RoadVitals

2001 Holiday Rambler Ambassador

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.
15
Latest Aug 20, 2013
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.
6
Latest Jun 5, 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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Holiday Rambler Ambassador, most frequently naming the brakes category. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 11 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

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

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

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
08V257000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Jun 5, 2008
8,587 units potentially affected
The defect: MONACO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK.
The risk: EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.
The remedy: MONACO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS. NORCOLD WILL PROVIDE THERMAL SWITCH KITS TO OWNERS ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.
MONACO COACH CORPORATIONManufacturer number R08017View on NHTSA.gov
03V101000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Mar 17, 2003
112 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE FEDERAL CERTIFICATION LABEL IS INCORRECT. THE INITIAL LABEL SHOWS TIRE SIZE AS 255/75R 22.5H WITH THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE BEING 255/70R 22.5H.
The risk: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CORRECTED LABEL ON THESE MOTOR HOMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE LABEL WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MONACO AT 1-877-466-8226.
MONACO COACH CORP.Manufacturer number R02226View on NHTSA.gov
02V278000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

Oct 22, 2002
8,581 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES EXHIBIT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES THAT CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC DETERIORATION OF THE WHEEL END COMPONENTS SUCH AS BEARINGS, RACES, SPINDLES, KNUCKLES, SEALS, HUBS, ROTORS, PATCH BOLTS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, AND ABS SENSORS.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL, AND/OR THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FOR CORROSION AND REPLACE OR REBUILD THE CALIPERS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.
MONACO COACH CORP.Manufacturer number R02175View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 15
Brakes
Filed Aug 20, 2013
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED ALL OF THE CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND PROCEED TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CALIPER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,342. UPDATED 10/17/13*CN THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP AND A SMALL FLAME STARTED. THE ABS SENSOR, BRAKE PADS AND BRAKE CALIPER BURNED UP. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. UPDATE 12/5/13

NHTSA ID
10536296
Incident
Dec 22, 2011
Mileage
32,342 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 22, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT FAILED TO RELEASE. THE BRAKES RESPONDED BUT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT DISPENSED WATER ONTO THE BRAKES. AFTER THE BRAKES HAD COOLED, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED NORMALLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) IN 2004. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID
10526161
Incident
Aug 7, 2003
Mileage
17,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 15, 2010

BRAKES ARE HARD TO USE, AND OFTEN GET HOT TO THE POINT OF A BURNT SMELL. THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. WHEN REPAIRED I AM TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT THE SENSORS CONTINUE TO BE DESTROYED. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO BE SERVICED IN MARCH 2010 AND AM REQUIRED TO HAVE A NEW BRAKE BOOSTER INSTALLED IN ADDITION TO THE ABS REPAIR AT A COST OF ABOUT $2000.00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10319638
Incident
Dec 20, 2007
Mileage
33,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 29, 2009

MY 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR HAS BEEN RECALLED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V278000. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED MONACO AND WAS TOLD THEY DECLARED BANKRUPTCY AND WAS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE. MY VEHICLE HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS RECALL. IS IT TRUE THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10290247
Incident
Aug 15, 2009
Mileage
23,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 21, 2009
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. HE HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE NOTICED SMOKE POURING OUT FROM BOTH FRONT BRAKES. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SO HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AGAIN AND ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO COOL. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000. THE MANUFACTURER FILED CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY AND WOULD NOT HANDLE THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,561 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,540.

NHTSA ID
10277566
Incident
Jul 6, 2009
Mileage
50,540 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 17, 2009
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ABS INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL THE BRAKE LINES BURNING AND NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE HOT, WHICH CAUSED THE DISCS TO CRACK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED BY FREIGHT LINER TO HAVE ONE DISC REPLACED AND THE OTHER THREE TURNED DUE TO THE HAIRLINE CRACKS CAUSED BY THE HEAT. A YEAR LATER, AFTER DRIVING FIVE MILES, THE SMELL RETURNED. ON THIS OCCASION, THE ABS SENSORS BURNED OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS. THE ABS SENSORS, TWO FRONT CALIPERS, AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECALL BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE PRIMARY OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE RECALL ENDED IN 2004 AND BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2004. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10265887
Incident
Apr 1, 2009
Mileage
45,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 6, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE OVERHEATED AND BEGAN SMOKING WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FAILURE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKING POWER. HE NOTICED THAT THE ISSUE OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IN 2002, THE BRAKES OVERHEATED AND SMOKE APPEARED, BUT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO COOL OFF. IN 2003, THE BRAKES WERE REBUILT AFTER THE MANUFACTURER SHIPPED OUT PARTS DUE TO THE FAILURE. AFTER THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 IN 2004. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED A FOURTH TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,148 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,251. UPDATED 05/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/11/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10260959
Incident
Jul 15, 2002
Mileage
25,251 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 6, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MONACO HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH EITHER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL OR THE REAR WHEELS. THE WHEELS WOULD EXUDE A VERY STRONG BURNING SMELL, SMOKE, SHIMMY, SHAKE, BURN, FREEZE, AND LOCK UP. ON ONE OCCASION, BOTH FRONT WHEELS BURNED SO BADLY THAT THE ABS ATTACHED TO THE CALIPERS MELTED AND FELL FROM THE WHEEL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE AROUND AND SEE IF THE CALIPERS WOULD BECOME UNSTUCK. THE FRONT AXLE AND ALL OF THE FRONT BRAKE PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKES WERE CLEANED. CURRENTLY, THE FRONT WHEELS BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $3,000 AND $4,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID
10210994
Incident
Oct 22, 2002
Mileage
4,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

124

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

JB RADIATOR INNER COOLER FAILURE ON ALUMINUM RADIATORS. *TT

030201

POWER TRAIN

TOUCH PAD SHIFTER. *SCC

115

SUBJECT REGARDING INSTALLATION PROCEDURES FOR LIVING ROOM TELEVISION BRACKET. *TT

115

MONACO HAS DETERMINED THAT AN ADDITIONAL MOUNTING BRACKET IS RECOMMENDED TO SECURE THE TELEVISION TO THE OVERHEAD CABINET. *TT

115

SUBJECT REGARDING TSI PARTS PURCHASE ORDER FOR LIVING ROOM TELEVISION BRACKET. *TT

TSI114

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

IMFORMATION REGARDING FRONT JACK MOUNTING PLATE. NLM

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

Holiday Rambler Ambassador by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015110—
2014020—
2013330—
2012220—
2011030—
2010050—
2009260—
2008020—
2007210—
2006000—
2005200—
2004340—
2003185046.1
2002340—
2001Viewing156053.6
2000155048.0
1984010—
1983020—
1982020—
1981010—
1980010—

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.