2001 Newmar KOUNTRY STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. MICHELIN 255/80R22.5G TIRE, 13105 MILES ON VEHICLE, 36 FOOT LONG, NEWMAR KOUNTRY STAR, DIESEL MOTORHOME.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036804 at NHTSA ↗

ADD TO NHTSA 10036804. WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MPH, ON I-495 NEAR LITTLETON MA, AFTER THE INCIDENT IN BANGOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR INSIDE DUAL TIRE ALSO BLEW A SIDEWALL. THERE WAS NO CONTROL LOSS AND WE WENT ABOUT A MILE GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY AND PARKED IN A PARKING LOT BEHIND LITTLETON LUMBER.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036814 at NHTSA ↗

RECALL 04V037000 CONCERNING NEWMARTIRES. CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER ON 2/11/2004. CONSUMER CONTACTED NEWMAR CORPORATION TO REQUEST THAT ALL TIRES BE REPLACED INSTEAD OF JUST THE FRONT TIRES. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ONLY THE FRONT TIRES WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, AND ANY ADDITIONAL TIRES WOULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK THIS IS BECAUSE THAT THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WHEN THE TIRES ARE BEING ROTATED, WHICH WILL BRING THE DEFECTIVE TIRES IN FRONT. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058041 at NHTSA ↗

REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. *LA *MR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065308 at NHTSA ↗

THE PASSENGERSIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT (MICHELINE TIRE). *MR *NM *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073462 at NHTSA ↗

LTR FM RAYMOND MILLER (LA) RE THE NEWMAR CORP. RECALL OF THE 1997-2000 DUTCH STAR MOTORHOMES & THE 2001-2002 KOUNTRY STAR MOTORHOMES TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES, HE FEELS THE BACK TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED.*MR *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080102 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE HAD 2 BLOW OUTS IN LAST 2 TRIPS WITH OUR MICHELIN XRV 255/80 22.5. ONE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND THE SECOND TRIP DRIVER SIDE INSIDE REAR. RECALL ON FRONT TIRES ONLY? NEWMAR HAS MADE A MISTAKE AND NEEDS TO RECALL ALL TIRES FOR OUR MOTORHOME. WE HAVE ONLY 15,000.00 MILES ON OUR KOUNTRY STAR. CHECK TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY. DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. NEWMAR REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION OR HELP WITH MICHELIN ISSUE. RECALL ONLY FOR FRONT TIRES WE ARE TOLD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089076 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD FOUR SEPARATE BLOW-OUTS ON GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT TIRES. M & S LT 235/86R16. LOAD RANGE E. ALL BLOW-OUTS HAVE BEEN ON HIGHWAY DRIVING. THESE TIRES ARE USED ON MY FIFTH-WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. ONE OR TWO BLOW-OUTS COULD BE CONSIDERED BAD LUCK AND PART OF DRIVING. FOUR BLOW-OUTS IN TWO YEARS IS A PATTERN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127380 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: 2009-06-11 (June 11, 2009)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING 2,578 MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.

Consequence: THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL, AND POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY AND OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.

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.