Owners have filed 16 complaints
about the 2000 Holiday Rambler Ambassador with NHTSA between 2001 and 2012.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 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 — 40
Against the median year of the Holiday Rambler Ambassador. 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 — 37
21% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2000 compares with every other Holiday Rambler Ambassador
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 2001peak 2Aug 2012
Recalls on the 2000 Holiday Rambler Ambassador
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 2008253472 units in Canada
Other
On certain motorhomes equipped with a Norcold Inc. refrigerator, a fatigue crack in the section of the cooling unit which contains the refrigerant could allow the liquid solution to slowly leak. If a leak occurs and the refrigerator continues to be operated after solution circulation has ceased, hydrogen gas may be expelled and can be ignited. This could result in a fire, causing property damage, personal injury, or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the refrigerators cooling unit.
Recall 2004116185 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain motorhomes, the brake assemblies exhibit elevated temperatures that can lead to catastrophic deterioration of the wheel end components such as bearings, races, spindles, knuckles, seals, hubs, rotors, patch bolts, calipers, brake pads and ABS sensors. This could result in loss of control, and/or the potential for a fire. Correction: Dealers will inspect the front and rear brake calipers for corrosion and replace or rebuild the calipers as necesary.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 42,000 milesHudson, WI
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10472034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,298 milesColumbus, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM OF 2000 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. THIS RIG HAS APX 26,000 MILES ON IT. WE GET THE RUN AROUND FROM MONACO . WE CAN NOT FIND PARTS TO REPAIR THIS SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10331658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,140 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING OUT OF HOUSTON, TX, I SMELLED BRAKES SO I PULLED OVER TO ALLOW THE CALIPERS TO COOL. FOUND THE RH FRONT CALIPER WAS VERY HOT AND SMOKING. I LET IT COOL FOR 1/2 HOUR AND CHECKED FOR FREE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL. EVERYTHING SEEM OK SO I PROCEEDED. NO MORE THAN 1/2 CITY BLOCK, THE SMELL RESUMED AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10290617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,140 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING OUT OF HOUSTON, TX, I SMELLED BRAKES SO I PULLED OVER TO ALLOW THE CALIPERS TO COOL. FOUND THE RH FRONT CALIPER WAS VERY HOT AND SMOKING. I LET IT COOL FOR 1/2 HOUR AND CHECKED FOR FREE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL. EVERYTHING SEEM OK SO I PROCEEDED. NO MORE THAN 1/2 CITY BLOCK, THE SMELL RESUMED AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. THE ABS SENSOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT WAS BURNED UP AND THE CALIPER WAS SIZZLING HOT AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP. THIS IS THE NINTH THERMAL BRAKE FAILURE I HAVE HAD ON THIS MOTORHOME. THE SAFETY RECALL THAT WAS DONE IN 2002 DID NOT CORRECT MY PROBLEM. THEY ONLY INSPECTED MY CALIPERS AND SAID THAT I HAD THE NEW STYLE INSTALLED AND THAT NO FURTHER ACTION WAS REQUIRED. BOSCH NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS BEFORE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS HAPPENS.
NHTSA complaint #10290623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,649 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AGAIN ON 18 NOV 08, ON A TRIP TO KEY WEST, FL I HAD THERMAL BRAKE FAILURE. THIS TIME THE LEFT REAR CALIPER PISTON FAILED TO RETRACT FULLY AND CAUSED THE PAD TO DRAG ON THE ROTOR AND THIS RESULTED IN AN EXTREMELY HOT SITUATION, WITH SMOKE SMELL AND THEN AN ILLUMINATED ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THIS IS THE 8TH FAILURE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED SINCE WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS MOTORHOME. MONACO REPRESENTATIVE CONTINUES TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THEIR UNITS AND PLAINLY STATED ON OUR LAST PHONE CONVERSATION, THAT THEY DON'T PLAN TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY OR ANY ONE ELSE'S COMPLAINT CONCERNING THIS MATER. IT IS A BOSCH PROBLEM, BUT THE SYSTEM IS INSTALLED ON A MONACO MOTORHOME.
