2008 Newmar KOUNTRY STAR DP: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2008-02-22 (February 22, 2008)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING 109 MY 2008-2009 BAY STAR, CANYON STAR KOUNTRY AIRE, TORREY PINE, VENTANA DIESEL PUSHER, ALL STAR DIESEL PUSHER, KOUNTRY STAR DIESEL PUSHER, AND DUTCH STAR DIESEL PUSHER CLASS A MOTOR HOMES AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH ATWOOD SEALED BURNER RANGES. THE RANGE AND SLIDE-IN BURNER TUBES LEADING FROM THE GAS MANIFOLD TO THE BURNER HEADS HAD A DEPRESSION OR "KINK" IN THE EXTERIOR BEND RESTRICTING PROPER AIRFLOW AND GAS MIXTURE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH ATWOOD TO HAVE THE TUBES REPLACED ON THESE RANGES (PLEASE SEE 07E030). OWNERS MAY CONTACT ATWOOD AT 1-800-348-7418 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791.

Reported: 2008-11-17 (November 17, 2008)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING 913 MY 2007-2009 ALL STAR ME, DUTCH STAR DP, MY 2007-2008 KOUNTRY STAR DP, MY 2007 MOUNTAIN AIRE DP, AND MY 2009 DUTCH AIRE DP AND VENTANA DP MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON SPARTAN CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH PUTNAM HITCHES. AFTER SOME PERIOD OF USE, CERTAIN TRAILER HITCHES MAY DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES DUE TO SHARP RADII AND /OR TOOL MARKING.

Consequence: FRACTURES IN THE SUSPECT HITCHES MAY RESULT IN HITCH SEPARATION, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH SPARTAN WHO WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 08V567). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 1-517-543-6400 OR NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2009-07-06 (July 6, 2009)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING 328 MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 16, 2007 AND APRIL 22, 2009. AN INADVERTENT DEVIATION IN GROUND CABLE SIZING OCCURRED RESULTING IN WIRE GAUGE UNDERSIZING.

Consequence: UNDERSIZED ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS MAY RESULT IN CONDUCTOR FAILURE, CREATING A SHOCK OR FIRE HAZARD WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: NEWMAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2011-04-12 (April 12, 2011)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200 SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Consequence: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101.

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.