1998 Newmar DUTCH STAR problems and owner complaints

DEF System Failure

Look up ODI 11425314 at NHTSA ↗

I was driving home this weekend in my motorhome and noticed smoke coming out of rear of vehicle. I thought we were on fire. Fortunately I was able to get off the road and no injuries occurred. However, there will be many injuries if this problem is not recalled. The vehicle has a Cummins ISL Diesel motor. Vehicle has 33K miles. The #1 fuel injector line fails. If you look online this has happened many of times. Cummins also has a TSB for failure. Also, the "revised" part comes with a new bracket to prevent future failure. So Cummins is aware of…

Look up ODI 11435626 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE HAD TWO DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) HEAD FAILURES THAT HAVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE DEF HEAD UNIT. THE FIRST SITUATION RESULTED IN A DERATING OF THE ENGINE, LIMITING OUR SPEED TO 4 OR 5 MPH WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED 200 MILES TO A SERVICE CENTER, THEN IT TOOK A WEEK TO OBTAIN REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE SECOND SITUATION HAPPENED WITHIN 5 MILES OF A SERVICE CENTER AND WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. HOWEVER, WE ARE SEEING HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS BEING POSTED TO RV …

Look up ODI 11354123 at NHTSA ↗

DEF SYSTEM FOR DIESEL ENGINE STARTED TO FAIL CAUSING REDUCTION IN PERFORMANCE OF MOTOR HOME. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET DIRECTLY TO A FREIGHTLINER SERVICE CENTER, I WOULD HAVE ENDED UP ON THE INTERSTATE ABLE TO GO ONLY FIVE MILES PER HOUR AND NEEDING TO BE TOWED. THIS IS AN ON GOING KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY CUMMINS. THIS PARTICULAR PART IS FAILING ON A REGULAR BASIS ACROSS MANY CHASSIS MAKERS CAUSING A POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE OWNERS OF THESE COACHES. THE PARTICULAR PART IS CALLED A DEF HEAD THAT REGULATES AND METERS T…

Look up ODI 11354474 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MOMENTS LATER, ANOTHER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEF GAUGE WENT FROM F TO E AND TURNED RED WITH AN ALARM. WE WERE ABOUT 5 MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION. I CALLED NEWMAR WHO PUT SPARTAN ON THE PHONE. IT WAS THE DEF SENSOR. I WAS ASKED TO DRIVE ONE HOUR AWAY ON A TWO LANE ROAD TO A DEALER. I REFUSED. WE EXTENDED OUR STAY BY ONE WEEK UNTIL THE PART CAME IN (BACK ORDERED). MOBILE TECHNICIANS CAME AND INSTALLED THE PART. I ASKED IF I SHOULD HAVE A SPARE SENSOR... JUST IN CASE...AND WAS TO…

Look up ODI 11354120 at NHTSA ↗

I recently purchased a 2021 Newmar Dutchstar Motorhome, and took delivery recently. The Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensor failed in less than 3,000 miles. As a newbie in the motorhome world, I was stunned and very disappointed that this failure occurred so quickly, and also with the ramifications of the failure. When DEF sensors fail the engine can go into derate state which can cause my coach to move at a maximum of 5 mph in less than a couple hundred miles, and then the engine SHUTS DOWN. I contacted Spartan motors, the manufacturer of my ch…

Look up ODI 11424982 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN I ENTER MY VIN, YOUR SITE SAYS THAT "ONE OR MORE PARAMETERS ARE INVALID". I'VE USED THE SITE BEFORE, AND THE VIN IS VALID. WHEN I PUT IN THE VIN, IT SAYS 17/17 AT THE END (INDICATING THAT ALL 17 CHARACTERS WERE ENTERED).

Look up ODI 11084662 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2016 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR MOTOR HOME MODEL 4018. IT'S A 40 FT LONG DIESEL PUSHER ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH TOYAL WEIGHT OF 39600 LBS. THE PROBLEM IS POTENTIAL OVERLOADING OF THE FRONT TIRES DUE TO WEIGHT. THE MOTOR HOME WAS JUST WEIGHED AT THE NEWMAR CORP. FACTORY AND THE WEIGHT ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WITHOUT PASSENGERS WAS 7355 LBS. THE FRONT TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE MICHELIN 305/70R22.5 LRL SERIES XRV. THEY HAVE A MAXIMUM LOAD RATING OF 7830 LBS.. ADDING THE WEIGHT OF A PASSENGER AND I SITTING IN THE TWO FRONT SEATS I ESTI…

Look up ODI 10928890 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2017 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR MOTOR HOME ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) SENSOR (DEF HEAD) HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST FAILED AT 14,795 MILES AND WAS REPLACED ON 9/24/18. THAT HEAD LASTED ANOTHER 15,000 MILES AND FAILED AT 31,218 AND WAS REPLACED ON 11/25/2020. EACH HEAD LASTED ABOUT 15,000 MILES OR 2 YEARS. THE PART IS MADE BY SHAW DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS NOT ANSWERED REPEATED ATTEMPTS FOR INFORMATION. AS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, FREIGHTLINER HAS REPLACED BOTH HEADS UNDER THE 5 YEAR FEDERALLY MANDATED WAR…

Look up ODI 11384355 at NHTSA ↗

Since purchasing this RV new, I have had the DEF Head fail twice. 1st time was Sep 2019 with a mileage of 14066 and the 2nd time was April 2021 with a mileage of 16018. Both times DEF Header Assemblies were replaced. When these fail the motor can de-rate at any time. Very dangerous when traveling down the highway. Both times the low DEF warning and check engine lights came on.

