Owners have filed 18 complaints
about the 1997 Coachmen Coachmen with NHTSA between 1996 and 2004.
The largest single group is the tires.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 5 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 56
Against the median year of the Coachmen Coachmen. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1997 compares with every other Coachmen Coachmen
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1997 Coachmen Coachmen
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Tires
950.0%
Brakes
316.7%
Suspension
211.1%
Steering
211.1%
Equipment & Accessories
15.6%
Doors, Latches & Locks
15.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jul 1996peak 4Aug 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1997 Coachmen Coachmen
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
SQ97003Opened 5 Mar 1997Closed 17 Mar 1997EQUIPMENT
BILINGUAL LABELING
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CANADA'S CMVSS 108 EXCEED THE REQUREMENTS OF FMVSS 108.THIS IS NOT A COMPLIANCE ISSUE ON THE VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.
SQ97004Opened 5 Mar 1997Closed 17 Mar 1997EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CLEARANCE LIGHTS NONCOMPLAINANCE
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF CANADA'S CMVSS 108 EXCEED THE REQUREMENTS OF FMVSS 108.THIS IS NOT A COMPLIANCE ISSUE ON THE VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Caldwell, ID
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING THE COMPLETE TREAD OF THE TIRE CAME OFF, LEAVING THE SIDEWALL INTACT AS WELL AS THE CORE OF THE TIRE. SPEED WAS APPROX 50 (OR SPEED LIMIT) AND ON A GOOD ROAD (HWY 95 SO OF JORDAN VALLEY.
NHTSA complaint #10088850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPRINGS ON THE AXLE KEEP BREAKING CAUSING THE TIRES TO BLOW OUT. THIS HAPPENED SIX TIMES. *MR MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE WITH HEAVIER DUTY SPRINGS, HOWEVER CONSUMER REJECTED OFFER AS AN INADEQUATE RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. MODEL 297RK.
NHTSA complaint #8020287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Barbara, CA
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
LABEL FOR TIRE INFLATION BY SHASTA INDUSTRY LISTS TIRE PRESSURE THAT IS TOO LOW FOR TYPE MOTORHOME. ALSO, OWNER ACKNOWLEDGED THE LABEL GIVES WRONG RIM SIZE AND TIRE SIZE. *AK *NLM A NEW LABEL IS TO BE PROVIDED BY COACHMAN. *JG
NHTSA complaint #8016659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Donaldsonville, GA
TIRES:SIDEWALL
ORIGINAL TIRES ON A COACHMAN, CLASS 31 C MOTOR HOME, 1997, DOT VD111L1XD187, 22575/16. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH INSIDE DUAL TIRES SIDEWALL ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BLEWOUT. CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #897602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belleview, FL
TIRES
THIS INFO IS IN ADDITION TO MY COMPLAINT # 734470 PREVIOUSLY. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/75R1 )
NHTSA complaint #734941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belleview, FL
TIRES
ALL OF THESE TIRES HAD A BLOWOUT THROUGH THE TOP UNDER THE TREAD.I HAVE THE LAST 2 TIRES FOR EXAMINATION IF YOU OR ANYONE DESIRES TO DO SO (TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )
NHTSA complaint #734470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, OH
TIRES
BLOWOUT ON RIGHT REAR INSIDE DUAL TIRE. (WE FELT FORTUNATE IT WASN'T A FRONT TIRE) BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE WE REPLACED THE 2 FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS; WE WILL BE REPLACING THE 4 REAR DUAL TIRES AND SPARE WITH NON-FIRESTONE TIRES SOON. (TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/75R1 )
NHTSA complaint #734635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho Viejo, TX
TIRES
TIRE HAD NO PROBLEM WHEN WE LEFT LAREDO TX AT 23839 MILAGE BUT IT SOON DEVELOPED WHAT I FIRST THOUGHT WAS A WASHBOARD ROAD. IT GOT WORSE AND I COULD NOT SEE ANY CHANGE IN THE ROAD SO STOPPED TO CHECK TIRES. PRESSURE OK. PROCEEDED SLOWLY(35-40). TREAD CAME OFF AT 23876 MILAGE FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF AIR. DAMAGED EXHAUST AND VALVE EXTENDERS. THEY GAVE ME A PRORATE ON A NEW TIRE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE ON LONG TRIPS AFTER MY EXPERIENCE.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )
