RoadVitals

2003 Safari Coach Cheetah

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.
4
Latest Apr 26, 2018
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.
3
Latest Sep 6, 2007
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Safari Coach Cheetah, most frequently naming the exterior lighting and suspension categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 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

  • Exterior lighting250.0%
  • Suspension250.0%

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

3 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
07V423000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Sep 6, 2007
3,463 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
The risk: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: MONACO WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR MONACO AT 1-877-466-6226.
MONACO COACH CORPORATIONView 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

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAFARI COACH CHEETAH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES WERE STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND VISIBILITY WAS POOR FOR THE LOW BEAM, HIGH BEAM, AND DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FIND AN AUTHORIZED FACILITY TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
11090236
Incident
Apr 26, 2018
Mileage
40,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 18, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAFARI COACH CHEETAH RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE CRACKED. HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V053000 (SUSPENSION, REAR SPRINGS LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY) AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOTOR HOME STATED THAT THEY PURCHASED THE COMPANY FROM HOLIDAY RAMBLER (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS SAFARI COACH) AND THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE CRACKED SPRINGS WOULD CAUSE LIMITED VEHICLE CONTROL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,000.

NHTSA ID
10331053
Incident
May 18, 2010
Mileage
29,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 21, 2010

2003 SAFARI SAFARI CHEETAH MOTORHOME. RECALL CONCERNING THE TRAILING ARM*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS PURCHASED BY ANOTHER COMPANY AND NO ONE WANTS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS, LEAVING THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH A RECALL WAS ISSUED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10327393
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THEY WERE SO FAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT, HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE MOTORHOME BACK THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE STICKING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE COACH AND NOT SECURE. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE HEADLIGHTS BACK AND FORTH, UP AND DOWN NO MORE THAN AN INCH EACH WAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10038217

Manufacturer communications

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

131

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:LINES AND FITTINGS

DURING THE FACTORY INSPECTION PROCESS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOME UNITS COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THEIR LP LINES TOO CLOSE TO THE SLIDE-OUT HARDWARE. AS A PRECAUTION, MONACO COACH IS RECOMMENDING THE LOWERING OF THE LP TANKS TO REDUCE THE CHANGE OF THE SLIDE-OUT HARDWARE RUBBING ON THE LP LINE. *TT

124

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

JB RADIATOR INNER COOLER FAILURE ON ALUMINUM RADIATORS. *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

Safari Coach Cheetah by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010010—
2009020—
2008020—
2007010—
2006210—
2005220—
2004430—
2003Viewing430—
2002030—
2001010—
2000010—

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.