2001 Holiday Rambler Ambassador Owner Complaints

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR ABS ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE SENSORS TO OVERHEAT AND MELT. HE ALSO SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CALIPERS CAUSED THE FAILURE. RECALL NUMBER 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT CALIPERS, HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE REAR ONES. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,641 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,844.

NHTSA ID

10197852

Incident

Aug 5, 2004

Mileage

25,844 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON CLEAR DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES HAD OVERHEATED, AND BURNED OUT THE ABS SENSOR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN, BEFORE CONTINUING TO DRIVE. THE ABS SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 4 MONTHS LATER WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED A THIRD TIME A COUPLE MONTHS LATER. ON 08/18/04, A NHTSA RECALL LETTER #02V278000 REGARDING SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS WAS RECEIVED. THE CALIPERS WERE NOT REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL STATED SO. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKED LOCKED UP TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THE RECALL WORK, AND THE ABS SENSOR WAS REPLACED BOTH TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE COST OF THE CALIPERS WOULD BE COVERED, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE ABS SENSOR BURNED OUT BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE CALIPERS WERE LOCKING UP. THIS WAS A HOLIDAY RAMBLER / AMBASSADOR .*AK THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE BRAKE REPAIRS WHICH WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173480

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

8,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING WAS PRESENT. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ELECTRICAL WIRES AROUND THE BRAKES AND REAR WHEELS WERE MELTED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED. THE MOTOR HOME WAS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10168045

Incident

Sep 12, 2006

Mileage

24,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND A FIRE STARTED. A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V278000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES; FOUNDATION COMPONENTS HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10163322

Incident

Jul 17, 2006

Mileage

15,200 mi

EXITING EISENHOWER TUNNEL WEST BOUND ON I-70, SPEED INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT PAC-BRAKE CAUSED ENGINE SPEED TO APPROACH GOVERNED LIMIT, HARD APPLICATION OF BRAKES (ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS) TO SLOW TO LESS THAN GOVERNED SPEED APPARENTLY CAUSED EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP IN LEFT REAR BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSING ABS SENSOR TO FALL OUT OF BACKING PLATE AND ABS WARNING LIGHT TO BE DISPLAYED ON DASHBOARD. THIS TENDED TO CAUSE ERRATIC BRAKE OPERATION WITH A GREAT DEAL OF BRAKE NOISE. THE UNIT IS PRESENTLY (6/16/2004) AT TULSA SPRING BEING REPAIRED AND I WILL REQUIRE RETENTION OF FAILED PARTS, VIN AND OTHER DATA CAN BE SUPPLIED I, DON'T HAVE IT AT HAND.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078327

Incident

Jun 6, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 02V278000 CONCERNING ABS BRAKE FAILURE. 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. DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS, CALIPER AND THE ABS SENSOR LEFT FRONT AND STILL RECURRING THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR LIVING EXPENSES. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10061569

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

Mileage

3,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE WARMS UP. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES START SMOKING AND CONSUMER CAN SMELL RUBBER BURNING. CONSUMER STATES ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY STIFF WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. TOOK TO DELAER AND THEY REPLACED FRONT WHEEL AND AXLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10001693