RoadVitals

2005 Newmar Dutch 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.
5
Latest Jun 5, 2007
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.
9
Latest Dec 15, 2017
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.
1
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Newmar Dutch Star, most frequently naming the interior & seats, electrical and other / unspecified categories. 9 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 6 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Interior & seats233.3%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%
  • Steering116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

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

9 campaigns cover this model year

View all 9

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
17V809000

EQUIPMENT

Dec 15, 2017
34,699 units potentially affected
The defect: 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
The risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The 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.
Newmar CorporationManufacturer number 17E-062View on NHTSA.gov
16V501000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Jul 5, 2016
742 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: If hot exhaust gas contacts other components or materials, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Newmar CorporationManufacturer number 16V 313View on NHTSA.gov
15V829000

STEERING

Dec 9, 2015
1,920 units potentially affected
The defect: Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 1997-2005 Dutch Star and Mountain Aire, 1998-1999 London Aire, 2004 Essex and 1997-1998 Kountry Aire motorhomes. The affected vehicles have a steering gear mounting bracket that may crack, causing a loss of steering ability.
The risk: A loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will replace the steering gear mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 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 15V 633.
Newmar CorporationManufacturer number 15V 633View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE07061ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

LIFT ASSISSTED CARGO DOORS

Opened Nov 30, 2007
Closed Mar 24, 2008

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATON WITH A SINGLE COMPLAINT, VOQ 10192456. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, NEWMAR IDENTIFIED ONE ADDITIONAL OWNER COMPLAINT ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE (POPULATION 2,431).NEWMAR ALSO IDENTIFIED ONE COMPLAINT PERTAINING TO A MODEL YEAR 2006 VEHICLE (OF 1,567 MFD) IN WHICH A LIFT ASSISTED CARGO DOOR IN A MOVING VEHICLE HAD REPORTEDLY OPENED (OR BEEN LEFT IN THE OPEN POSITION BY THE OPERATOR) TO THE NEAR HORIZONTAL POSITION AND THE PROTRUDING RIGHT REAR CARGO DOOR HAD CONTACTED A HIGHWAY GUARDRAIL WHICH SHEARED THE CARGO DOOR FROM THE VEHICLE.NEWMAR HAS ADVISED ODI THAT INADVERTANT OPENING OF HORIZONTALLY HINGED CARGO DOORS WILL BECOME LESS FREQUENT BECAUSE NEWMAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN MORE RECENT YEARS ARE EQUIPPED WITH VERTICALLY HINGED CARGO DOORS (WHICH ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A LIFT ASSIST FEATURE).ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION DUE TO A LOW NUMBER OF FAILURES, BUT HAS IMPLEMENTED A ONE-YEAR MONITORING PROGRAM AT NEWMAR THAT REQUIRESNEWMAR TO INFORM ODI WHEN ANY ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS OF INADVERTANT CARGO DOOR OPENINGS ARE REPORTED SO THE AGENCY CAN RESPOND WITH THE APPROPORIATEACTION IF, AND WHEN , NEW INCIDENTS ARE REPORTED.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed Jun 5, 2007
Crash reported

I HAVE A NEWMAR RV AND THE DOORS ON THE STORAGE AREAS ON THE SIDES CAN COME OPEN WHEN DRIVING DONE THE ROAD. ONE SUCH DOOR OPENED AND HIT A MOTORCYCLE PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS COULD OF BEEN A DEATH IF THE RIDER WOULD OF BEEN ON HIS BIKE. THE COMPANY WAS INFORMED AND OF COURSE THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED DEFORE. THERE HAS BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE AND NOTHING SAID ABOUT A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. THESE DOORS WHERE IN THEIR LOCKED POSITION AND LOOKED AT BEFORE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192456
Incident
May 19, 2007
Mileage
22,000 mi
ElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 30, 2006

REAR SLIDE ON 2005 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR RETRACTS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE. LUCKILY WE OR OUR PETS WERE NOT INJURED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AUTOMATIC JACKS WERE DEPLOYED, BUT HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE UNIT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUG 2005. *JB

NHTSA ID
10154219
Incident
Feb 4, 2005
Mileage
6,970 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING ON NORMAL ROADS. IT DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT; ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN STRAIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10149816
Incident
Feb 8, 2006
Mileage
1,380 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 25, 2005

AUTOMATIC SLIDE LOCKS FAILED TO CLOSE ON SLIDES. THEY HAVE A CHEAP SCREW THAT THEY BEND TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A MAGNET. VERY POOR DESIGN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10140714
Incident
Aug 1, 2005
Mileage
2,300 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 11, 2005

TIRES LOAD RATING BELOW THAT OF GAWR.

NHTSA ID
10116703
Incident
Feb 9, 2005

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIB 494

EQUIPMENT

If the coach's HWH leveling system has intermittent issues when operating, check for corrosion or loose mounting bolts. Torque the mounting bolts (if needed) to 30 ft. pounds. A ground cable may also be installed to improve the overall grounding of the HWH pump assembly.

TSB 439

STEERING

NEWMAR CORPORATION HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN SPECIFIC MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON SPARTAN CHASSIS. THIS RECALL IS THE RESULT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO NEWMAR BY SPARTAN MOTORS. NHTSA # 15V 829 TC # 2015-587 THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET MAY CRACK AND BREAK, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

344

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

NEWMAR CORPORATION: ALL MOTORIZED EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFER. CHANGE COOLING UNIT HEATING ELEMENT VENDORS; THERE IS A NEW STYLE ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENT THAT MUST BE USED IN CERTAIN NEW COOLING UNITS. *PE

343

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

NEWMAR CORPORATION: ALL MOTORIZED RV. A THERMAL LIMIT SWITCH IS ADDED TO CERTAIN 1200 LR, 1200 LRIM, AND 1201 LRIM REFRIGERATORS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE EXCESS OR OVERHEATING CONDITIONS IN THE HEATER AREA OF THE COOLING UNIT TO EXCEED A CERTAIN LEVEL. *PE

306

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

OPTICAL WARNING DEVICES - TURN SIGNAL STALK OPERATION IS AWKWARD. SPARTAN CAMPAIGN TSB06-540-0002 MH586. *NJ

250

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INABILITY OF THE OPTIONAL EMS (ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) SYSTEM TO SHED LOADS FOR LOW AMPERAGE CONNECTIONS. THIS WOULD RESULT IN ALL CONTROLLED APPLIANCES TO BE KEPT ON-LINE DESPITE INCOMING AMPERAGE. APPLICABLE ONLY TO UNITS WITH EMS OPTION. NEWMAR CORPORATION. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Newmar Dutch Star by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025000—
2024000—
2023230—
2022090—
20216130—
20206100—
201923110—
201816150—
20176180—
20164110—
20155110—
20142140—
2013080—
2012060—
2011060—
2010060—
2009050—
2008270—
2007180—
2006440—
2005Viewing591—
20043100—
20034120—
20023100—
2001880—
20003380—
19992360—
19981060—
1997340—
1996010—
1995010—
1994110—

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.