2000 Newmar DUTCH STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

TWO BLOWOUTS WITH ORIGINAL MICHELIN TIRES ON MOTORHOME. 1ST FAILURE AT 12K MILES WITH INSIDE LEFT REAR AND 2ND FAILURE AT 14K MILES WITH INSIDE LEFT FRONT. CONSUMER STATED THAT TIRES WERE TOO SMALL AND IMPROPERLY RATED FOR THE LARGE MOTORHOME. TIRE INFO: MICHELIN XRV 255/80R22.5 ORIGINAL. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021700 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN TOWING THE VEHICLE IT IS VERY HARD TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE MOTORHOME. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 10,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026701 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A NEWMAR MOTORHOME WITH MICHELIN TIRES. IT HAS 25000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST 1400 MILES I HAVE BLOWN THREE TIRES OF THE 6 ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE WEIGHED AND IT IS NOT OVER THE RATED MAXIMUM WEIGHTS ON EITHER AXEL. I HAVE BLOWN TWO FRONT AND ONE REAR TIRE SO FAR. (YOUR LIST OF MICHELIN TIRES DOES NOT NCLUDE THE XRV SO I WILL CHOOSE ANOTHER TYPE JUST TO BE ABLE TO PROCEED) THIS SHOULD INTEREST YOU: TWO MICHELIN DEALERS WHO SERVICED ME WHEN THE FIRST TWO TIRES BLEW SID THAT THE XRV TIRES THAT MICHELIN MAKES FOR MOTORHOMES…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,710 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030694 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE IN THE DUTCH STAR MOTORHOME WITH SPQARTAN CHASSIS ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSES LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL. BECAME APPARENT WHEN TURNING IN FRONT OF CAR ON 2 LANE ROAD - CAR HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAS REOCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050705 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING A 2000 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR DIESEL PUSHER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WITH APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. A MICHELIN DEALER, AFTER A CURSORY EXAMINATION, CLAIMED THE TIRE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THE DEALER'S ASSERTION WAS NOT ACCURATE AS THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIRE LOAD/INFLATION SPECIFICATIONS PROVIDED BY MICHELIN TO THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051095 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING A 2000 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR DIESEL PUSHER THE RIGHT REAR INSIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITH APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MICHELIN'S CONSUMER CALL CENTER TO INFORM THEM THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND BLOWOUT I EXPERIENCED ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT BOTH TIRES HAD THE SAME MANUFACTURING DATE CODE. THEY RESPONDED BY ASSERTING THAT THE TIRE DAMAGE MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY LOW TIRE PRESSURE. WHEN I MAINTAINED THAT PRESSURE HAD NEVER BEEN LOW, THEY THEN RESPONDED THAT THE TIRE MUST HAVE BEEN OVERLOADED. I REMOVED ALL SIX MICHELIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051097 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANY OBJECTS ON THE ROAD. TIRE SIZE 255/80/22.5/XRV.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD THREE SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS WHILE DRIVING . ALL THE BLOWOUTS RESULTED IN SOME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. MICHELIN AGREED TO PAY THE CONSUMER $95. PER TIRE BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEE A MONTH AND THE CONSUMER STILL HASN'T RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055633 at NHTSA ↗

RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2000 DUTCH STAR MOTORHOME W/MICHELIN 255/80R22.5 TIRES. JUST NOTIFIED BY LTR DATED 1-26-04 FROM NEWMAR CORP. I HAVE ATTEMPTED 3 TIMES TO CONTACT THEM, AND THEY REFUSE TO RETURN CALLS OR ANSWER THEIR PHONE OTHER THAN AUTOMATED.TIRES FAILED W/LESS THAN 27,000 MILES IN OCT 2002.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056950 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-10-07 (October 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FRONT AND REAR ENGINE MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FORD, SPARTAN AND WORKHORSE CHASSIS. ALL FRONT ENGINE CLASS A MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FORD AND WORKHORSE CHASSIS WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2000. ALL REAR ENGINE MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON SPARTAN CHASSIS WERE BUILT FROM FEBRUARY 23 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2000. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." AN INCORRECT VENT HOSE WAS INSTALLED ON THE FILL NOZZLE TO THE FUEL TANK. THE HOSE CAN BREAK DOWN ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE TO AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL VENT HOSE.

Reported: 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY STANDARD.

Consequence: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REVISE THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 14, 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 NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON SPARTAN/FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN 255/80R22.5 XRV TIRES, THE CORDS CAN FATIGUE IF THE TIRES ARE OVERLOADED OR UNDERINFLATED.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONLY THE FRONT TIRES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE NOT ROTATED TO THE REAR. A CERTIFICATION TAG DOCUMENTING THE NEW FRONT TIRES INSTALLATION AND SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING THE REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES TO 105 PSI WILL BE ISSUED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 9, 2004. 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 NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-2381.

Reported: 2007-03-05 (March 5, 2007)

CERTAIN CLASS A AND DIESEL PUSHER MOTOR HOMES AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NEWMAR WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2008-01-24 (January 24, 2008)

ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES CONSTRUCTED ON FORD F-53TY1 AND P131 MOTOR HOME CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH FORD IN CONDUCTING THIS RECALL. FORD WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791. (NOTE: ALSO SEE FORD RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)

Reported: 2015-12-09 (December 9, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 1997-2005 Dutch Star and Mountain Aire, 1998-1999 London Aire, 2004 Essex and 1997-1998 Kountry Aire motorhomes. The affected vehicles have a steering gear mounting bracket that may crack, causing a loss of steering ability.

Consequence: A loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will replace the steering gear mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Newmar's number for this recall is 15V 633.

Reported: 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 1998-2010 Dutch Star, 2008 Kountry Star, 2008-2009 All Star and Ventana, 2009-2010 Dutch Aire, 2014-2015 King Aire and 2015 Essex motorhomes, built on a Spartan Motors chassis. In the affected vehicles, the flexible exhaust tube may tear allowing hot exhaust to blow against other components or materials.

Consequence: If hot exhaust gas contacts other components or materials, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect the alignment of the tubes, correcting them and replacing any that are torn. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V 313.

Reported: 2017-12-15 (December 15, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling various 1995-2018 motorhomes. A list of the affected vehicles available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V809-2309.pdf. These motorhomes are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2018. Owners may contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information or owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-574-773-7791. Newmar's number for this recall is 17E-062.