2015 Newmar ESSEX: complaints, problems and recalls

The contact owns a 2015 Newmar Essex RV. The contact stated the RV trailer was parked plugged in an RV local dealer, in which the dealer had notified the contact that the trailer caught on fire due to the inverter system melting down in the trailer which caused a lot of black smoke installation damage in the interior of the trailer and fire damage to the undercarriage of the trailer. No one was injured. The contact was unaware of how the fire was extinguished. The contact was unaware of the fire department came out or a fire report was filed. …

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11428826 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-10-06 (October 6, 2014)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Essex motorhomes manufactured February 15, 2013, to June 4, 2014, and built on Freightliner chassis. In the affected vehicles, the rear axle jack mounting bracket may be attached too close to the rear suspension air bag.

Consequence: The rear axle mounting bracket may rub against the suspension air bag resulting in the air bag leaking air and a suspension collapse, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar has notified owners, and dealers will provide a clearance gap between the bracket and air bag, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-02-03 (February 3, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Newmar King Aire, and Essex vehicles manufactured December 9, 2013, to December 16, 2014, equipped with certain Wabco Quick Release Valves with Double Check. In the affected valves, the rubber diaphragm may be damaged by sharp edges on the valve seat ribs, reducing the available air pressure in the air tanks.

Consequence: The reduced air pressure levels may reduce braking performance and/or the parking brakes could reapply, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the valve, free of charge. The recall began on February 26, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-02-04 (February 4, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2015 Essex motorhomes manufactured March 13, 2014, to November 13, 2014, built on Spartan chassis. Due to the steering column having inadequate spline engagement at the steering gear, the steering shaft may disconnect or slip.

Consequence: If the steering shaft disconnects or slips there would be a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners on behalf of Newmar, and dealers will replace the steering shaft, free of charge. The recall began on February 26, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-03-16 (March 16, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 King Aire, Essex, London Aire, and Mountain Aire motor homes manufactured November 26, 2013, to November 11, 2014. The wiper blades may separate from the wiper arm connectors, especially when the wipers are used at the high speed setting.

Consequence: If the wiper blades separate from the wiper arms, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-06-15 (June 15, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2015 Essex and King Aire vehicles manufactured March 26, 2014, to December 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have tag axle suspension hangers that may move, allowing the tag axle assembly to shift off center.

Consequence: If the tag axle moves off center, vehicle handling may suddenly be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar has notified owners, and dealers will weld the tag axle suspension hangers to the chassis frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2015-06-30 (June 30, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 King Aire and Essex vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2014, and May 13, 2015, and model year 2016 Mountain Aire vehicles manufactured from March 17, 2015, through April 17, 2015. The affected vehicles, built on a Spartan Chassis, have fasteners that attach the stay rod (v-rod) to the rear drive axle that may not have been installed with thread locker or tightened in the correct sequence.

Consequence: If the fasteners loosen, the stay rod may disconnect from the rear axle, allowing the rear axle to move freely, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Spartan will notify owners on behalf of Newmar, and dealers will replace the fasteners using thread lock, tightening them in the proper sequence and with the required torque values, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-582-3454.

Reported: 2015-08-05 (August 5, 2015)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Essex and King Aire vehicles manufactured March 7, 2014, to June 15, 2015, and 2016 Mountain Aire vehicles manufactured March 9, 2015, to June 5, 2015. The control module for the air suspension may experience a loss of power resulting in the air suspension not being able to achieve ride height.

Consequence: If the ride height of the suspension is less than specified ride height the vehicle may be difficult to control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners and Spartan Motors will repair the motor homes free of charge. The recall began on August 5, 2015. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300.

Reported: 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Dutch Star, Mountain Aire, Essex, and 2015-2016 London Aire vehicles manufactured March 27, 2013, to October 16, 2015 and built on a Freightliner chassis. On certain recreational vehicles built with a heavier, adjustable foot pedal, the brake activation signal to certain towed devices may not deactivate when the service brakes are released.

Consequence: If the brake activation signal to a towed device remains active when the motorhome chassis service brakes are released, the brakes on a towed device may remain engaged depending on brake configuration of the trailer. As a result, the brakes would drag and possibly overheat potentially resulting in a fire. Additionally, following drivers may be confused by the motorhome's actions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will modify the affected assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Freightliner/Daimler Trucks North America LLC at 1-800-547-0712 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V-204.

Reported: 2016-05-10 (May 10, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Essex, and 2015 Mountain Aire and London Aire motorhomes manufactured from May 20, 2013, through April 09, 2015. These vehicles are built on Freightliner rear engine chassis that have 18,000lb or 20,000lb-capacity front axles. In these motorhomes, the power steering fluid temperature may exceed the power steering hose material rating, subsequently causing the hoses to fail, resulting in a sudden loss of power steering.

Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would result in increased difficulty to steer the vehicle in either direction at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will replace the power steering hose with a higher temperature rated one, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2016. 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-121.

Reported: 2016-06-28 (June 28, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Dutch Star and Mountain Aire and 2015-2016 London Aire and Essex motorhomes manufactured January 28, 2013, to December 14, 2015 and built on a Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) chassis. The throttle pedal position sensor on the affected vehicles may not return to zero, causing the engine brake to suddenly not activate as expected, reducing the vehicle's deceleration ability.

Consequence: A sudden loss of an engine brake without warning on a motorhome may lead to a reduced brake capacity, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and DTNA dealers will replace the throttle pedal, free of charge. The recall began on August 5, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar Customer Service Department at 1-800-731-8300 or Daimler Trucks North America LLC at 1-800-547-0712, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V 321.

Reported: 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 1998-2010 Dutch Star, 2008 Kountry Star, 2008-2009 All Star and Ventana, 2009-2010 Dutch Aire, 2014-2015 King Aire and 2015 Essex motorhomes, built on a Spartan Motors chassis. In the affected vehicles, the flexible exhaust tube may tear allowing hot exhaust to blow against other components or materials.

Consequence: If hot exhaust gas contacts other components or materials, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will inspect the alignment of the tubes, correcting them and replacing any that are torn. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan customer service at 1-800-543-4277. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V 313.

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: 2017-06-14 (June 14, 2017)

Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain 2012-2015 King Aire and Essex motorhomes built on a Spartan Motors chassis. A component within the starter motor may break, potentially resulting in the starter motor overheating or drawing excessive current.

Consequence: A starter motor that overheats may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan Motors dealers will replace the starter, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Spartan Motors at 1-800-543-4277 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 17012.

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.