2005 Newmar KOUNTRY STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON 2005 NEWMAR MOTOR COACH HAVE NOT OPERATED SINCE PURCHASED NEW. BEEN TO AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT A PERMANENT FIX. DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR LAST FALL THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, WHEN I NEEDED THEM IN A RAIN STORM RECENTLY THEY WOULD NOT WORK AND STILL DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM THAT NEWMAR CAN'T FIX. I HAVE A VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION DUE SOON AND IT WILL NOT PASS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160098 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NEWMAR KOUNTRY STAR. AFTER STOPPING AND SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE THEN HAD TO HAVE BLOCKS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE WHEELS TO SECURE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE GOT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 39,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362194 at NHTSA ↗

Manufacturer-installed Hitch Receiver broke from the frame flanges while pulling away from a stoplight while towing vehicle, resulting in the detachment of the hitch crossbar, tow bars and causing the tow vehicle to cross one lane of traffic and into the grass median towards oncoming traffic. Tow vehicle stopped in median when attached tow equipment dug into soil just before striking a guardrail and on the verge of rolling into oncoming traffic. Had this failure of the hitch assembly occurred at highway speed, a catastrophic collision and dea…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11536482 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, DURING MANUFACTURING, THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS ATTACHMENT LOCATION FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED OR ATTACHED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SHOULDER HARNESS MAY BECOME LOOSE OR UNATTACHED CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW PLATE OVER EXISTING BY DRILLING FOUR ATTACHMENT HOLES ON EACH SIDE OF NEW PLATE AND ADD SECURING BOLTS. THIS RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)

ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, DURING THE MODEL YEAR CHANGE, TWO POSITIONS IN THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) WERE NOT CORRECTLY CHANGED TO INDICATE A NEW MODEL YEAR. THEREFORE, THE VIN TAG ILLUSTRATES AN INCORRECT VIN NUMBER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPRINT AND INSTALL NEW FEDERAL VIN TAGS. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NEWMAR CORPORATION AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH AMETEK NGI GAUGES, THE AIR GAUGES ARE NOT PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND THE LOW AIR WARNING INDICATOR MAY BE ACTIVATED WHEN ACTUAL AIR RESERVOIR PRESSURE READINGS ARE BELOW THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD REQUIRED RANGE OF 60 TO 65PSI.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING, THUS THROWING THE PASSENGER FORWARD, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: SPARTAN IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HARNESS JUMPER CABLE TO EACH AIR SENDER. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 800-543-4277 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7719.

Reported: 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)

CERTAIN CHASSIS MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. THE SPLINE CAN STRIP WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED.

Consequence: THIS STEERING CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: WORKHORSE IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06V148). THEY WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-294-6773 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791.

Reported: 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING 772 MY 2004-2005 AMERICAN STAR, KOUNTRY AIRE, MOUNTAIN AIRE, MY 2003-2006 KOUNTRY STAR, MY 2007 X-AIRE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS; MY 2007 BAY STAR, MY 2004-2007 KOUNTRY STAR, MY 2004-2006 MOUNTAIN AIRE, MY 2003-2005 SCOTTSDALE CLASS A MOTOR HOMES; AND MY 2004-2006 DUTCH STAR, MY 2003-2006 KOUNTRY STAR, MY 2004-2006 MOUNTAIN AIRE DIESEL PUSHER MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR 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: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). 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 THE OWNER 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: 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: 2010-09-22 (September 22, 2010)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX AND DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539.

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.