2008 Newmar Dutch Star Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Newmar Dutch Star, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical125.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Other / unspecified125.0%
- Suspension125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 1998 NEWMAR DUTCHSTAR ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH A 3126 CAT MOTOR. THE ISSUES OUTLINED BELOW BEGAN WHEN LOWERING THE JACKS. THEN SPREAD TO LOW SPEED RPMS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF OPERATION, CAUSING A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, (TO INCLUDE LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ENGINE, A/C, RADIO, ETC), THUS CAUSING A UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. OVER TIME THE ISSUE BEGAN DURING DIFFERENT OPERATIONAL PERIODS WHEN DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL DRAWS WERE PRESENT (SUCH AS WHILE USING LIGHTS, DEFROST AND WIPERS, ENGINE FAN COMING ON, ETC.). THIS ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED WHEN THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE OF 182 DEGREES OR HIGHER IS REACHED. IN ALL CASES, AFTER APPROX 90 TO 120 SECONDS, THE POWER WILL RETURN AND ALLOW THE ENGINE TO BE RESTARTED. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE WITH NO KNOWN CAUSES, MINUS THE LISTED EXAMPLES OR ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN CAUSES. NONE OF THE 3 MAJOR MANUFACTURER'S OF THIS RV WILL ACCEPT OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND REQUEST THE VEHICLE BE TESTED FOR CAUSE FOR A UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME AT CURRENT CHARGE OF 100+ DOLLARS PER HOUR. DUE TO THIS BEING OF A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT APPEARS THAT ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING IS TIED INTO 1 COMMON CONNECTION, THUS IN IT'S OWN RIGHT, WOULD CREATE JUST THE UNSAFE CONDITION AS OUTLINED ABOVE. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME AND THAT OWNERS OF THIS MAKE, MODEL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS REPORT THIS INCIDENT INFORMATION WAS NOT REPORTED PRIOR TO NOW DUE TO NOT BEING AWARE OF THIS REPORTING SITE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 1998 NEWMAR DUTCHSTAR ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS WITH A 3126 CAT MOTOR. THE ISSUES OUTLINED BELOW BEGAN WHEN LOWERING THE JACKS. THEN SPREAD TO LOW SPEED RPMS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF OPERATION, CAUSING A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, (TO INCLUDE LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ENGINE, A/C, RADIO, ETC), THUS CAUSING A UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. OVER TIME THE ISSUE BEGAN DURING DIFFERENT OPERATIONAL PERIODS WHEN DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL DRAWS WERE PRESENT (SUCH AS WHILE USING LIGHTS, DEFROST AND WIPERS, ENGINE FAN COMING ON, ETC.). THIS ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED WHEN THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE OF 182 DEGREES OR HIGHER IS REACHED. IN ALL CASES, AFTER APPROX 90 TO 120 SECONDS, THE POWER WILL RETURN AND ALLOW THE ENGINE TO BE RESTARTED. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE WITH NO KNOWN CAUSES, MINUS THE LISTED EXAMPLES OR ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN CAUSES. NONE OF THE 3 MAJOR MANUFACTURER'S OF THIS RV WILL ACCEPT OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND REQUEST THE VEHICLE BE TESTED FOR CAUSE FOR A UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME AT CURRENT CHARGE OF 100+ DOLLARS PER HOUR. DUE TO THIS BEING OF A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT APPEARS THAT ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING IS TIED INTO 1 COMMON CONNECTION, THUS IN IT'S OWN RIGHT, WOULD CREATE JUST THE UNSAFE CONDITION AS OUTLINED ABOVE. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME AND THAT OWNERS OF THIS MAKE, MODEL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS REPORT THIS INCIDENT INFORMATION WAS NOT REPORTED PRIOR TO NOW DUE TO NOT BEING AWARE OF THIS REPORTING SITE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND GOING OVER A DIP, THE FRONT WHEELS FRACTURED AND DETACHED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PORTION OFF THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER WAS UNDER RATED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE COACH. AS A RESULT, THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,832. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND GOING OVER A DIP, THE FRONT WHEELS FRACTURED AND DETACHED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PORTION OFF THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER WAS UNDER RATED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE COACH. AS A RESULT, THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,832. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .