2008 Newell MOTOR HOME: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME OFF WINDSHIELD AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. WE UNDERSTAND THAT NEWELL COACH HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND STATES THEY CANNOT GET THE PARTS TO CORRECT THIS. THIS KIND OF THING IS REAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS IS A MOTORHOME AND WE HAD NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. IT WAS A FRI NIGHT IN ST LOUIS AT RUSH HOUR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225817 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-08-30 (August 30, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX PARKER CHECK VALVES, THE PARKER BRASS CHECK VALVE WHICH CONNECTS TO THE SUPPLY PORT OF THE BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE CAN FAIL.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AFTER THE OPERATOR PULLS THE DASH VALVE BUTTON. THESE CONDITIONS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, LEADING TO UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY, BRAKE DRAG, OR IN THE CASE OF LOSS OF PRIMARY CIRCUIT, INABILITY TO MODULATE THE SPRING BRAKES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRASS CHECK VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWELL COACH AT 1-888-963-9355 OR BENDIX AT1- 440-329-9000.

Reported: 2007-08-31 (August 31, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVES, THE INTERNAL RUBBER CHECK VALVE MAY LEAK CAUSING A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AFTER THE OPERATOR PULLS THE DASH VALVE BUTTON.

Consequence: THIS COULD DELAY OR FAIL TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: BENDIX IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE (07E-037). BENDIX WILL INSTALL A CHECK VALVE REPAIR KIT FOR THE AFFECTED SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BENDIX AT 440-329-9000 OR NEWELL COACH AT 1-888-963-9355.

Reported: 2008-03-11 (March 11, 2008)

NEWELL IS RECALLING 156 MY 2003-2008 MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C-15 ENGINES AND VICKER'S HYDRAULIC PUMPS. THE HYDRAULIC PUMP INPUT SHAFT MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE THE ENGINE DRIVE SPROCKET CAUSING FAILURE OF THE INPUT DRIVE SHAFT.

Consequence: LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NEWELL WILL REPLACE THE PUMP WITH ONE EQUIPPED WITH A LONGER SHAFT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWELL AT 1-888-963-9355.

Reported: 2008-08-08 (August 8, 2008)

NEWELL IS RECALLING 80 MY 2005-2008 MODEL 450 MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH ZF TRANSMISSIONS. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE SHIFT SELECTOR TO MALFUNCTION AS A RESULT OF A CELL PHONE OR RADIO BEING PLACED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE SHIFTER CONTROL PAD.

Consequence: THE INTERFERENCE FROM THE CELL PHONE OR RADIO COULD RESULT IN AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN DIRECTION AND POSSIBLE CRASH IF A SPECIFIC SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WERE TO OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROLLER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWELL AT 1-888-963-9355.

Reported: 2009-12-01 (December 1, 2009)

NEWELL IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Consequence: AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NEWELL IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986.

Reported: 2012-02-14 (February 14, 2012)

NEWELL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 MOTOR COACHES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2004 THROUGH JULY 2009, EQUIPPED WITH SE-GI WINDOWS. THE ADHESIVE BOND BETWEEN THE GLASS PORTION OF THE VENT PANEL AND HINGE MAY DEGRADE, AND THE PANEL MAY DETACH AND FALL FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED DURING TRAVEL IT COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2012. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWELL AT 1-888-963-9355.