2017 Newmar DUTCH STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

DISCOVERED A FUEL LINE ROUTING THAT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE DURING AN INSPECTION AND SERVICE. I TIED IT BACK TO KEEP IT FROM RUBBING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FUEL LINE. THIS IS ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111332 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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354123 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…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384355 at NHTSA ↗

RV WENT INTO 5MPH DERATE DUE TO DEF HEADER MALFUNCTION. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE IN AN RV PARK, HOWEVER THERE IS NO WAY TO REPLACE THE DEF HEADER WITHOUT RAISING THE RV (DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE TANK), SO IT COULDN'T BE REPLACED THERE. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE DEF HEADER AT FREIGHTLINER OF HOUSTON, DUE TO THE WARNING LIGHTS. HOWEVER WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE THERE FOR THE APPOINTMENT, I FOUND THE RV WOULD NOT GO OVER 5MPH. SINCE THE DEALER WAS 60 MILES AWAY (AND IT WAS THE NEAREST ONE), THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD MAKE IT.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415723 at NHTSA ↗

DEF Head Failure - Spartan Chassis.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11425343 at NHTSA ↗

My DEF sensor failed which required towing on Interstate 80 in a highly congested area. This same failure has happened to many other motorhomes and trucks. It creates a very unsafe situation which needs to be corrected. Please require the manufacturer to correct the flaw and recall all in use. Thank you.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11521780 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-06-29 (June 29, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ventana, Ventana VL, and Dutch Star motorhomes manufactured November 1, 2015, to June 24, 2016 and built on a Freightliner Custom Chassis. In the affected vehicles, when the windshield wipers are turned off, the headlights may also turn off. Additionally, the wiper arms may stop in an incorrect location blocking the driver's view, and the wiper motor may stall when under load.

Consequence: If the headlights go out or the wiper system does not operate properly, the driver's visibility may be adversely affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will update the wiper software, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar Customer Service Department at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2016-07-06 (July 6, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2017 Dutch Star, Mountain Aire, London Aire, Essex, and King Aire motorhomes manufactured December 4, 2015, to July 5, 2016. The affected vehicles have front fascia wood trim that may separate from the slide out and possibly contact the driver or a passenger.

Consequence: If the fascia separates and contacts the driver or a passenger, a loss of vehicle control may result, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will secure the trim with screws, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2016-10-24 (October 24, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2017 Dutch Star and Ventana motorhomes manufactured May 17, 2016, to September 27, 2016. On certain motorhomes, the wardrobe slide out motor may have been installed without having a brake.

Consequence: If the slide out motor does not have a brake installed, the slide out box could extend unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motor and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall ibegan on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2016-11-08 (November 8, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2017 Dutch Star, Mountain Aire, London Aire, Essex, and King Aire motorhomes manufactured May 12, 2016, to September 22, 2016 and built on a Spartan Motors chassis. The throttle circuit wires on the affected vehicles may not have been be twisted to cancel out electromagnetic interference, and as a result, interference may cause the throttle signal to be higher or lower than intended.

Consequence: Unintended deceleration or acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will install an overlay harness with twisted wires, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan at 1-800-543-4277. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V-776.

Reported: 2016-11-15 (November 15, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Dutch Star and Ventana motorhomes manufactured January 22, 2016, to November 7, 2016, equipped with Cummins ISL engines. These vehicles, built on a Freightliner chassis, have a power steering hose that may be routed incorrectly, and, as a result, the hose may rub against the power stud on the starter motor, possibly causing electrical arcing and a power steering fluid leak.

Consequence: Electrical arcing in the presence of leaking power steering fluid can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will reroute the power steering hose for proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2017. Owners may contact Freightliner customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V 809.

Reported: 2017-03-22 (March 22, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Dutch Star, 2016-2018 Mountain Aire and London Aire, and 2012-2018 Essex and King Aire motorhomes built on a Spartan Motors chassis. The ball joints on the independent front suspension (IFS) modules can loosen and separate, leading to a partial loss of steering.

Consequence: A separated ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan service centers will remove, clean, apply thread locker, reinstall and torqued the ball joints, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 3, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan at 1-800-543-4277 to locate a qualified service center or contact Newmar customer service at 1-574-773-7791. Newmar's number for this recall is 17004.

Reported: 2017-06-30 (June 30, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Newmar Dutch Star and 2015-2017 Newmar Ventana motorhomes. In the affected motorhomes, the driver side and passenger side powered night shades can be lowered by using the remote when the ignition is in the ON position.