NHTSA complaint #10250708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,250 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THERMAL BRAKE FAILURE ON FLORIDA STATE ROAD 33 JUST NORTH OF GROVELAND, FL. ON 8 OCT 08. RIGHT REAR CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED BURNED BRAKE SMELL AND RESULTANT FAILURE OF THE ABS SENSOR. PISTONS FAILED TO FULLY RETRACT WHICH CAUSED THE PADS TO DRAG ON THE ROTOR AND CAUSE HEAT BUILD UP. THIS IS THE 8TH FAILURE SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS MORTORHOME NEW APRIL 2000. RECALL IN 2004 ONLY INVOLVED AN INSPECTION FOR MY MOTORHOME AND THEY DETERMINED THAT MY INSTALLED CALIPERS THAT WERE INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY IN 2003 WERE PROPER. I STILL BELIEVE THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER CALIPERS DUE TO THE CONTINUED THERMAL BRAKE FAILURES. I SEND A COURTESY COPY OF EACH COMPLAINT I FILE TO MONACO. MONACE REPRESENTATIVE MR. MICHAEL BECKER CONTINUES TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO BRAKE PROBLEM ON HOLIDAY RAMBLER MOTORHOMES AND THAT THE RECALL CORRECTED THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. THE BOSCH REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOT DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH ME.
NHTSA complaint #10246757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,411 milesBaton Rouge, LA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE NOTICE. THE ABS SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND ALL OF THE BRAKING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ON MAY 12, 2003 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES EXHIBITED ELEVATED TEMPERATURES THAT COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC DETERIORATION OF THE WHEEL END COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE BEARINGS, RACES, SPINDLES, KNUCKLES, SEALS, HUBS, ROTORS, PATCH BOLTS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, AND ABS SENSORS. ON MARCH 28, 2008, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE COMPONENTS FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,411 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,896. UPDATED 04/23/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED 2ND FAILURE WAS ON 03/08 @ 51,896 R/REAR LOCKED COMPLETELY REBUILT AND REAR BRAKE. UPDATED 04/23/08
NHTSA complaint #10222938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 67,800 milesOkeechobee, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WENT TO LEAVE FOR DAYTONA LAST THURSDAY(2/7/08) WHEN I GOT TO THE HWY, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SO I GOT IT BACK TO MY LOT( USING THE PARKING BRAKE) AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FUILD RUNNING OUT ON THE GROUND AND THAT HOLIDAY RAMBLER HAD ASSEMBLED THE BRAKE LINES ON THE BOTTOM INSIDE OF THE FRAME AND THEY HAD ALL RUSTED OUT, I REPLACE ALL LINE AND BLEED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY ARE NOT ADIQUIT TO STOP THIS 36' MOTOROME, COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE!!. I AM BACK IN OKEECHOBEE, BUT I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE IT, IT IS NOT ROAD WORTHY.
NHTSA complaint #10219272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 66,831 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THERMAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN TRAFFIC AT PADUCKA, KY. LEFT REAR CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED STRONG SMELL, SMOKE AND RESULTANT FAILURE OF ABS SENSOR. PISTONS FAILED TO FULLY RETRACT AND THE PADS WERE DRAGGING ON THE ROTOR CAUSING THE HEAT BUILD UP. THIS IS THE 7TH FAILURE SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS MOTORHOME NEW IN APRIL 2000 . RECALL IN 2004 ONLY INVOLVED AN INSPECTION FOR MY MOTORHOME AND THEY DETERMINED THAT MY INSTALLED CALIPERS THAT WERE INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY IN 2003 WERE PROPER. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE CORRECT AS I CONTINUE TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. MY CALIPERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED DURING THE RECALL INSTEAD OF JUST AN INSPECTION! I REPORT EACH FAILURE TO MONACO AND THE REPRESENTATIVES STATE THAT MY CALIPERS ARE CURRENT AND OK. BOSCH WILL NOT DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH ME. THEY STATE THEY WILL ONLY TALK ABOUT THIS TO FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10212410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,542 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THERMAL DISC BRAKE FAILURE AFTER 3RD APPLICATION OF BRAKES ON MOUNTAIN DECENT. RIGHT FRONT CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE PISTONS TO FAIL TO FULLY RETRACT RESULTING IN THE PADS TO DRAG ON THE ROTORS AND CAUSE SMOKE, BRAKE OVERHEAT SMELL AND ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH. THIS IS THE 6TH FAILURE SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS MOTORHOME. RECALL IN 2003, DID NOT RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10207511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,542 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
