RoadVitals

2002 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.
3
Latest Jun 23, 2011
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.
4
Latest Feb 14, 2005
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Holiday Rambler Ambassador, most frequently naming the brakes category. 4 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

  • Brakes2100.0%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
05V053000

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

Feb 14, 2005
2,827 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES, THE SPACER PLATE UNDER THE TRAILING ARMS HAD A TRANSVERSE WELD WHICH CREATES A HEAT RISER AND CAUSE THE TRAILING ARMS TO CRACK.
The risk: THIS COULD CREATE ROUGH DRIVING CONDITIONS AND DAMAGE TO REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORHOME AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REPLACE THE TRAILING ARMS FOR CRACKS AND REPLACING THE TRAILING ARMS AND U-BOLTS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE MOTORHOMES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MONACO AT 1-800-685-6545.
MONACO COACH CORPORATIONManufacturer number R04062View on NHTSA.gov
04V038000

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Jan 28, 2004
2,156 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE I-BEAM LEAF IMITATOR IN THE FRONT AXLE SUSPENSION COULD CRACK AND BREAK DUE TO AN INADEQUATE WELDING PROCESS.
The risk: THE I-BEAMS ON THE FRONT AXLE AND THE PANARD BRACKET ON THE REAR AXLE COULD CRACK AND BREAK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL I-BEAM. ALSO, DEALERS WILL WELD THE STIFFENERS FROM THE PANARD BAR BRACKET TO THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL OF THE REAR AXLE HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MONACO AT 1-877-466-6226.
MONACO COACH CORPORATIONManufacturer number R03024View 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

Brakes
Filed Jun 23, 2011

THIS IS A MOTORHOME WITH BOSCH DISC BRAKES. THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS RELEASE AFTER A STOP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS NOT KNOWN BY THE DRIVER UNTIL YOU SMELL BRAKES BURNING OR THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE IT HAS MELTED FROM THE HEAT. IT CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BEARINGS, AND OTHER AXLE COMPONENTS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DISC CALIPER PISTON NOT RETRACTING OCCASIONALLY AFTER A STOP. I HAVE HAD SEVEN FAILURES THAT I KNOW ABOUT, AND KNOW THAT I HAVE HAD MORE BECAUSE I CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE COMPONENTS. OTHER OWNERS OF MOTORHOMES WITH THIS TYPE OF BRAKE CALIPER HAVE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET OF FIRES AND LOSS OF BRAKING. BOSCH WILL NOT TALK TO ANY OF US ABOUT A REAL FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10409588
Incident
May 29, 2003
Mileage
9,040 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 4, 2003

CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO IDENTIFIED AND REMEDIED OPEN RECALL 02V278000. DEALER REPAIRED REAR BRAKES. RECALL DID NOT IDENTIFY SPECIFIC REMEDY VIA ARTEMIS OR NHTSA WEB SITE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WHY DEALER DID NOT REMEDY RECALL BEFORE SELLING VEHICLE, AND WHETHER REMEDY APPLIED TO FRONT BRAKES AS WELL. REMEDY WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY STATED. *AK THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS STUCK AND BECAME VERY HOT AND WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE ABS SENSOR BURNED OFF THE BRAKE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10032174
Incident
Jun 23, 2003
Mileage
3,921 mi
Filed Jul 25, 2003

THE LEFT REAR SENSOR FAILED. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID
10026179
Incident
Jun 20, 2003
Mileage
11,286 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

TSI114

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

IMFORMATION REGARDING FRONT JACK MOUNTING PLATE. NLM

TSI114

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

MONACO HAS DECIDED THAT CERTAIN MOTORHOMES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL HARDWARE AT THE FRONT LEVELING JACK. THE ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION HARDWARE WILL ELIMINATE UNUSUAL MOVEMENT OF THE MOTORHOME WHILE LEVELED. *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

Holiday Rambler Ambassador by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015110—
2014020—
2013330—
2012220—
2011030—
2010050—
2009260—
2008020—
2007210—
2006000—
2005200—
2004340—
2003185046.1
2002Viewing340—
2001156053.6
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.