RoadVitals

2003 Newmar American Star

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Apr 25, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 5, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Newmar American Star, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels250.0%
  • Brakes125.0%
  • Engine125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07V075000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Mar 5, 2007
16,190 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
The 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.
NEWMAR CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 25, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NEWMAR AMERICAN STAR RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE NEWMAR MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID
11090015
Incident
Apr 16, 2018
Mileage
76,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 22, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NEWMAR AMERICAN STAR RV (TOW BEHIND). THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL GENERAL, SIZE 29575R225 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT, AND REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES. NEWMAR INFORMED THE CONTACT TO GO TO SEARS. SEARS STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT RATED FOR A TOW TRAILER. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT THE APPROPRIATE SIZE FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAVEL TRAILER. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID
10206570
Incident
Jun 28, 2007
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 3, 2007

2003 AMERICAN STAR TRAILER. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES. CUSTOMER STATES THE TREAD SEPARATED 3 TIMES ON DIFFERENT TIRES. THE THIRD TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT THE APPROPRIATE SIZE FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAVEL TRAILER.*JB

NHTSA ID
10205006
Incident
Jun 28, 2007

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Newmar American Star by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008000—
2007000—
2006000—
2005020—
2004010—
2003Viewing310—
2002010—
2001010—
2000210—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.