Safari Coach SAHARA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
17,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 70.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 30.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Suspension: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Equipment: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 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: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 5 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10174342 · 2006-11-21 (November 21, 2006)
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THEIR 2000 SAFARI SAHARA. MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE REPAIRS WERE ALREADY MADE. *KB ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED ON THE RV. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RV DID NOT HAVE ORIGINAL BRAKES ON THE RV WHEN THE RECALL WAS ALLEGEDLY PERFORMED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10174342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 880658 · 2001-02-15 (February 15, 2001)
CONSUMER IS HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH MOTORHOME AND IS CURRENTLY SEEKING A FULL SETTLEMENT. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY, BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. ENGINE OVERHEATS, DEALER CAN NOT FIX PROBLEM. REAR HUB CAP FELL OFF. THE LENS FOR THE FRONT DOOR LIGHT FELL OFF. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT DOWN. MOTORHOME WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING, AN ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED, A LATER STATEMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUSPENSION DESIGN PROBLEM. AWNING WON'T GON IN TIGHT, OVERHEAD CUPBOARD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050406 · 2004-01-22 (January 22, 2004)
THE BRAKES WERE LEAKING AIR PRESSURE, CAUSING THEM TO SEIZE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR PRESSURE LEAK WAS UNDETERMINED. THE COACH WAS ON A ROADMASTER RAIL INCORPORATED CHASSIS. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056032 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
BRAKES LEAKED AIR PRESSURE WHICH CAUSED THEM TO SEIZE. *PH WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR PRESSURE LEAK WAS UNDETERMINED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608528 · 2014-07-07 (July 7, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAFARI COACH SAHARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V278000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY REPAIR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE TWO ABS SENSORS AND FOUR CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10608528 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 |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1997: 2; 1998: 3; 1999: 5; 2000: 6; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1