48 of the
78 complaints filed about the Holiday Rambler Ambassador
are about the braking system —
62% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND INSTANTLY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT CRASHING INTO THE POLE WAS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE REVERSE POSITION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PREMIER TRUCK GROUP OF KNOXVILLE (1413 EVERETT ROAD, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37932 (800) 443-2324) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOOT VALVE WAS FAULTY AND THAT AIR WAS INDUCED INTO THE BRAKE LINES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE CALIBER, THE FRONT AXLE, AND ALL OF THE ABS SENSOR LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,500. *DT
NHTSA complaint #11144654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO ONE SIDE AND THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO COOL OFF AND WAS LATER DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ADDRESS THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #10744971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED ALL OF THE CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND PROCEED TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CALIPER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,342. UPDATED 10/17/13*CN THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP AND A SMALL FLAME STARTED. THE ABS SENSOR, BRAKE PADS AND BRAKE CALIPER BURNED UP. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. UPDATE 12/5/13
NHTSA complaint #10536296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED ALL OF THE CALIPER OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND PROCEED TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CALIPER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,342. UPDATED 10/17/13*CN THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP AND A SMALL FLAME STARTED. THE ABS SENSOR, BRAKE PADS AND BRAKE CALIPER BURNED UP. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. UPDATE 12/5/13
NHTSA complaint #10536296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT FAILED TO RELEASE. THE BRAKES RESPONDED BUT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT DISPENSED WATER ONTO THE BRAKES. AFTER THE BRAKES HAD COOLED, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED NORMALLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) IN 2004. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
NHTSA complaint #10526161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THIS IS A MOTORHOME WITH BOSCH DISC BRAKES. THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS RELEASE AFTER A STOP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS NOT KNOWN BY THE DRIVER UNTIL YOU SMELL BRAKES BURNING OR THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE IT HAS MELTED FROM THE HEAT. IT CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BEARINGS, AND OTHER AXLE COMPONENTS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DISC CALIPER PISTON NOT RETRACTING OCCASIONALLY AFTER A STOP. I HAVE HAD SEVEN FAILURES THAT I KNOW ABOUT, AND KNOW THAT I HAVE HAD MORE BECAUSE I CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE COMPONENTS. OTHER OWNERS OF MOTORHOMES WITH THIS TYPE OF BRAKE CALIPER HAVE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET OF FIRES AND LOSS OF BRAKING. BOSCH WILL NOT TALK TO ANY OF US ABOUT A REAL FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10409588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR ON A ROADMASTER CHASSIS. I HAVE THE SAME BOSCH BRAKES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING RECALLED ON THE WORK HORSE CHASSIS. I SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE WORK HORSE RECALL SINCE I HAVE THE SAME BRAKES. HOLIDAY RAMBLER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND WAS BOUGHT BY MONACO AND IT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS ALSO. NAVISTAR BOUGHT MONACO. NO ONE IS LOOKING AT THE HOLIDAY RAMBLER BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT ARE THE SAME AS THE WORK HOURS RECALL. I HAD TO HAVE ALL CALIPERS ,ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, AND ABS SENSORS CHANGED DUE TO THE CALIPER NOT RELEASING AND HEATING THE ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #10336636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 09E064000. RECALL IS IN REGARD TO ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY KONGSBERG POWER PRODUCTS. MY 2009 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR MOTORHOME HAS SUCH AN ASSEMBLY. WHEN I CONTACTED NAVISTAR'S MONACO RV, THEY DENIED LIABILITY SINCE MY COACH WAS MADE BY MONACO COACH, WHICH FILED BANKRUPTCY AND WAS BOUGHT BY NAVISTAR. I NEED THIS SAFETY PROBLEM FIXED BUT DON'T KNOW WHO TO CALL.
NHTSA complaint #10326177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER MOTORHOME BOSCH BRAKE CALIBERS STICKING. 73MM. HAD TO CHANGE ALL 4 CALIBERS. NOW DRIVERS SIDE STICKING. VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10321188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKES ARE HARD TO USE, AND OFTEN GET HOT TO THE POINT OF A BURNT SMELL. THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. WHEN REPAIRED I AM TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT THE SENSORS CONTINUE TO BE DESTROYED. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO BE SERVICED IN MARCH 2010 AND AM REQUIRED TO HAVE A NEW BRAKE BOOSTER INSTALLED IN ADDITION TO THE ABS REPAIR AT A COST OF ABOUT $2000.00.
NHTSA complaint #10319638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
MY 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR HAS BEEN RECALLED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V278000. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED MONACO AND WAS TOLD THEY DECLARED BANKRUPTCY AND WAS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE. MY VEHICLE HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS RECALL. IS IT TRUE THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE?
NHTSA complaint #10290247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. HE HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE NOTICED SMOKE POURING OUT FROM BOTH FRONT BRAKES. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SO HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AGAIN AND ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO COOL. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000. THE MANUFACTURER FILED CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY AND WOULD NOT HANDLE THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,561 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,540.
NHTSA complaint #10277566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER, AMBASSADOR, 34PST, AFTER LIGHT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHEAT, THE DISK BRAKE CALIPERS FAIL TO RELEASE COMPLETELY OVERHEATING THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES TO THE POINT OF BURNING. GEAR OIL CAN BE SMELLED AND THE WHEELS ARE LOCKED WITH THE MOTORCOACH OFF THE GROUND. AFTER COOLING THEY RELESED. NHTSA RECALL 02V278000 MONACO R02175 APPLIES. DEALER TOM RAPER REFUSES TO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10270026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ABS INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL THE BRAKE LINES BURNING AND NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE HOT, WHICH CAUSED THE DISCS TO CRACK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED BY FREIGHT LINER TO HAVE ONE DISC REPLACED AND THE OTHER THREE TURNED DUE TO THE HAIRLINE CRACKS CAUSED BY THE HEAT. A YEAR LATER, AFTER DRIVING FIVE MILES, THE SMELL RETURNED. ON THIS OCCASION, THE ABS SENSORS BURNED OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS. THE ABS SENSORS, TWO FRONT CALIPERS, AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECALL BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE PRIMARY OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE RECALL ENDED IN 2004 AND BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2004. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #10265887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE OVERHEATED AND BEGAN SMOKING WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FAILURE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKING POWER. HE NOTICED THAT THE ISSUE OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IN 2002, THE BRAKES OVERHEATED AND SMOKE APPEARED, BUT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO COOL OFF. IN 2003, THE BRAKES WERE REBUILT AFTER THE MANUFACTURER SHIPPED OUT PARTS DUE TO THE FAILURE. AFTER THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V278000 IN 2004. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED A FOURTH TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,148 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,251. UPDATED 05/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/11/09.
NHTSA complaint #10260959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.