THERMAL DISC BRAKE FAILURE AFTER 3RD APPLICATION OF BRAKES ON MOUNTAIN DECENT. RIGHT FRONT CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE PISTONS TO FAIL TO FULLY RETRACT RESULTING IN THE PADS TO DRAG ON THE ROTORS AND CAUSE SMOKE, BRAKE OVERHEAT SMELL AND ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH. THIS IS THE 6TH FAILURE SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS MOTORHOME. RECALL IN 2003, DID NOT RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10207511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesPolk City, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
I REPORTED OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES TO MONACO JUNE 2002- THEY HAD CUMMINGS AT OCALA, FL REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE COMPONENTS ON THE FRONT AXLE. AGAIN IN JULY 2003 I HAD OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES, SMOKE AND ABS FAILURE- MONACO HAD PLANT 9 REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR. IN 2004 MONACO HAD A RECALL INSPECTION- RESULT WAS THAT THE REPLACED CALIPERS WERE THE NEW APPROVED CALIPERS. I CONTINUE TO HAVE OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES; SOMETIMES IN FRONT AND SOMETIMES IN THE REAR, ( ABS SENSOR ALWAYS ARE BURNED UP). NOW AFTER ONLY 27,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS, THE BRAKE PADS ARE WORN OUT. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TWICE TO THE TECH AT MONACO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEIR ANSWER IS THAT THEY DID THE RECALL IN 2004; THEREFORE, THE PROBLEM OF OVERHEATED CALIPERS WAS RESOLVED. ABOUT EVERY 90 DAYS I HAVE TO REPLACE A BURNED OUT ABS SENSOR AT A COST OF $90 EACH TIME. I STILL HAVE OVERHEATING OF THE CALIPERS AND COMPONENTS. THE STYLE CALIPERS THEY INSTALLED DID NOT RESOLVE MY PROBLEM. MONACO (TECH'S) NOW STATE THAT MY COACH IS A 2000 THAT HAS 60M MILES ON IT; THEREFORE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY STATE THAT IT NOW IS MY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10181166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,900 milesOrange Beach, AL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
REF: RECALL 02V278000 FRONT BRAKES OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF SMOKING. CALIPERS WERE STICKING. PRIMARILY LT. FRONT. RT FRONT WAS OVERHEATED BUT NOT AS SEVERE. REARS OK. MONACO COACH CLAIMS RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND RECALL IS CLOSED ON THIS VEHICLE. PER DISCUSSION WITH MONACO COACH RECALL HOTLINE REP. THE RECALL WORK,DONE IN SEPT OF 2004 DID NOT INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THE CALIPERS. IN MAY OF 2005 EXTENSIVE REPAIR WORK WAS AGAIN DONE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM (I HAVE A COPY OF THE RECEIPT) BUT AGAIN DID NOT INCLUDE CALIPER REPLACEMENT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2005. SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE I NOTED FRONT CALIPER OVERHEATING AND CONTACTED THE MONACO TECH LINE FOR INFO. THE OVERHEATING CONTINUED AND I HAD THE CALIPERS REPLACED BY A LOCAL SHOP IN PENSACOLA FLORIDA. THE BRAKE OVERHEATING HAS NOW BEEN ELIMINATED. VIRTUALLY EVERY SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL THE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. I AM QUESTIONING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FIELD INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS TO RESOLVE THIS RECALL. "INSPECTION" OF THE CALIPERS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A GUARANTEED RESOLUTION. MY BRAKE OVERHEATING PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED UNTIL THE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. I REPLACED THEM PRIOR TO ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS RECALL. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MONACO TECHS. NO MENTION WAS MADE OF THE RECALL OR POTENTIAL CALIPER PROBLEMS. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL IN A INTERNET SEARCH ON MY VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10157085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,000 milesMount Holly, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER RECEIVED 02V278000 NOTICE CONCERNING ABS BRAKE FAILURE. RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE TWICE. HOWEVER, ABS BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN FOR A THIRD TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10075508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vancover, 00
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR. DRIVER TOOK THE MOTOR HOME TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10050147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellevue, IA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK ALL 12 VOLT POWER TO ENTIRE CHASSIS COMPONENTS FAILED THUS KILLING THE ENGINE INSTANTLY. NO POWER BRAKE OR STEERING, ALL DASH LIGHTS,HEAD LIGHTS, RUNNING LITHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS AND EMERENCY LIGHTS GO OUT.
NHTSA complaint #891431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.