2003 Newmar KOUNTRY STAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
11,115 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
2
33.3%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
3
Equipment
1
Service Brakes
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Structure
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
3
Equipment
1
Service Brakes
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Structure
1
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 3; Equipment: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Structure: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2003
2
2007
1
2008
1
2009
1
2017
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2003
2
2007
1
2008
1
2009
1
2017
1
2003: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP ON WAY TO CAMPGROUND ON NARROW ROAD WITH OUT ROOM TO PULL OFF. TAPPED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WITH SMALL SUCCESS IN FREEING CALIPER. ABOUT 3 MILES FROM CAMPGROUND WE CONTINUED TO PARK UPON ARRIVAL BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND OIL BLEW OUT OF WHEEL BEARING. CALLED WORKHORSE BUT RECEIVED NO HELP. FINALLY FOUND A MECHANIC TO DO ON SITE WORK COST $828. *TR
CALIPERS ON FRONT AND REAR WHEELS HAVE LOCKED UP AFTER SITTING OVER WINTER. BRAKES OVER HEATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCE IN CITY. WILL NEED SERVICE AT MY LOCATION AS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
33.3%Usable mileage2 / 6 records
100.0%Valid incident date6 / 6 records
100.0%Valid filing date6 / 6 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates6 / 6 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2020
2021
2022
2023
Tires
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
Steering
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
3100.0%ODI 11471882
Four times since taking possession of this 2022 RV, a red warning was displayed on the screen saying “Park Brake Not Set”. This requires the operator to insure the brake is actually set, chock tires and act to prevent movement. This exposes the operator and those nearby to potential injury or death. In addition, the “Steering Effort Control Disabled” yellow warning appears with the previous warning. Freightliner and Newmar states that a red warning requires immediate corrective action. While this problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or …
The cable supplying 12V power to the RV generator (the house generator in the front of the coach) shorted out while driving causing failure of 12V chassis control systems and accessories including: Transmission control (i.e. could not shift gears) Instrument panel Turn signals Horn Rear view camera Engine brake control. The vehicle air brakes were operating and I was able to pull over to a safe location. While the vehicle engine could be restarted, none of the 12V accessories at the drivers station were functional particularly the gear shif…
The contact owns a 2022 Newmar Kountry Star RV. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds over a bump in the roadway, the comfort drive feature failed to operate as designed. Due to the failure, excessive effort was needed to steer the RV. The contact stated that after restarting the RV, the feature was reset and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the feature was reprogrammed; however, the failure returned soon after service. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and was informed that the st…
The BrakeSync valve is located too close to the turbo charger. In hot weather and slow traffic or high engine load as when climbing long grades enough heat builds up to cause the high pressure hose from the air supply tank to the regulator valve to blow.
Four times since taking possession of this 2022 RV, a red warning was displayed on the screen saying “Park Brake Not Set”. This requires the operator to insure the brake is actually set, chock tires and act to prevent movement. This exposes the operator and those nearby to potential injury or death. In addition, the “Steering Effort Control Disabled” yellow warning appears with the previous warning. Freightliner and Newmar states that a red warning requires immediate corrective action. While this problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or …
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Service Brakes
Too few reports for a range
10,702 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 11003443 · 10,702 mi
CALIPERS ON FRONT AND REAR WHEELS HAVE LOCKED UP AFTER SITTING OVER WINTER. BRAKES OVER HEATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCE IN CITY. WILL NEED SERVICE AT MY LOCATION AS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP ON WAY TO CAMPGROUND ON NARROW ROAD WITH OUT ROOM TO PULL OFF. TAPPED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WITH SMALL SUCCESS IN FREEING CALIPER. ABOUT 3 MILES FROM CAMPGROUND WE CONTINUED TO PARK UPON ARRIVAL BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND OIL BLEW OUT OF WHEEL BEARING. CALLED WORKHORSE BUT RECEIVED NO HELP. FINALLY FOUND A MECHANIC TO DO ON SITE WORK COST $828. *TR
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2022: 3 complaints · 2023: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2022
3
3
3
2023
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2022
3
0
0
2023
0
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
Equipment
Service Brakes
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Structure
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
—
1ODI 10257448
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NEW BAR COUNTRY COACH. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NDR1062, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2008 AND A CRACK IN THE BOILER TUBE WAS REPAIRED. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE REFRIGERATOR FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT PURCHASED NEW PARTS FOR THE REAR OF THE UNIT IN ORDER TO REPAIR IT HIMSELF. HE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE ON JANUARY 27, 2009 AND CALLED DOMETIC REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT. HE WAS INFORMED THAT AFTER APRIL OF 2008, NO REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE PRO…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NEW BAR COUNTRY COACH. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NDR1062, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2008 AND A CRACK IN THE BOILER TUBE WAS REPAIRED. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE REFRIGERATOR FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT PURCHASED NEW PARTS FOR THE REAR OF THE UNIT IN ORDER TO REPAIR IT HIMSELF. HE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE ON JANUARY 27, 2009 AND CALLED DOMETIC REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT. HE WAS INFORMED THAT AFTER APRIL OF 2008, NO REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE PRO…
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 11,528 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10235870 · 11,528 mi
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP ON WAY TO CAMPGROUND ON NARROW ROAD WITH OUT ROOM TO PULL OFF. TAPPED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WITH SMALL SUCCESS IN FREEING CALIPER. ABOUT 3 MILES FROM CAMPGROUND WE CONTINUED TO PARK UPON ARRIVAL BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND OIL BLEW OUT OF WHEEL BEARING. CALLED WORKHORSE BUT RECEIVED NO HELP. FINALLY FOUND A MECHANIC TO DO ON SITE WORK COST $828. *TR