Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1998 Coachmen Santara
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
763.6%
Other & Unspecified
19.1%
Median failure at 20,502 miles
Tires
19.1%
Fuel & Propulsion
19.1%
Median failure at 40,441 miles
Engine & Cooling
19.1%
Median failure at 40,441 miles
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.
Jun 1999peak 6Oct 2006
Recalls on the 1998 Coachmen Santara
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20070532,265 units in Canada
Other
On certain motorhomes, conventional travel trailers and fifth wheel travel trailers equipped with a Dometic Corporation refrigerator, a fatigue crack can develop in the boiler tube. This could allow the release of pressurized coolant solution into an area where an ignition source is present, which could result in a fire. Correction: Dealers will replace the refrigerator's boiler tube assembly.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 40,441 milesAllentown, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE FUEL LIFTER PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. THIS WAS THE 6TH PUMP TO BE REPLACED IN 8 YEARS. THE CONTACT FOUND A NHTSA RECALL # 05V062000, FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM: DIESEL, FUEL LIFT PUMP THAT HAD SIMILAR CONSEQUENCES. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO DIRTY FUEL AND FUEL FILTERS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN GOING OVER A HILL. UPDATED 12/01/06.
NHTSA complaint #10171707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,441 milesAllentown, PA
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE FUEL LIFTER PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. THIS WAS THE 6TH PUMP TO BE REPLACED IN 8 YEARS. THE CONTACT FOUND A NHTSA RECALL # 05V062000, FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM: DIESEL, FUEL LIFT PUMP THAT HAD SIMILAR CONSEQUENCES. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO DIRTY FUEL AND FUEL FILTERS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN GOING OVER A HILL. UPDATED 12/01/06.
NHTSA complaint #10171707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,502 milesFalmouth, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1998 COACHMEN SANTARA AWNING MADE BY DOMETIC A&E, MODEL 8500, BLEW OPEN WITH A GUST OF WIND. THE ENSUING VIBRATION CAUSED THE FRONT SUPPORT ARM TO DEPLOY AND DROP DOWN. HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE NEXT TO US IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TO THEM AND OUR MOTORHOME. THIS AWNING, AND OTHER MODELS LIKE IT,NOW HAVE A NEW MECHANISM TO PREVENT THIS DEPLOYMENT, BUT THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS ON THE ROAD WITH THE OLD MECHANISM AND NO RECALL ISSUED BY THE COMPANY TO REPLACE THEM, AND THESE TENS OF THOUSANDS MOTORHOME OWNERS ARE AT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10038884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barboursville, WV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT 2 DEALERS FOR 11 MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED PADS/ HOSE ASSEMBLY/ MASTER CYLINDER/ GASKETS/ BRAKE LINES/ BOOSTER ASSEMBLY/ CALIPERS, AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE BACK, BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING. MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #887501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barboursville, WV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT 2 DEALERS FOR 11 MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED PADS/ HOSE ASSEMBLY/ MASTER CYLINDER/ GASKETS/ BRAKE LINES/ BOOSTER ASSEMBLY/ CALIPERS, AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE BACK, BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING. MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #887501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barboursville, WV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT 2 DEALERS FOR 11 MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED PADS/ HOSE ASSEMBLY/ MASTER CYLINDER/ GASKETS/ BRAKE LINES/ BOOSTER ASSEMBLY/ CALIPERS, AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE BACK, BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING. MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #887501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barboursville, WV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT 2 DEALERS FOR 11 MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED PADS/ HOSE ASSEMBLY/ MASTER CYLINDER/ GASKETS/ BRAKE LINES/ BOOSTER ASSEMBLY/ CALIPERS, AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE BACK, BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING. MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #887501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barboursville, WV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT 2 DEALERS FOR 11 MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED PADS/ HOSE ASSEMBLY/ MASTER CYLINDER/ GASKETS/ BRAKE LINES/ BOOSTER ASSEMBLY/ CALIPERS, AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE BACK, BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING. MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #887501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barboursville, WV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT 2 DEALERS FOR 11 MONTHS. DEALER REPLACED PADS/ HOSE ASSEMBLY/ MASTER CYLINDER/ GASKETS/ BRAKE LINES/ BOOSTER ASSEMBLY/ CALIPERS, AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE BACK, BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING. MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #887501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Markham, IL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00-020; WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH RIGHT INNER REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION WICH JUST MADE A LOUD NOISE. THEN, STOPPED/FOUND OUT TREAD WAS GONE. FORD, COUCHMAN MOTOR HOME, 1998, FIRESTONE LT225/75R16 M/S. *AK ANOTHER FIRESTONE STEEL TEX TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #870620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westlake, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
BRAKE PEDAL FELL APART CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION WITH SEVERAL OBJECTS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS.
NHTSA complaint #545764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.