Consequence: If the vehicle is being driven and the button on the remote is pushed, the night shades may lower, blocking the driver's view, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners and dealers will install a relay to disable the operation of the driver and passenger night shade by the remote when the ignition is in the ON position. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2017-08-09 (August 9, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2014 Moutain Aire and 2014-2017 Dutch Star recreational vehicles built on Freightliner XCR chassis manufactured by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). These chassis have a battery cable mounting bracket may not have been installed correctly, as a result, the improperly routed and clipped battery cable can contact the frame rail, possibly chafing and short circuiting.

Consequence: A battery cable short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and DTNA dealers will inspect and revise the battery cable mounting bracket and cable routing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 20, 2017. Owners may contact Daimler Trucks North America at 1-800-547-0712 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 17V-451.

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.

Reported: 2017-12-19 (December 19, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2016-2018 Bay Star, Bay Star Sport, Canyon Star, Dutch Star, Essex, King Aire, London Aire, Mountain Aire, New Aire, Ventana and Ventana LE motorhomes. These vehicles may have a loose power connection at the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), possibly resulting in a build up of heat.

Consequence: The build up of heat in the wiring from the loose power connection can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electrical connection at the ATS, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2018-01-19 (January 19, 2018)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ventana, Ventana LE and Dutchstar motorhomes built on a Freightliner chassis. The low beam headlights do not also illuminate as intended when the high beam headlights are activated, reducing the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the driver has reduced visibility, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks North America authorized service facilities will reprogram the Freightliner chassis module, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2018-03-27 (March 27, 2018)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Newmar Ventana, 2011-2017 Newmar Dutch Star, and 2011-2014 Newmar Mountain Aire vehicles, built on Freightliner XBR chassis and equipped with Cummins ISL engines. The power steering hose on the affected vehicles may be routed incorrectly, and, as a result, the hose may rub against the power stud on the starter motor, possibly causing electrical arcing and a power steering fluid leak.

Consequence: If the power steering hose contacts the power stud causing a power steering fluid leak, additional steering effort may be needed increasing the risk of a crash or an electrical arc may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will reroute the power steering hose, free of charge. The recall began on May 24, 2018. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is FL-762.

Reported: 2018-04-18 (April 18, 2018)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Newmar Ventana, 2015-2016 Newmar London Aire, and 2013-2017 Newmar Dutch Star motorhomes. When switching from using the low beam headlights to the high beam headlights, the low beam headlights go out when the intention was to have both beams illuminate.

Consequence: Without the low beams also illuminated when the high beams are on, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will correct the vehicles so that the low beam stays illuminated when the high beam is switched on, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2018. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2019-06-07 (June 7, 2019)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ventana LE and 2017-2019 Dutch Star, Essex, London Aire, Mountain Aire and Ventana, and 2018-2019 New Aire motorhomes built on a Daimler trucks chassis. The rear mounted Power Distribution Module (PDM) may have been damaged during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the rear marker lights, brake lights, or turn signals not functioning.

Consequence: Nonfunctioning lights can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks dealers will inspect and replace the rear PDM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 18, 2019. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 18V-852.

Reported: 2020-07-21 (July 21, 2020)

Newmar Corporaton (Newmar) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ventana LE, 2017-2020 Ventana, London Aire, Essex and Dutch Star, 2017-2019 Mountain Aire, 2018-2020 New Aire, and 2020 Kountry Star motorhomes that received the 'inspection-only' remedy from recall 19V-426. The rear mounted Power Distribution Module (PDM) may have been damaged during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the rear marker lights, brake lights, or turn signals not functioning.

Consequence: Non-functioning exterior marker lights can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Daimler Trucks North America dealers will replace the PDM, free of charge. This recall began September 11, 2020. Owners may contact Newmar's customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 20V-404.

Reported: 2021-02-17 (February 17, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2021 Kountry Star and 2017-2021 Dutch Star motorhomes. The brake light switch may chafe against the windshield wiper mechanism, which could damage the brake light switch or it's wiring, and cause the brake lights to not illuminate.

Consequence: If the brake lights do not illuminate, other motorists will be unaware of the driver's intention, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake light switch and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2021-05-20 (May 20, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Dutch Star, 2017-2019 Mountain Aire, 2019-2021 Ventana and 2021 New Aire motorhomes. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rail threads, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters were mailed to owners on July 16, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8000. Newmar's number for this recall is Cummins 21E-032.

Reported: 2021-07-02 (July 2, 2021)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2019 Mountain Aire, 2020-2021 New Aire, 2020-2022 Super Star, 2018-2021 Ventana, and Dutch Star vehicles equipped with certain Cummins diesel engines. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot boreholes, allowing the high-pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Cummins service centers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is Cummins 21E-32.