2008 Newmar DUTCH STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

I OWN A 1998 NEWMAR DUTCHSTAR ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH A 3126 CAT MOTOR. THE ISSUES OUTLINED BELOW BEGAN WHEN LOWERING THE JACKS. THEN SPREAD TO LOW SPEED RPMS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF OPERATION, CAUSING A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, (TO INCLUDE LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ENGINE, A/C, RADIO, ETC), THUS CAUSING A UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. OVER TIME THE ISSUE BEGAN DURING DIFFERENT OPERATIONAL PERIODS WHEN DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL DRAWS WERE PRESENT (SUCH AS WHILE USING LIGHTS, DEFROST AND WIPERS, ENGINE FAN COMING ON, ETC.).…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454456 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND GOING OVER A DIP, THE FRONT WHEELS FRACTURED AND DETACHED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PORTION OFF THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER WAS UNDER RATED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE COACH. AS A RESULT, THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,832. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,832 miles reported. Look up ODI 10746729 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-02-20 (February 20, 2008)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING 409 MY 2007-2008 ALL STAR, DUTCH STAR, VENTANA, AND KOUNTRY STAR DIESEL PUSHERS MOTOR HOME CHASSIS. THERE MAY BE A LOOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BUS BAR AND A GRID PAD DUE TO THE PINS BEING SLIGHTLY SMALLER DIAMETERS AFTER ASSEMBLY. ELECTRICAL POWER MAY BE LOST TO COMPONENTS OF THE MAJOR CHASSIS OPERATING SYSTEMS (ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, STARTING, COOLING) CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN AND/OR NOT BE CAPABLE OF POWERING UP.

Consequence: EACH VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE ONE OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS COULD OCCUR: LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, STARTING AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS, OPERATION OF THE RIGHT CHASSIS STOP/TURN SIGNAL AND RIGHT TRAILER STOP/TURN SIGNAL, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, AUXILIARY BRAKE SYSTEM, THE HEATER ELEMENTS IN THE AIR DRYER, AND THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THE WATER-IN- FUEL SEPARATOR.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH SPARTAN TO REPAIR THESE MOTOR HOMES (PLEASE SEE 07V363). THE DVEC BUSSMANN BOX WILL BE REPLACED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-517-543-6400 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791.

Reported: 2012-09-24 (September 24, 2012)

Newmar is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Dutch Star and 2009-2010 Dutch Aire motorhomes, built on a Spartan chassis equipped with a Hendrickson independent front suspension. The front brake chambers may contact the upper control arm of the independent front suspension. Continued contact may result in damage sufficient enough to prevent the full release of the brakes. If the brakes do not fully release, as they drag, heat could be generated causing the brakes to engage even further.

Consequence: As the brakes heat up, they may self-engage, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan Motors will notify owners and repair the vehicles. The manufacturer has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Newmar Corporation at 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2014-09-29 (September 29, 2014)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Bay Star, Ventana VT/VL, Dutch Aire, Dutch Star, All-Star, Mountain Aire, and Essex motorhomes manufactured January 16, 2007, to May 24, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the circuit breaker for the refrigerator heated water line may be incorrect for the amperage draw.

Consequence: A circuit breaker that is incorrectly rated for the amperage need increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorhome and verify that the circuit breaker rating is correct for the amperage draw, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2014. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-10-14 (October 14, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Mountain Aire motorhomes manufactured October 16, 2006, to July 24, 2007, 2007-2008 Essex motorhomes manufactured November 1, 2006, to May 24, 2007 and 2007-2008 Dutch Star motorhomes manufactured October 12, 2006, to June 29, 2007. The affected vehicles have tag axles with wheel bearings that may be adjusted too tight, resulting in their overheating during use.

Consequence: If the wheel bearings overheat, there is an increased risk of a wheel end fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notfy owners, and Spartan dealers will check the wheel end bearings for appropriate end play, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 29, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Newmar's recall number is 15V-548.

Reported: 2016-01-13 (January 13, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 Bay Star, Dutch Star, and Ventana, 2012-2014 Bay Star Sport and Ventana VL, 2008-2015 Canyon Star, 2009-2010 Dutch Aire and 2008 Kountry Star motorhomes manufactured May 29, 2007, to January 14, 2015, and equipped with certain Coachstep Double and Triple Electric Steps manufactured by Lippert Components. The bolt that attaches the fan gear assembly to the steps may fracture allowing the fan gear to disengage from the steps. As a result, the steps may not remain in the expected position and may be unstable.

Consequence: Unstable entry and exit steps increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer bracket to reinforce the operating mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on February 17, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-574-773-7791 or Lippert Customer service at 574-537-8900. Newmar's number for this recall is 15E 078.

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.