AI Damage1997 Holiday Rambler Vacationer: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Holiday Rambler Vacationer filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 2 Equipment 20% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 20% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On several occasions there has been a strong smell of carbon monoxide in the motorhome. Manufacturer has been notified about this problem, but motorhome has not been serviced.
I am not the vehicle owner. Owner had unit up on hwh leveling system to run a wire from front to rear. No warning labels on vehicle indicated the hwh system can fail collapse as a rest of a minor nudge. I was under unit when all 4 jacks folded under. I received extensive crush injury to right shoulder.
Sidewalls separated on front tires. (michelin x p5 235 x 85 cx 16) nlm
Without any indication the engine dies, no steering control, no brakes. Will start back up when put into neutral. Problem occurred three times. Dealer attempting to repair vehicle.
Motorhome has a severe rocking and tracking problem. It is very hard to control at all speeds. Dealers unable to correct problem.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Vacationer has 3 complaints (21 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Holiday Rambler Vacationer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, equipment, powertrain. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Holiday Rambler Vacationer?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Holiday Rambler Vacationer from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.