2002 Newmar KOUNTRY STAR: complaints, problems and recalls

I OWN A 2002 NEWMAR, KOUNTRY STAR MOTOR HOME. ON JANUARY 26, 2004 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM NEWMAR FOR THE 2 FRONT TIRES - " CARCASS PLY FATIGUE TIRE FAILURE". THEY PROVIDED A NUMBER TO CALL TO ARRANGE TO GET THE FRONT 2 TIRES REPLACED. I CALLED THE NUMBER AND RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME IN ONE WEEK! THEY DID AND I MISSED THE CALL. I CALLED AGAIN, SAME STORY, ETC, ETC. I FINALLY HAD TO TAKE A TRIP IN THE MOTOR HOME. THE TIRES LOOKED OK AND THEIR LETTER DID NOT SAY TO DRIVE. ( NOTE I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THE TIRE PRESSURE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064519 at NHTSA ↗

TWO MONTHS AGO CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V037000 REGARDING MICHELIN TIRES, 255/80R22.5 FAILURE. MANUFACTURER DIDN'T RETURN THE PHONE CALL, AND CONSUMER CALLED TWICE A WEEK. COULD NOT GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066988 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER'S MOTOR HOME TIRES WERE BEING RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE. NEWMAR, THE MANUFACTURER, WAS NOT VERY MUCH HELPFUL, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THEY WILL DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WHICH WAS 6 MONTHS IN TO THE RECALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 16,210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081496 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V037000 CONCERNING TIRES: CONSUMER WAS WAITING SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2004 TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE. DEALER CONTINUED TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A RUN AROUND. MICHELIN, XZA, 275/70R 22.5. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SUCCESS. THE RV WAS BUILT ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS EQUIPPED MICHELIN TIRES. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087362 at NHTSA ↗

TL* - DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL #06E076000. THE CONTACT HAD NO PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME, BUT READ IN THE HIGHWAY RV MAGAZINE DATED JANUARY 2007 OF A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KOUNTRY STAR BY NEWMAR, MODEL#KSFW33KSFB. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10177102 at NHTSA ↗

PRIMARY BATTERY CABLE GROUNDED INTO TURBO. NOT PROPERLY ANCHORED OR ROUTED. RUINED STARTER ,BATTERIES. CABLES WERE REROUTED BY A FREIGHTLINER SERVICE GARAGE ANCHORED STARTER CABLE REPLACED. I RECOMMENDED TO NEWMAR THAT A RECALL BE ISSUED AND ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY DAMAGE. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THEIR OPINION THE CABLES WERE ADEQUATELY SECURED AND NO FURTHER ACTION WAS NECESSARY AND CLOSED THE ISSUE. WE LOST A PROPANE FACILITY IN LUBBOCK,TX TO FIRE LAST YEAR WHETHER THEY IDENTIFIED THE IGNITION SOURCE OR NOT I DON'T KNOW . I DO K…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212208 at NHTSA ↗

ON DECEMBER 29, 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE NEWMAR CORP. CONCERNING MY DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR IN MY 2002 NEWMAR KOUNTRY STAR 5TH WHEEL CAMPER. I CONTACTED DOMETIC THE SAME DAY AND THEY SCHEDULE A LOCAL RV SERVICE COMPANY TO LOOK AT PERFORMING THIS RECALL AND INSTALLING A PART TO PREVENT FIRES. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE RV DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND HE ADVISED ME THAT MY DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR COOLING UNIT HAS FAILED AND I NEED TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $700 TO AS HIGH AS $1000.00. I CONTACTED DOMETIC THIS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10258572 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-08-15 (August 15, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR WABCO PNEUMATIC ANITLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) VALVE PACKAGES, THE ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON THESE VALVE PACKAGES WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.

Consequence: BOLTS TORQUED BELOW SPECIFICATION WILL NOT RELIABLY PREVENT AIR LEAKAGE AT THE AFFECTED ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS ONCE THE COMPONENT BEGINS NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. IF AIR LEAKS DEVELOP AT ANY OF THE ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS, BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE REDUCTIONS COULD OCCUR DURING BRAKING OR NORMAL OPERATION WITH UNITS EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION, POTENTIALLY EXTENDING STOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ARVINMERITOR WABCO AT 1-859-746-5956 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791.

Reported: 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)

CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY STANDARD.

Consequence: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REVISE THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON SPARTAN/FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN 255/80R22.5 XRV TIRES, THE CORDS CAN FATIGUE IF THE TIRES ARE OVERLOADED OR UNDERINFLATED.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONLY THE FRONT TIRES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE NOT ROTATED TO THE REAR. A CERTIFICATION TAG DOCUMENTING THE NEW FRONT TIRES INSTALLATION AND SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING THE REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES TO 105 PSI WILL BE ISSUED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 9, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-2381.

Reported: 2005-09-08 (September 8, 2005)

ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH TREDIT WHEELS, THE RIMS MAY HAVE POOR WELD QUALITY AND INSUFFICIENT PRESS FIT BETWEEN THE WHEEL RIM AND DISC.

Consequence: THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE RIM. THE WHEEL MAY WOBBLE AND CAUSE A VIBRATION OR THE MOUNTED TIRE COULD LOSE AIR CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH TREDIT TIRE TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND HAVE THE RIMS REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2007-03-05 (March 5, 2007)

CERTAIN CLASS A AND DIESEL PUSHER MOTOR HOMES AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NEWMAR WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Reported: 2008-01-24 (January 24, 2008)

ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES CONSTRUCTED ON FORD F-53TY1 AND P131 MOTOR HOME CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH FORD IN CONDUCTING THIS RECALL. FORD WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791. (NOTE: ALSO SEE FORD RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)

Reported: 2009-06-11 (June 11, 2009)

NEWMAR IS RECALLING 2,578 MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.

Consequence: THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL, AND POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY AND OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.

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.