Look up ODI 11425316 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.

Look up ODI 11311651 at NHTSA ↗

FACTORY INSTALLED TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM GIVES FALSE PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE READINGS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING.*DT*JB

Look up ODI 11338543 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN DEALER'S LOT AND CAUGHT FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. INVESTIGATION BY FIRE MARSHALL, AND SUBSEQUENT INSURANCE ADJUSTERS BELIEVE THIS LOSS TO BE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE COACH. THE COACH HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS...UPDATED 10-20/15*BF UPDATED 12/4/2017*CN

Look up ODI 10735331 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…

Look up ODI 11321477 at NHTSA ↗

The 2023 Newmar Dutch Star 4326 with a Freightliner Custom Chassis was built without an exterior temperature gauge. This is the first vehicle I've seen like this in many years. I'm on our first trip with my family onboard and we're driving thru the NC mountains in a wintery mix with temperatures varying from above to below freezing. I'm very nervous not knowing when the roads will begin to ice over on treacherous roads. I've discussed with Newmar and Freightliner and they both just say they don't know why it's not there and that they cannot add…

Look up ODI 11506852 at NHTSA ↗

See attached document for complaint.

Look up ODI 11723800 at NHTSA ↗

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

Look up ODI 11155595 at NHTSA ↗

Driver side and Passenger side windows have faulty seals and in temperature conditions below 40 degrees and rainy conditions, these side windows fog up heavily. This is not covered on any warranty or recall. On most of the social media pages for Newmar and RV owners, this is a known issue with the windows on these vehicles and hundreds of owners are having to replace these windows spending thousands of dollars to ensure they are able to see out of these important windows to view their side mirrors. We are from Florida, purchased the RV used …

Look up ODI 11430662 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WHEN ENGAGED AT LOW MEDIUM OR HIGH SPEED BUT IN THE CASE IT FAILED AT LOW SPEED. THE WIPER ON DRIVER SIDE GOES OFF WINDSHIELD TO SIDE MIRROR AND FAILS. *DT CONSUMER STATED PRODUCT MALFUNCTIONED DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. UPDATED 10/9/18*JB

Look up ODI 11131473 at NHTSA ↗

While driving on I-75 in the Venice, Florida area, the lower half of the window fell off our motorcoach. The window was located on the passenger side about 22 ft from the front. I have learned this morning that many reports of this continue being reported on windows made by Hehr, which is now owned by Lippert. We are so very thankful it did not hit the vehicle behind us.

Look up ODI 11455299 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVER'S WINDSHEILD WIPER DOES NOT CONTACT THE GLASS EXCEPT AT THE VERY TOP FOR THE LAST 30% OF THE STROKE LEAVEING THE PORTION DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER WITHOUT THE NEEDED VIEW. NEWMAR REPLACED THE WIPER BLADE, BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM.

Look up ODI 11128274 at NHTSA ↗

Multiple double pane windows are fogging. The driver’s side window fogging between the double pane glass, is causing visibility problem’s creating a safety hazard.

Look up ODI 11508791 at NHTSA ↗

Passenger entry door seal has failed and window is fogged making lane changing or viewing very difficult and unsafe. I have tried to contact Newmar and their reply was giving me a statement that my coach is out of warranty and I need to contact a 3rd party vendor for replacement at my cost. I would think a window separation would be a concern for Newmar Corp. I have read many other complaints from Newmar owners.

Look up ODI 11636178 at NHTSA ↗

The Freightliner instrument cluster (ICU) screen delaminates and makes it difficult to read the gauges. This issue appears to happen with a lot of 2019 models. Freighter refuses to assist and the cost is $5700 for the cluster + labor.

Look up ODI 11603226 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS UNABLE TO DIM THE DASH CLUSTER LIGHTS BELOW 100% BRIGHTNESS USING THE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIED DIMMING CONTROLS. I ATTEMPTED ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A FREEWAY WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, WHILE PARKED IN A REST AREA WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF, AND WITH THE IGNITION ON ACCESSORY WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. THIS CREATES DANGEROUS BRIGHT GLARE TO THE DRIVERS EYES MAKING DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT AT NIGHT.

Look up ODI 11387122 at NHTSA ↗