2019 Newmar DUTCH STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

THE DIGITAL DASH IS TOO BRIGHT FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING. THE SCREEN HAS THE ABILITY TO BE LOWERED, BUT EVEN AT ITS LOWEST SETTING, IT IS FAR TOO BRIGHT. IT CAUSES LOSS OF NIGHT VISION, AND THE INABILITY TO SAFELY DRIVE. THE ONLY CORRECTION THAT CAN BE MADE IS TO COVER THE SCREEN, LOSING ALL ABILITY TO SEE IMPORTANT GAUGES.*DT*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155595 at NHTSA ↗

THE DIGITAL DASH IN MY MOTORHOME IS TOO BRIGHT AT NIGHT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DIM THE PANEL SUFFICIENTLY TO REDUCE GLARE AND REFLECTION FROM THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS. THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AS IT PREVENTS BEING ABLE TO SEE ADEQUATELY OUTSIDE THE RV AT DUSK AND AT NIGHT. THIS AFFECTS LANE CHANGES, THE ABILITY TO SEE THE MIRRORS WHILE BACKING AND OTHER OPERATIONAL FACETS. EVEN WHILE STANDING STILL THE VISIBILITY TO OUTSIDE IS POOR. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOULD BE ABLE TO DIM ALL THE WAY TO DARK OR AT LEAST …

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155746 at NHTSA ↗

THE FREIGHTLINER OPTIVIEW INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THIS VEHICLE IS BLINDING WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WILL NOT DIM DOWN TO A SATISFACTORY LEVEL TO SEE OUT. EVEN WHEN ADJUSTING THE DIM SWITCH ALL THE WAY TO THE LOWEST SETTING, THE GLARE IS SUCH YOU ARE UNABLE TO SEE OUT TO DRIVE SAFELY. LIGHT COMING OFF DASH IS BLINDING YOU! THE ONLY WAY YOU ARE ABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT IS COVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH MULTIPLE SHEETS OF PAPER TO DIM THE GLARE. FREIGHTLINER NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND MAKE THE DASH ABLE TO DIM DOWN TO AN ACCEPTABLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206966 at NHTSA ↗

LOCKED ENTRY DOOR POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS ON SMOOTH ROADS, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BUMPY ROAD. RV IS AT KNOXVILLE DEALER NOW AND THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH DOOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES; WE TIE THE DOOR SHUT NOW.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311651 at NHTSA ↗

THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT PANEL (OPTIVIEW) DOES NOT DIM ENOUGH AND IS TOO BRIGHT AT NIGHT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. ON A DARK RAINY NIGHT THE GLARE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAKES FOR DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. MY COMPLAINT TO NEWMAR IN APRIL 2019 WAS DEFERRED TO FREIGHTLINER. NOVEMBER OF 2019 FREIGHTLINER SENT TWO TECHNICIANS TO MY HOME WHO SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS DIAGNOSING AND TAKING PICTURES OF THE PROBLEM. THEY CONCLUDED THE BRIGHTNESS LEVEL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID DIM IN RESPONSE TO TH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11321477 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2019 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR DIESEL POWERED MOTOR HOME ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. IN 2019, THEY WENT TO A DIGITAL DASH. THE DASH DOES NOT DIM DOWN LOW ENOUGH AT NIGHT, WHILE DRIVING. CONSEQUENTLY IT CAN BE BLINDING. SOME HAVE HAD TO BUY A TINTED PANEL TO REDUCE THE BRIGHTNESS WHILE OTHERS ARE COVERING IT WITH A TOWEL. I'VE SUBMITTED A PHOTO OF THE ACTUAL DASH, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ONE SHOWING IT AT NIGHT, AS THE VEHICLE IS IN STORAGE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11322249 at NHTSA ↗

LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL WAY TO BRIGHT AT NIGHT..I HAVE TO COVER TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DUE TO THE GLARE. HEAD LIGHTS PUT OUT VERY LITTLE LIGHT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11323519 at NHTSA ↗

WE EXPERIENCED A WINDOW FLY OFF OUR COACH WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 NEAR WEATHERFORD OK. IT NARROWLY MISSED A SUV BEHIND OUR COACH. WE HAVE HAD TWO OTHER WINDOWS THAT THE OUTER PANE HAS SEPARATED FROM THE INNER PANE. THE HALF BATH WINDOW AND WINDOW ABOVE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. IN COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER OWNERS, THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. MANY OTHERS HAVE CAUGHT IT BEFORE THERE WAS A COMPLETE SEPARATION. IT IS OBVIOUS THE ADHESIVE THAT LIPPERT (WINDOW MANUFACTURER) IS DEFECTIVE. JAYCO HAS A SIMILAR PROBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328838 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-08-06 (August 6, 2018)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Newmar Ventana LE, Mountain Aire, Essex, Ventana, Dutch Star, New Aire, London Aire and King Aire motorhomes. The affected vehicles have entry doors that have latch rods that may be improperly adjusted, allowing the door to open during transit.

