Coachmen SANTARA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
27,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 22 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 22.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 3 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 1 |
Tires: 3; Tires:Sidewall: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10318363 · 2010-03-10 (March 10, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD COACHMAN SANTARA RV. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17000.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 887501 · 2001-05-04 (May 4, 2001)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171707 · 2006-10-24 (October 24, 2006)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,441 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020662 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
MOTORHOME ON FORD E450 CHASSIS FORD VIN # [XXX]. POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE INSTALLED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE EDGE OF THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE STEERING DAMPENER TO THE STEERING CONTROL ARM RUBBED THE HOSE CAUSING IT TO SUDDENLY RUPTURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND HYDRA BOOST TO BRAKING SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AS I BACKED THE MOTORHOME OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY RATHER THAN ON THE INTERSTATE OR A MOUNTAIN ROAD. IF THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE INSTALLED IN THIS MANNER THEN FORD MAY HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BREWING. IF THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020662 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1993: 2; 1994: 2; 1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 2; 2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 1