NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Coachmen Santara Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Coachmen Santara has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Coachmen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Coachmen Santara. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Coachmen Santara owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Coachmen Santara, describing incidents dated November 27, 2009.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10295520 · Filed December 13, 2009
WE PURCHASED AN 03 COACHMEN SANTARA RV WITH THE FORD F450 TRITON V10 ENGINE IT HAD 28500 MIL. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN OCT. 08. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE TO IT AND THE ENGINE RAN FINE,WE HAVE TAKEN A FEW TRIPS IN IT AND IT HAS RAN FINE. WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO HOLBROOK FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY…

Read the full complaint

SHOWER DOOR TOWEL BAR

NHTSA #08V639000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported December 4, 2008 · COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLC

Potentially affected: 13,662 vehicles

Owners notified February 9, 2009 · Vehicles built June 15, 2001 – August 6, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

COACHMEN IS RECALLING 13,662 MY 2002-2008 MOTOR HOMES, FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH GLASS SHOWER DOORS AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2001 THORUGH AUGUST 6, 2007. WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE TOWEL BAR ON THE GLASS SHOWER DOOR, THE EDGE OF THE BAR MAY CONTACT THE GLASS.

Safety consequence

GLASS BREAKAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW MOUNTING HARDWARE FOR THE TOWEL BAR AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER IS NOT COMFORTABLE REPLACING THE HARDWARE THEMSELVES, A DEALER WILL INSTALL THE HARDWARE AT NO COST TO THEM. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 19, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COACHMEN AT 1-574-825-5821.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

COACHMEN/GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE

NHTSA #03V081000 · Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator · NHTSA notice

Reported March 5, 2003 · COACHMEN RV COMPANY

Potentially affected: 109 vehicles

Owners notified March 24, 2003 · Vehicles built December 13, 2002 – February 26, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN CLASS C MINI-MOTOR HOMES, THE GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED AND INSTALLED INCORRECTLY RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO OR CONTACT WITH THE CHASSIS FUEL FILL TUBE.

Safety consequence

WHEN OPERATING, THE GENERATOR'S EXHAUST PIPE MAY REACH TEMPERATURES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MELT AND/OR IGNITE THE FUEL FILL TUBE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL DISASSEMBLE A PORTION OF THE GENERATOR EXHAUST PIPE ASSEMBLY, TURNING ONE OF THE BENT COMPONENTS AROUND 180 DEGREES, REASSEMBLING THE EXHAUST PIPE AND MEASURING TO ENSURE A MINIMUM OF 3" AIR GAP WITH SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 24, 2003. 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN 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 2003 Coachmen Santara. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Coachmen Santara.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10295520

Incident: November 27, 2009 · Filed: December 13, 2009

WE PURCHASED AN 03 COACHMEN SANTARA RV WITH THE FORD F450 TRITON V10 ENGINE IT HAD 28500 MIL. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN OCT. 08. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE TO IT AND THE ENGINE RAN FINE,WE HAVE TAKEN A FEW TRIPS IN IT AND IT HAS RAN FINE. WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO HOLBROOK FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IT RAN FINE WE DECIDED TO DRIVE BACK ON FRIDAY AM ON OUR WAY BACK THE ENGINE RAN FINE WE GOT ABOUT 20MILES OUTSIDE OF PAYSON AND WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD BAG CRASH!! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!! AND WE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER I VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME MONDAY AND ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD,I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE HEAD IS FAULTY OK, THEN MY WARRANTY COMPANY STATES THEY WON'T COVER A SPARK PLUG ISSUE WHAT!!,WELL IT JUST GETS BETTER, I GO ONLINE TO FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING AND FORD NOR THE WARRANTY COMPANY'S WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T COVER A THING. STATING IT'S A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM AND FORD STATES THE SAME EVEN AFTER THE MECHANIC'S ARGUE THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM IT IS A FORD DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE ALUMINUM HEADS. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE GOING UP OR DOWN HILL, MY FAMILY AND I MAY NOT BE HERE AND THESE ISSUES HAVE CAUSED NUMEROUS FIRES. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE LOSS OF LIFE HAPPENS. I JUST WANT A FAIR DEAL, IF THIS WAS SOMETHING I COULD'VE AVOIDED OR WAS DO TO SOMETHING I DID I COULD UNDERSTAND,HOWEVER I/WE HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND WE ARE ALL HAVING TO PAY FOR IT. FORD CANNOT CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THERE IS A SPARK PLUG ISSUE IN THE THOUSAND OF ENGINES THAT THIS SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO. IT'S STATISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE! I HOPE SOMEONE CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS MAJOR PROBLEM AND HELP US ALL. *TR

Other Coachmen Santara model years

Check your 2003 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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