2014 Newmar ESSEX: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2013-12-12 (December 12, 2013)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 motorhomes manufactured October 15, 2012, through June 20, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the castle nuts for the steering linkage ball joint fasteners, which mount to bell cranks, may be loose. If the castle nuts become completely loose, the steering linkage may separate from the bell cranks without warning.

Consequence: This may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners and Spartan dealers will replace the steering linkage fasteners, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Customers may contact Newmar at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2014-03-04 (March 4, 2014)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Bay Star Sport, Bay Star, Canyon Star, Ventana LE, Ventana, Dutch Star, Mountain Aire, and Essex recreational vehicles manufactured February 18, 2013, through November 15, 2013, and equipped with Frigidaire KG series microwaves. In the affected vehicles, the microwave may start on its own.

Consequence: If the microwave starts on its own and there are contents inside, a fire could result.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners and dealers. The recall began on April 17, 2014. Owners may contact Newmar at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2014-10-06 (October 6, 2014)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Essex motorhomes manufactured February 15, 2013, to June 4, 2014, and built on Freightliner chassis. In the affected vehicles, the rear axle jack mounting bracket may be attached too close to the rear suspension air bag.

Consequence: The rear axle mounting bracket may rub against the suspension air bag resulting in the air bag leaking air and a suspension collapse, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar has notified owners, and dealers will provide a clearance gap between the bracket and air bag, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-02-03 (February 3, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Newmar King Aire, and Essex vehicles manufactured December 9, 2013, to December 16, 2014, equipped with certain Wabco Quick Release Valves with Double Check. In the affected valves, the rubber diaphragm may be damaged by sharp edges on the valve seat ribs, reducing the available air pressure in the air tanks.

Consequence: The reduced air pressure levels may reduce braking performance and/or the parking brakes could reapply, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the valve, free of charge. The recall began on February 26, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-02-06 (February 6, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 King Aire and Essex vehicles manufactured April 12, 2013, to October 18, 2013, and built on Spartan Chassis. In the affected vehicles, the steering linkage castlenuts may loosen without warning and the steering linkage may separate from the bell cranks.

Consequence: If the steering linkage separates from the bell cranks, a loss of vehicle control may result, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect the steering linkage castle nuts and tighten them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-03-16 (March 16, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 King Aire, Essex, London Aire, and Mountain Aire motor homes manufactured November 26, 2013, to November 11, 2014. The wiper blades may separate from the wiper arm connectors, especially when the wipers are used at the high speed setting.

Consequence: If the wiper blades separate from the wiper arms, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-11-30 (November 30, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ventana and Dutch Star motorhomes and model year 2014 Mountain Aire and Essex motorhomes manufactured May 31, 2015, to January 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have cargo door lock actuators that may overheat and melt the actuator housing.

Consequence: A door lock actuator that overheats may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will install a new low voltage disconnect module and wire harness for the door lock actuator, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-12-01 (December 1, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 King Aire, 2009-2014 Essex, 2011-2015 Mountain Aire, Ventana, and Dutch Star, 2012-2014 Ventana LE, 2012-2015 Canyon Star, and 2015 London Aire motorhomes. The affected vehicles are equipped with refrigerator door latches that may inadvertently lock without the operator's knowledge.

Consequence: If an individual climbed into the refrigerator and the door inadvertently latched, the person would not be able to open the door, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will install a new replacement door latch that will not automatically latch, free of charge. The recall began on January 24, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Dutch Star, Mountain Aire, Essex, and 2015-2016 London Aire vehicles manufactured March 27, 2013, to October 16, 2015 and built on a Freightliner chassis. On certain recreational vehicles built with a heavier, adjustable foot pedal, the brake activation signal to certain towed devices may not deactivate when the service brakes are released.

Consequence: If the brake activation signal to a towed device remains active when the motorhome chassis service brakes are released, the brakes on a towed device may remain engaged depending on brake configuration of the trailer. As a result, the brakes would drag and possibly overheat potentially resulting in a fire. Additionally, following drivers may be confused by the motorhome's actions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will modify the affected assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Freightliner/Daimler Trucks North America LLC at 1-800-547-0712 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V-204.

Reported: 2016-05-10 (May 10, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Essex, and 2015 Mountain Aire and London Aire motorhomes manufactured from May 20, 2013, through April 09, 2015. These vehicles are built on Freightliner rear engine chassis that have 18,000lb or 20,000lb-capacity front axles. In these motorhomes, the power steering fluid temperature may exceed the power steering hose material rating, subsequently causing the hoses to fail, resulting in a sudden loss of power steering.

Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would result in increased difficulty to steer the vehicle in either direction at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will replace the power steering hose with a higher temperature rated one, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2016. Owners may contact Freightliner customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V-121.

Reported: 2017-03-22 (March 22, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dutch Star, 2016-2018 Mountain Aire and London Aire, and 2012-2018 Essex and King Aire motorhomes built on a Spartan Motors chassis. The ball joints on the independent front suspension (IFS) modules can loosen and separate, leading to a partial loss of steering.

Consequence: A separated ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan service centers will remove, clean, apply thread locker, reinstall and torqued the ball joints, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 3, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-800-543-4277 to locate a qualified service center or contact Newmar customer service at 1-574-773-7791. Newmar's number for this recall is 17004.

Reported: 2017-06-14 (June 14, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2012-2015 King Aire and Essex motorhomes built on a Spartan Motors chassis. A component within the starter motor may break, potentially resulting in the starter motor overheating or drawing excessive current.

Consequence: A starter motor that overheats may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan Motors dealers will replace the starter, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan Motors at 1-800-543-4277 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 17012.

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.