NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Coachmen Santara Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Coachmen Santara has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Coachmen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Coachmen Santara. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1997 Coachmen Santara owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Coachmen Santara, describing incidents dated July 12, 1999 to May 22, 2004.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Of the 3 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10079256 · Filed July 4, 2004
WHILE DRIVING FROM NEVADA TO ILLINOIS, ALL THE WINDOW SEALS (EXCEPT IN BEDROOM) BLEW OUT, THEN THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM WALLS OF UNIT, ALSO THE WALLS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RELEASED FROM THE FLOOR LENGTHWISE ABOUT 20 FEET. YOU CAN SEE ROAD, THE SEPARATION IS SO BIG. THE SEPARATION IS ALSO ON THE…
ODI #869687 · Filed September 6, 2000
FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P225/75R16 DOT VD1L1XD187 HAVE FAILED 5 TIMES, ALL TIRES HAVE HAD CRACKS FORMING IN THE SIDEWALL, ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE MOTORHOME. *SLC
ODI #757219 · Filed January 23, 2002
A DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS STARTED THE FIRE AS DETERMINED BY THE TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS REQUIRED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE COMPLETELY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN FIRE BROKE OUT. I HAVE MUCH MORE DOCUMENTATION ON THE INCIDENT AVAILABLE TO…

Read all 3 complaints

COACHMEN/ELECTRICAL WIRING

NHTSA #99V076000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported April 12, 1999 · COACHMEN RV COMPANY

Potentially affected: 3,073 vehicles

Owners notified May 3, 1999 · Vehicles built June 23, 1992 – April 28, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES WITH BASEMENT CONVERTERS AND BASEMENT FREEZERS. A GROMMET MAY BE MISSING ALLOWING THE 110-VOLT WIRE TO RUB AGAINST A METAL EDGE.

Safety consequence

IF A DIRECT SHORT WERE TO OCCUR, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTOR HOMES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUBJECT WIRES ARE PROPERLY PROTECTED. IF THEY ARE NOT, PROPER PROTECTION WILL BE ADDED, AND IF NECESSARY, THE WIRING WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 3, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT COACHMEN AT 1-800-453-6064.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Coachmen Santara. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Coachmen Santara.

Structure; Unknown or Other

ODI #10079256

Incident: May 22, 2004 · Filed: July 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING FROM NEVADA TO ILLINOIS, ALL THE WINDOW SEALS (EXCEPT IN BEDROOM) BLEW OUT, THEN THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM WALLS OF UNIT, ALSO THE WALLS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RELEASED FROM THE FLOOR LENGTHWISE ABOUT 20 FEET. YOU CAN SEE ROAD, THE SEPARATION IS SO BIG. THE SEPARATION IS ALSO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT NOT AS LONG. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE SEALS AND WINDOWS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE WE BOUGHT COACH IN 2001. WINDOWS IN UNIT ARE MANUFACTURED BY CREATIVE. AFTER TALKING WITH A COACHMEN DEALER, THEY SUSPECT THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR YEARS BEFORE WE BOUGHT IN 9/01 (WE ARE ALSO THE FIRST TITLED OWNER). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE UNIT. NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED AS OF JULY 2004. SUGGESTIONS? 1997 COACHMEN, SANTARA, 31FT, FORD 460. *AK

Tires

ODI #869687

Incident: July 12, 1999 · Filed: September 6, 2000

FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P225/75R16 DOT VD1L1XD187 HAVE FAILED 5 TIMES, ALL TIRES HAVE HAD CRACKS FORMING IN THE SIDEWALL, ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE MOTORHOME. *SLC

Electrical System

ODI #757219

Fire

Incident: November 10, 2001 · Filed: January 23, 2002

A DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS STARTED THE FIRE AS DETERMINED BY THE TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS REQUIRED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE COMPLETELY. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN FIRE BROKE OUT. I HAVE MUCH MORE DOCUMENTATION ON THE INCIDENT AVAILABLE TO ANYONE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS WELL AS ALL INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMATION, REPAIR FACILITY INFORMATION, LETTERS TO THE MANUFACTURER, DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIRE EVENT, ETC.*AK

Other Coachmen Santara model years

Check your 1997 Coachmen Santara VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Coachmen Santara at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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