RoadVitals

2001 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.
2
Latest Nov 12, 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.
2
Latest Oct 14, 2003
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Coachmen Santara, most frequently naming the tires & wheels category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are 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 & wheels2100.0%

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

2 campaigns 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
03V373000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Oct 14, 2003
19,110 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS, AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SAMSUNG MICROWAVE OVENS, THESE UNITS WERE PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE PANEL. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN CIRCUIT PATTERNS ON THE MEMBRANE PANEL, ESPECIALLY OVERLAPPED BY A "JUMPER" OR JUMP WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS.
The risk: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE.
The remedy: SAMSUNG WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS SHOULD UNPLUG THEIR MICROWAVE, IF POSSIBLE. IF THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO UNPLUG THE MICROWAVE, THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE DOOR AJAR UNTIL THE PANEL IS REPLACED. CONSUMERS SHOULD NEVER USE THE MICROWAVE OVEN FOR STORAGE OR LEAVE ANY TOWELS, PAPER, CLOTH OR OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE MICROWAVE AFTER USE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAMSUNG AT 800-932-3837 OR COACHMEN AT 1-219-825-5821.
COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
00V178000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Jul 7, 2000
158 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS A MOTOR HOMES, MODELS 3602 AND 3500. THE 120-VOLT CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE THAT PROVIDES BONDING FROM THE POWER CENTER AND THE GENERATOR TRANSFER SWITCH TO THE FRAME WAS INCORRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE 12-VOLT GROUND BAR.
The risk: THIS CAN LEAD TO HIGHER VOLTAGE WITHIN THE 12-VOLT GROUND SYSTEM AND CAUSE FAILURES IN THE INDIVIDUAL ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (REFRIGERATOR CONTROL, FURNACE CONTROL, RADIOS, ETC.).
The remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-WIRE THESE MOTOR HOMES.
COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 12, 2004

I HAVE A 2000 COACHMEN MOTORHOME WHICH CAME WITH MICHELIN XRV TIRES ON IT. SPECIFICALLY 235/80R 22.5. I HAVE HAD ONE TIRE BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING AND ANOTHER TIE WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE WHAT APPEARED TO BE A "WIDE PLY GAP" ON THE SIDEWALL SO I REMOVED IT. ON THE FIRST TIRE, WHICH BLEW OUT, I CALLED MICHELIN AND THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY DEFENSIVE. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NICE THE LADY DIDN'T LIKE MY PERSISTENCE AND HUNG UP ON ME. THE MICHELIN CALL CENTER TOLD ME THAT 70% OF MOTORHOMES ARE OVERLOADED AND THAT MINE WAS PROBABLY OVERLOADED ALSO. SHE REFERRED ME TO A DEALER IN SALT LAKE CITY. I WENT TO A DEALER WHO HAD THE MICHELIN REP LOOK AT IT. HE SAID IT WAS THE RESULT OF AN IMPACT BUT HE GAVE ME A $100 CREDIT. IN AUGUST I FOUND A BUBBLE ON ANOTHER TIRE AND TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHO SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A WIDE PLY GAP AND REFERRED ME TO A MICHELIN DEALER IN THE AREA. THAT DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID HE SEE THIS FREQUENTLY AND ADVISED ME TO GET THESE TIRE OFF MY RV ASAP. I COULD NOT REPLACE IT AS HE HAD QUIT STOCKING THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO BAD. I CALLED MICHELIN AND GOT THE SAME 70% OVERLOADED STORY A FEW MONTHS LATER AND WAS REFERRED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THIS TIRE HAD NOT BLOWN OUT SO I KNEW I WOULD GET THE TIRE REPLACED AS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. WITH NO INDICATION OF ANY IMPACT ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE THE NEW MICHELIN DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS A RESULT OF IMPACT. I OBJECTED AND HE GOT HOSTILE. AS HE HELPED ME PUT THE TIRE BACK IN THE RV HE SMASHED HIS FINGER SEVERELY: ). THAT WHAT HE GETS FOR LYING! I TALKED TO A MOTORHOME DEALER AND HE TOLD ME OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE INDUSTRY WITH MICHELIN XRV TIRES SO, I WANT THEM ALL REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10098755
Incident
May 29, 2004
Mileage
28,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 24, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A BUMPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR HOME. CONSUMER THEN PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE NOISE, AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE STARTED TO SHOW THE SAME SIGNS OF FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079766
Incident
Jun 20, 2004

Manufacturer communications

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

4094

STRUCTURE:BODY

SLIDE ROOM ROOF MODIFICATIONS. *YD

4091

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

COACHMEN RV COMPANY HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN MOTORHOMES PRODUCED IN PLANT 1310 FROM JOB1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 MAY BE MISSING THE CABLE SWITCHING BOX. THIS BOX AND CABLING IS PROVIDED WHENEVER THE BEDROOM TV OPTION IS ORDERED. *TT

4088

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING SLIDE ROOM MANUAL OVERRIDE SWITCH OPERATION. *TT

4087

STRUCTURE:BODY

COACHMEN RV COMPANY HAS IDENTIFIED A PROCEDURE TO STRENGTHEN THE SLIDE OUT ROOM OPENING IN CERTAIN MOTORHOMES IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE INSIDE APPEARANCE OF A SLIGHT SAG IN THE CENTER. *TT

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 Santara by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006010—
2005060—
2004060—
2003120—
2002120—
2001Viewing220—
2000220—
1999520—
1998510—
1997310—
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.