Consequence: If the door opens during transit, it can increase the risk of injury or a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will readjust the door latch rod, free of charge. The recall began September 5, 2018. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019 Newmar Dutch Star motorhomes. The brake pedal assembly may catch on the dash, preventing the brake pedal from fully releasing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Consequence: If the brake pedal does not properly release, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar has notified owners, and dealers will reroute the brake adjustment cable, free of charge. The recall began November 3, 2018. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2019-06-07 (June 7, 2019)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ventana LE and 2017-2019 Dutch Star, Essex, London Aire, Mountain Aire and Ventana, and 2018-2019 New Aire motorhomes built on a Daimler trucks chassis. The rear mounted Power Distribution Module (PDM) may have been damaged during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the rear marker lights, brake lights, or turn signals not functioning.

Consequence: Nonfunctioning lights can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks dealers will inspect and replace the rear PDM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 18, 2019. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 18V-852.

Reported: 2020-07-21 (July 21, 2020)

Newmar Corporaton (Newmar) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ventana LE, 2017-2020 Ventana, London Aire, Essex and Dutch Star, 2017-2019 Mountain Aire, 2018-2020 New Aire, and 2020 Kountry Star motorhomes that received the 'inspection-only' remedy from recall 19V-426. The rear mounted Power Distribution Module (PDM) may have been damaged during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the rear marker lights, brake lights, or turn signals not functioning.

Consequence: Non-functioning exterior marker lights can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks North America dealers will replace the PDM, free of charge. This recall began September 11, 2020. Owners may contact Newmar's customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 20V-404.

Reported: 2020-08-27 (August 27, 2020)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Essex and New Aire, 2019 Dutch Star, London Aire, Mountain Aire, and Ventana motorhomes. The instrument panel brightness cannot be adjusted, possibly causing glare when driving at night. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."

Consequence: Glare can reduce the driver's visibility of the road, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owner, and dealers will update the software and processor, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2020. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2021-02-17 (February 17, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2021 Kountry Star and 2017-2021 Dutch Star motorhomes. The brake light switch may chafe against the windshield wiper mechanism, which could damage the brake light switch or it's wiring, and cause the brake lights to not illuminate.

Consequence: If the brake lights do not illuminate, other motorists will be unaware of the driver's intention, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake light switch and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2021-05-20 (May 20, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Dutch Star, 2017-2019 Mountain Aire, 2019-2021 Ventana and 2021 New Aire motorhomes. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rail threads, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters were mailed to owners on July 16, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8000. Newmar's number for this recall is Cummins 21E-032.

Reported: 2021-07-02 (July 2, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019 Mountain Aire, 2020-2021 New Aire, 2020-2022 Super Star, 2018-2021 Ventana, and Dutch Star vehicles equipped with certain Cummins diesel engines. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot boreholes, allowing the high-pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Cummins service centers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is Cummins 21E-32.

Reported: 2021-07-27 (July 27, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Bay Star, Ventana, New Aire, 2019-2020 Canyon Star, Bay Star Sport, Essex, King Aire, London Aire, Mountain Aire, 2018-2021 Dutch Star, 2020 Kountry Star, and 2019 Ventana LE recreational vehicles. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail.

Consequence: Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the windows, and replace the vent if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 21E 047.

Reported: 2021-09-09 (September 9, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019-2021 London Aire, Dutch Star, Essex, King Aire, Mountain Aire, 2020-2021 Ventana, and 2021 New Aire recreational vehicles. The instrument cluster may intermittently go blank while the vehicle is in motion.

Consequence: A blank instrument cluster display may be missing critical information such as the vehicle's speed and warning lights, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the control module software, and reroute and secure the ductwork, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 8, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar's customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2022-04-11 (April 11, 2022)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Bay Star, Bay Star Sport, Ventana, Dutch Star, New Aire, Canyon Star, 2019 Ventana LE, 2020-2022 Kountry Star, 2019-2020 Mountain Aire, London Aire, Essex, and 2021 Super Star vehicles. The wiring under the seats may be incorrectly secured, which can lead to a pinched wire in the seat adjustment mechanism and cause an electrical short circuit.

Consequence: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the wiring, adding circuit breaker and fuse protection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on June 10, 2022. Owners may contact Newmar's customer service at 1-800-731-8300.