Holiday Rambler AMBASSADOR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
25 distinct recall campaigns
30,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1980 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 66 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 41 | 62.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 5 |
| Suspension:Rear | 5 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 5; Suspension:Rear: 5; Structure: 4; Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 7; 2008: 7; 2009: 11; 2010: 7; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 1; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10050147 · 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075508 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168045 · 2006-09-12 (September 12, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING WAS PRESENT. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ELECTRICAL WIRES AROUND THE BRAKES AND REAR WHEELS WERE MELTED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED. THE MOTOR HOME WAS A 2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809114 · 2015-12-08 (December 8, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE WIRING, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE 15 AMP MELTED THE ELECTRICAL BOX. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE DISCONNECTED THE HOT WIRES TO PREVENT A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,350. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A SUB-CONTRACTOR MIS-WIRED A CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 03/31/16.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 891431 · 2001-06-27 (June 27, 2001)
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. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 891431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10722146 · 2015-05-29 (May 29, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HOLIDAY RAMBLER AMBASSADOR RV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF LANE INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722146 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 0; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 6; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1