RoadVitals

2004 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 Oct 31, 2009
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 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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Safari Coach Cheetah, most frequently naming the suspension, electrical and steering categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 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

  • Suspension360.0%
  • Electrical120.0%
  • Steering120.0%

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
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
03V526000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Dec 12, 2003
121 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 36', 38', AND 40' MOTOR HOMES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE REAR PSI STATES 85 OR 115 LBS. THE CORRECT REAR PSI IS 95 LBS.
The risk: UNDER OR OVER-INFLATED TIRES CAN CAUSE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE AND COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN BLOWOUT OR OTHER FAILURE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORHOME.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT LABELS AT NO CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MONACO AT 1-877-477-6226.
MONACO COACH CORPORATIONManufacturer number RO3056View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Oct 31, 2009

THE MOTORHOME (MH) WAS BROUGHT IN TO TRUCK REPAIR FACILITY FOR ALIGNMENT OF REAR AXLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ATTRIBUTED TO REAR AXLE MISALIGNMENT. WHEN TECH'S GOT UNDER THE MH IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH TRAILING ARMS WERE CRACKED WHERE THE AXLE MOUNTS TO THE ARMS. ONE WAS SLIGHTLY CRACKED, THE OTHER WAS CRACKED APPROX 75% THROUGH. HAD EITHER ARM BROKEN COMPLETELY THROUGH THE MH BODY WOULD HAVE DROPPED DOWN WITH POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. MILEAGE AT THIS TIME WAS APPROX 52,000. BOTH OF THESE ARMS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY MONACO AT APPROX 17,000 MILE UNDER RECALL IN JULY OF 2005. BOTH ARMS REPLACED AT THIS TIME WITH THE SAME TYPE OF ARMS THAT CRACKED AS THERE WERE NO ALTERNATIVE ARMS AVAILABLE. EXPERIENCE BY OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM HAS SHOWN THAT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD THESE REPLACEMENT ARMS WILL ALSO BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290461
Incident
Mar 6, 2009
Mileage
52,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED ON 2004 SAFARI CHEETAH MOTOR HOME MONACO THE GENERATOR ROLLED OUT OF ITS LATCHES. IT ROLLED FORWARD TO THE END OF THE STOP. THE GENERATOR WAS ON RAILS AND LATCHES DOWN. THERE WERE BOLTS ON EACH SIDE THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO HOLD THE GENERATOR IN PLACE. THE BOLTS BROKE AND THE GENERATOR ROLLED. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO THE FACTORY REPAIR CENTER, AND HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THIS WAS REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10133201
Incident
Jun 6, 2005
Mileage
24,120 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 6, 2005

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO A SAFARI TREK 31 MOTORHOME MANUFACTURED BY MONACO COACH CORP VIN # [XXX]. THE COACH IS ON A WORKHORSE 22 CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BY WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS LLC. THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROVIDE UNSAFE HANDLING. THE COACH "RABBIT HUNTS", BOUNDS, SWAYS, AND ROCKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLE. TO DATE I HAVE ADDED A TRUE CENTER STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM MADE BY BLUE OX. THIS HELPED THE STEERING PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT CORRECT IT OR THE OTHER UNSAFE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE UNIT INDICATED THAT WORKHORSE HAD A "FIX" THAT INVOLVED REPLACING THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WITH HEAVY DUTY SHOCK ABSORBERS AND ADDING A ANTI-SWAY BAR. THESE I WAS INFORMED MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE OWNER. WORKHORSE AND SAFARI DID NOT AGREE TO FIX THIS KNOWN HANDLING SAFETY PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF IT AND KNOW THE "FIX". *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10105897
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Suspension
Filed Jun 28, 2004

RECALL REGARDING 2004 SAFARI CHEETAH'S FRONT SUSPENSION.*MR THE DEALER NEVER DISCLOSED THE RECALL AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE I-BEAM LEAF IMITATOR IN THE FRONT AXLE SUSPENSION AND THE REAR AXLE PANARD BAR. THE RECALL STATED THAT THEY HAD FAULTY WELDS THAT COULD CRACK AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE BUT THE FRONT HAD NOT. THE MECHANIC ASSURED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WELDS WERE HOLDING AND NO CRACKS WERE VISUALLY EVIDENT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ORDERED THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY REPAIRED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10081925
Incident
Jan 1, 2001

Manufacturer communications

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

149

STEERING

THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BOOT MAY COME LOOSE FROM THE FLOOR. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 SAFARI SAHARA. *TT

081304

STEERING

THE STEERING INTRMEDIATE SHAFT BOOT MAY COME LOOSE FROM THE FLOOR. *EH

040621

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE ADDITION OF A HOLD DOWN BRACKET ON THE WARDROBE SLIDE-OUT MECHANISM USED ON CERTAIN COACHES. VARIOUS MODLES INCLUDING 2004 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ENDEAVOR, AND MONACO DIPLOMAT. *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—
2004Viewing430—
2003430—
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.