS, ALL THE WINDOW SEALS (EXCEPT IN BEDROOM) BLEW OUT, THEN THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM WALLS OF UNIT, ALSO THE WALLS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RELEASED FROM THE FLOOR LENGTHWISE ABOUT 20 FEET. YOU CAN SEE ROAD, THE SEPARATION IS SO BIG. THE SEPARATION IS ALSO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT NOT AS LONG. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE SEALS AND WINDOWS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE WE BOUGHT COACH IN 2001. WINDOWS IN UNIT ARE MANUFACTURED BY CREATIVE. AFTER TALKING WITH A COACHMEN DEALER, THEY SUSPECT THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR YEARS BEFORE WE BOUGHT IN 9/01 (WE ARE ALSO THE FIRST TITLED OWNER). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE UNIT. NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED AS OF JULY 2004. SUGGESTIONS? 1997 COACHMEN, SANTARA, 31FT, FORD 460. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079256
Incident
May 22, 2004
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2002
Fire reported

A DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS STARTED THE FIRE AS DETERMINED BY THE TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS REQUIRED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE COMPLETELY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN FIRE BROKE OUT. I HAVE MUCH MORE DOCUMENTATION ON THE INCIDENT AVAILABLE TO ANYONE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS WELL AS ALL INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMATION, REPAIR FACILITY INFORMATION, LETTERS TO THE MANUFACTURER, DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIRE EVENT, ETC.*AK

NHTSA ID
757219
Incident
Nov 10, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 6, 2000

FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P225/75R16 DOT VD1L1XD187 HAVE FAILED 5 TIMES, ALL TIRES HAVE HAD CRACKS FORMING IN THE SIDEWALL, ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE MOTORHOME. *SLC

NHTSA ID
869687
Incident
Jul 12, 1999

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Coachmen Santara by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006010—
2005060—
2004060—
2003120—
2002120—
2001220—
2000220—
1999520—
1998510—
1997Viewing310—
1996210—
1995310—
1994320—
1993220—

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.