NHTSA complaint #733145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thaxton, VA
TIRES
TWO OF SIX TIRES FAILED DUE TO TIRE SEPERATION AND ONE TIRE FAILED DUE TO BEAD CUT AT THE RIM. FIRESTONE ONLY GAVE PARTIAL CREDIT FOR THE TIRES THAT SEPERATED. FIRESTONE REFUSED TO CREDIT THE TIRE WITH CUT AT THE BEAD OR FOR THE OTHER THREE TIRES. I REPLACED ALL OF THESE FIRESTONE TIRES BECAUSE I COULD NO LONGER GAMBLE MY FAMILIES LIVES BY CONTINUED USE OF THESE TIRES. THESE TIRES FAILED WITHIN ONE YEAR AT THREE SEPERATE OCCASIONS. WE WERE LUCKY BECAUSE WE COULD FEEL THE VIBRATION FROM THE TIRE FAILURE AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND REPLACED THE TIRES WITH THE SPARE. SOMEONE LESS INFORMED MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED WHILE DRIVING A 30' MOTORHOME AT 60-65 MPH ON OUR HIGHWAYS. PLEASE LOOK AT PERFORMANCE RECORD OF THESE TIRES. THERE MAY BE LESS ON THE ROAD, BUT I THINK YOU WILL FIND THE RATE OF FAILURE TO BE UNACCEPTABLE.( DOT NUMBER: VNIL 1XD TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16 )
NHTSA complaint #729944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nederland, TX
TIRES
WHILE TRAVELLING ON VACATION BETWEEN JUNE 10TH. & JUNE 15TH.,2000, EXPERIENCED THE TREAD SEPARATION ON FIVE FIRESTONE LT225/75R16/E TIRES. FULL EXPLANATION OF TREAD SEPARATION IS BEING MAILED TO YOUR OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, DC ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT TYPE OF ACTION IS NECESSARY BY EITHER YOUR ORGANIZATION OR MYSELF TO PROPERLY FILE THIS COMPLAINT AND RECEIVE AN ADEQUATE REPLY TO MY PROBLEM FROM EITHER FIRESTONE (OR FORD) AS THE CASE MAY BE TO ACHIEVE ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO MY TIRE PROBLEM OF JUNE, 2000. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: NOT KNOWN TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16 )
NHTSA complaint #729181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kalispell, MT
STEERING
IT IS VERY HARD TO STEER VEHICLE, AND IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER SAID VEHICLE DARTED TOWARD TRAFFIC AND TOWARDS DITCHES. CONSUMER HAS COME CLOSE SO MANY TIMES TO HAVING A COLLISION. VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY ON ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #865666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Hampstead, NH
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
EXPERIENCED 2 FAILURES OF THESE TIRES. THE FIRST AT 22345 MILES, AND THE SECOND AT 26400 MILES. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE TIRE HAD NEARLY COMPLETE TREAD SEPERATION. THESE BOTH OCCURRED ON REAR OD MATORHOME AND WERE BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. BOTH INSTANCES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH. THIS CREATED A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION NOT ONLY TO ME BUT TO OTHER MOTORISTS BEHIND ME (FLYING RUBBER). PLEASE ADVISE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/75R1 )
NHTSA complaint #723197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Abbotsford B.c., CD
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
RECALL REPAIR ON THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM COMPLETED, HOWEVER FAILED LOCKING PASSENGERS INSIDE AND REQUIRED THE UNIT TO BE DISMANTLED FROM THE INSIDE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poolville, TX
PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
PARKING BRAKE SENSOR SWITCH FAILED CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #524119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poolville, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #532873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poolville, TX
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #532873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Rutland, VT
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END WANDERS.
NHTSA complaint #520709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellensburg, WA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT, ALSO FAILURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHEN DRIVING THE DOOR OPENS.
NHTSA complaint #986576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.