2000 Newmar Dutch Star Problems

WHILE TRAVELING IN OUR 2000 DUTCH STAR MOTOR HOME, DIESEL PUSHER, THROUGH HOUSTON TX, ON MARCH 23, 2006, WE EXPERIENCED AN INNER REAR TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS TIRE HAS A "ZIPPER" FRACTURE OF 14 INCHES ON THE SIDEWALL. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE A SAFE STOP AND EXITED FROM THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED WITH A MATCHED MICHELIN TIRE. ON APRIL 1, 2006 WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH ELMIRA NY (1600 MILES LATER) ON INTERSTATE 86, WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BLOWOUT ON THE INNER REAR TIRE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTOR HOME. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE A SAFE STOP. HOWEVER THE REAR LEFT FENDER SKIRT WAS BLOWN OFF BY THE RUPTURING TIRE. THIS "ZIPPER" FRACTURE WAS 12 INCHES IN THE IDENTICAL TIRE POSITION AS THE FIRST RUPTURE. WE WERE UNABLE TO GET AN IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT TIRE FOR THE BLOWN TIRE AND WE MADE THE DECISION THAT ALL FOUR REAR TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO HAVE MISMATCHED TIRES. WE REPLACED THESE REAR TIRES WITH AN H RATED TIRE BY GOODYEAR 275/70R 22.5 G670 RV. IN 2004, NEWMAR (MANUFACTURER OF DUTCH STAR MOTOR HOMES) HAD A RECALL AND REPLACED ONLY THE FRONT TIRES ON THIS MOTOR HOME WHICH WAS BUILT ON A FREIGHTLINER FRAME. THE NEW TIRES WERE MICHELIN XZA1 275/70R 22.5 WHICH IS HIGHER RATED THAN THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. PREVIOUSLY, WE HAVE HAD THIS MOTOR HOME WEIGHED ON AT A FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSN. (FMCE) RALLY. THE FOUR CORNERS WERE WEIGHED AND WE WERE WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED GVW (GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT) OF 27,900 LBS. WE WERE NOT OVERLOADED. THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES WAS 105 LBS. EACH WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED. IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE TIRE FAILURE ON THIS UNIT WAS DUE TO HAVING INADEQUATE REAR TIRES AND THAT WHEN THE RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2004, THE REAR TIRES SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED AT THAT TIME. *NM

DT: 2000 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR MOTOR HOME. THE CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN TIRES, 255/80R22-5XRV. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALL AT 15,000 MILES. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR INSIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AT 23,800 MILES. THE FRONT TIRES WERE RECALLED AND THEY WERE REPLACED. THE REAR TIRE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE REAR TIRE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY IT BLEW OUT. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 MOTORHOME ON A SPARTAN CHASSIS. THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. SPARTAN CHASSIS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND REFUSES TO REPAIR OR ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR RV TRAILER. HE REPLACED THE TIE ROD PARTS 16 TIMES THE BALL JOINT COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED 8 TIMES IN A NINE YEARS WHICH ARE ALL A PART OF THE STEERING FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY REQUIRED TO PAY FOR LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS ARE WERE REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE PARTS ARE NOT RELATED TO A RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64,000. UPDATED 12/10/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE DISCOVERED THE TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINT ON THE RV HAD NOT PROTECTIVE RUBBER OR VERY LITTLE RUBBER LEFT. THE RUBBER WAS FOR SAFETY, IT KEEPS THE GREASE IN AND DIRT, SAND AND WATER FROM WEARING DOWN THE TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER STATED IN FOUR YEARS THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. UPDATED 12/10/09

I HAVE A 2000 MOTORHOME ON A SPARTAN CHASSIS. THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. SPARTAN CHASSIS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND REFUSES TO REPAIR OR ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR RV TRAILER. HE REPLACED THE TIE ROD PARTS 16 TIMES THE BALL JOINT COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED 8 TIMES IN A NINE YEARS WHICH ARE ALL A PART OF THE STEERING FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY REQUIRED TO PAY FOR LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS ARE WERE REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE PARTS ARE NOT RELATED TO A RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64,000. UPDATED 12/10/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE DISCOVERED THE TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINT ON THE RV HAD NOT PROTECTIVE RUBBER OR VERY LITTLE RUBBER LEFT. THE RUBBER WAS FOR SAFETY, IT KEEPS THE GREASE IN AND DIRT, SAND AND WATER FROM WEARING DOWN THE TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER STATED IN FOUR YEARS THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. UPDATED 12/10/09

CONSUMER STATES THE HEADLIGHTS SUPPLY VERY POOR VISIBILITY. THE CONSUMER HAS TO USE FOG LIGHTS TO SEE PROPERLY AT NIGHT. THE MOTORHOME WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO SOLUTION. *SCC

DUE TO MOISTURE BUILD UP IN HEADLIGHT LENS THER IS A VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT LENS. *AK THE LIGHT DOES NOT PENETRATE THROUGH THE MOISTURE. *YH

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2000 Newmar Dutch Star RV. After driving the RV on a road trip, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The RV was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the RV mileage was 102,000, and at the time it was taken to an independent mechanic, it was determined that the odometer had been disconnected. The contact contacted the State Enforcement Agency for odometer fraud and was referred to an attorney. The mileage remained 102,000. The contact was unable to determine the actual mileage.

FAILURE IN THE DUTCH STAR MOTORHOME WITH SPQARTAN CHASSIS ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSES LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL. BECAME APPARENT WHEN TURNING IN FRONT OF CAR ON 2 LANE ROAD - CAR HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAS REOCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

VEHICLE SAFETY CONCERN COMPLAINT REGARDING 2000 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR MODEL 3665 COACH.*MR ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER HIT ROAD HAZARDS WHICH CAUSED THE MUFFLER TO BECOME LOOSE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IT FELL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS TOO LOW ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, THERE WAS A SQUEEL IN THE LEFT FRONT AND REAR WHEELS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD. *YH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NEWMAR DUTCHSTAR RV. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR, MODEL NDR1062. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE RV COMPLETELY FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE REFRIGERATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $200.00. ONE YEAR LATER, HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V075000 (EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE UNIT WAS NOT REPAIRED BEFORE MARCH OF 2007, THE CONTACT WOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT APPLICABLE. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN THE COOLING UNIT WAS REPALCED. UPDATED 02/27/09. *JB

BRAKE SYSTEM HAS NEVER OPERATED PROPERLY WHEN TRYING TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN ON A DOWN GRADE OR DURING WET CONDITIONS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL BRAKE SHOES ON MOTOR HOME. AFTER BRAKE SHOES WERE REPLACED, CONSUMER WAS COMING OUT OF NEVADA IN A SNOW STORM AND VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO LEFT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. HE HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. CONSUMER FELT BRAKES WERE WORSE AFTER REPAIRS THAN THEY WERE BEFORE BRAKE SHOES WERE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

FAILURE IN THE DUTCH STAR MOTORHOME WITH SPQARTAN CHASSIS ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSES LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL. BECAME APPARENT WHEN TURNING IN FRONT OF CAR ON 2 LANE ROAD - CAR HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAS REOCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES.*AK