RoadVitals

2003 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.
1
Latest Dec 13, 2009
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 Dec 4, 2008
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2003 Coachmen Santara, most frequently naming the engine category. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Engine1100.0%

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
08V639000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Dec 4, 2008
13,662 units potentially affected
The defect: COACHMEN IS RECALLING 13,662 MY 2002-2008 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH GLASS SHOWER DOORS AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2001 THORUGH AUGUST 6, 2007. WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE TOWEL BAR ON THE GLASS SHOWER DOOR, THE EDGE OF THE BAR MAY CONTACT THE GLASS.
The risk: GLASS BREAKAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW MOUNTING HARDWARE FOR THE TOWEL BAR AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER IS NOT COMFORTABLE REPLACING THE HARDWARE THEMSELVES, A DEALER WILL INSTALL THE HARDWARE AT NO COST TO THEM. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 19, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COACHMEN AT 1-574-825-5821.
COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
03V081000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Mar 5, 2003
109 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN CLASS C MINI-MOTOR HOMES, THE GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED AND INSTALLED INCORRECTLY RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO OR CONTACT WITH THE CHASSIS FUEL FILL TUBE.
The risk: WHEN OPERATING, THE GENERATOR'S EXHAUST PIPE MAY REACH TEMPERATURES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MELT AND/OR IGNITE THE FUEL FILL TUBE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL DISASSEMBLE A PORTION OF THE GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE ASSEMBLY, TURNING ONE OF THE BENT COMPONENTS AROUND 180 DEGREES, REASSEMBLING THE EXHAUST PIPE AND MEASURING TO ENSURE A MINIMUM OF 3" AIR GAP WITH SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 24, 2003. 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 COACHMEN AT 1-800-453-6064.
COACHMEN RV COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Dec 13, 2009

WE PURCHASED AN 03 COACHMEN SANTARA RV WITH THE FORD F450 TRITON V10 ENGINE IT HAD 28500 MIL. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN OCT. 08. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE TO IT AND THE ENGINE RAN FINE,WE HAVE TAKEN A FEW TRIPS IN IT AND IT HAS RAN FINE. WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO HOLBROOK FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IT RAN FINE WE DECIDED TO DRIVE BACK ON FRIDAY AM ON OUR WAY BACK THE ENGINE RAN FINE WE GOT ABOUT 20MILES OUTSIDE OF PAYSON AND WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD BAG CRASH!! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!! AND WE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER I VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME MONDAY AND ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD,I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE HEAD IS FAULTY OK, THEN MY WARRANTY COMPANY STATES THEY WON'T COVER A SPARK PLUG ISSUE WHAT!!,WELL IT JUST GETS BETTER, I GO ONLINE TO FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING AND FORD NOR THE WARRANTY COMPANY'S WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T COVER A THING. STATING IT'S A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM AND FORD STATES THE SAME EVEN AFTER THE MECHANIC'S ARGUE THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM IT IS A FORD DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE ALUMINUM HEADS. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE GOING UP OR DOWN HILL, MY FAMILY AND I MAY NOT BE HERE AND THESE ISSUES HAVE CAUSED NUMEROUS FIRES. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE LOSS OF LIFE HAPPENS. I JUST WANT A FAIR DEAL, IF THIS WAS SOMETHING I COULD'VE AVOIDED OR WAS DO TO SOMETHING I DID I COULD UNDERSTAND,HOWEVER I/WE HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND WE ARE ALL HAVING TO PAY FOR IT. FORD CANNOT CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THERE IS A SPARK PLUG ISSUE IN THE THOUSAND OF ENGINES THAT THIS SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO. IT'S STATISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE! I HOPE SOMEONE CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS MAJOR PROBLEM AND HELP US ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295520
Incident
Nov 27, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Coachmen Santara by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006010—
2005060—
2004060—
2003Viewing120—
2002120—
2001220—
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.