RoadVitals

2003 Holiday Rambler Ambassador Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Nov 1, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
50%
of 18 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Holiday Rambler Ambassador submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2018
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND INSTANTLY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT CRASHING INTO THE POLE WAS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE REVERSE POSITION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PREMIER TRUCK GROUP OF KNOXVILLE (1413 EVERETT ROAD, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37932 (800) 443-2324) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOOT VALVE WAS FAULTY AND THAT AIR WAS INDUCED INTO THE BRAKE LINES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE CALIBER, THE FRONT AXLE, AND ALL OF THE ABS SENSOR LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,500. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11144654
Incident
Oct 16, 2018
Mileage
53,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO ONE SIDE AND THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO COOL OFF AND WAS LATER DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ADDRESS THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10744971
Incident
Jul 25, 2015
Mileage
45,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 3, 2013

FRONT CALIPERS DID NOT RELEASE, CAUSING ABNORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROTORS AND PADS I HAVE A ROADMASTER CHASSIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533403
Incident
Jun 20, 2013
Mileage
49,394 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 16, 2010

I HAVE A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR ON A ROADMASTER CHASSIS. I HAVE THE SAME BOSCH BRAKES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING RECALLED ON THE WORK HORSE CHASSIS. I SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE WORK HORSE RECALL SINCE I HAVE THE SAME BRAKES. HOLIDAY RAMBLER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND WAS BOUGHT BY MONACO AND IT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS ALSO. NAVISTAR BOUGHT MONACO. NO ONE IS LOOKING AT THE HOLIDAY RAMBLER BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT ARE THE SAME AS THE WORK HOURS RECALL. I HAD TO HAVE ALL CALIPERS ,ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, AND ABS SENSORS CHANGED DUE TO THE CALIPER NOT RELEASING AND HEATING THE ROTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10336636
Incident
May 13, 2010
Mileage
24,368 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 20, 2010

2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER MOTORHOME BOSCH BRAKE CALIBERS STICKING. 73MM. HAD TO CHANGE ALL 4 CALIBERS. NOW DRIVERS SIDE STICKING. VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10321188
Incident
Jan 28, 2010
Mileage
57,870 mi
Brakes
Filed May 27, 2009

2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER, AMBASSADOR, 34PST, AFTER LIGHT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHEAT, THE DISK BRAKE CALIPERS FAIL TO RELEASE COMPLETELY OVERHEATING THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES TO THE POINT OF BURNING. GEAR OIL CAN BE SMELLED AND THE WHEELS ARE LOCKED WITH THE MOTORCOACH OFF THE GROUND. AFTER COOLING THEY RELESED. NHTSA RECALL 02V278000 MONACO R02175 APPLIES. DEALER TOM RAPER REFUSES TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10270026
Incident
May 8, 2009
Mileage
24,120 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Mar 24, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. WHILE 55 MPH, THE CALIPERS WOULD LOCK THE BRAKES, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEELS TO OVERHEAT. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS, BRAKE PADS ALSO FAILED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR HOWEVER; THE ABS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID
10222129
Incident
Sep 12, 2004
Mileage
4,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 8, 2007

ABS SENSOR KEEPS ON BURNING OUT. HAVE REPLACED LEFT REAR 2 TIMES, FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT. WAS TOLD THAT HOUSING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER, CALLED MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO RECALLS ON THE UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10205181
Incident
Sep 10, 2004
Mileage
3,992 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 2003

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ABS AND SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD, THEN THE BRAKES LOCK UP. DRIVER HAS TO PUMP THE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKES. BRAKING SYSTEM COMPONENTS BURNED 5 TIMES AFTER THIS HAD OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE BREAKING SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10040235
Mileage
1 mi

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .