2019 Newmar Dutch Star

The digital dash is delaminating and makes it hard to see all of the safety items displayed on the dash. Everything is distorted, this is a SAFETY ISSUE. This is a know issue that occurs on many Freightliner products. ( The chassis is Freightliner ) Freightliner will not accept any responsibility beyond the normal warranty timeframe. Freightliner wants $ 7,000.00 ~ for the repair and then how long will this last?? I appears that this is a major issue for Freightliner chassis, and you have to do is google it and many posts come up discussing this problem. Apparently auto manufactures know how to make a digital dash that does not delaminate.

NHTSA ID

11697973

Incident

Jul 10, 2025

The Freightliner chassis under this motorhome uses a Power Distribution Module (PDM) that is a fuse panel "block" that powers several coach items, from taillights, brake lights, engine cooling, air conditioning and several other components. The PDM intermittently fails as it can't support the amount of power it must distribute without overheating and shutting off several components as you drive. Especially dangerous is the lost of rear brake and taillights. The PDM was recalled by Freightliner and was replaced with the same item. I'm only guessing that they thought they had a bad batch and replacing it with another would solve the issue. The replacements failed and they recalled the product again. This time, they left the failed PDM in place and removed several circuits from the unit and ran them outside of the PDM with their own fuses. Again, I think the idea was to reduce how much amperage the unit had to handle. This bypass repair is still failing on some coaches, and Freightliner is refusing to cover the repair under the initial recall.

NHTSA ID

11620605

Incident

Oct 18, 2021

The area on the dash where you read all the gauges is delaminating. This is a hazard as the gauges are hard to see and affected

NHTSA ID

11611246

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

The Freightliner instrument cluster (ICU) screen delaminates and makes it difficult to read the gauges. This issue appears to happen with a lot of 2019 models. Freighter refuses to assist and the cost is $5700 for the cluster + labor.

NHTSA ID

11603226

Incident

Jul 3, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Newmar Dutch Star RV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, he heard an abnormal clunking sound coming from the rear of the RV. No warning lights were illuminated. The RV was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the rear differential bolts had become loosened and required to be torqued back to specs. The RV was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 16,600.

NHTSA ID

11548416

Incident

Sep 22, 2023

Mileage

16,600 mi

Multiple double pane windows are fogging. The driver’s side window fogging between the double pane glass, is causing visibility problem’s creating a safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11508791

Incident

Sep 20, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Newmar Dutch Star RV. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, he heard an abnormally loud sound before the steering wheel seized. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to park safely on the side of the road. Upon inspecting the RV, he noticed the steering hose had separated from the fitting. The contact towed the RV to an independent mechanic where the RV was being serviced. The RV was not yet diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,140.

NHTSA ID

11481429

Incident

Aug 25, 2022

Mileage

19,140 mi

Vehicle was operating normally when dash lights up with bars stating "check Engine and Low DEF." My dash (digital) locked up and I could not access any error codes. I checked my DEF tank and it was 80% full. I contacted Freightliner Custom Chassis who advised that it needed to go to a dealer. They gave me two dealers, one 30 miles away and the other was 60 miles. Contacted both. Neither on could say if the engine would go into de-rate mode and leave me stranded. I asked for a mobile tech and neither had one. I was five miles from my destination and made it there. I found a mobile tech on my own who came out and assessed that the def system indicated a malfunction. He worked with it for hours and finally got the codes to clear and I was able to make it home. This system has been problematic from the start. This failure of this system can leave the vehicle stranded on the side of the road, cause it to decelerate in traffic lanes creating a safety issue for other drivers and passengers in the vehicle. This is an industry wide known problem yet nothing has been done to resolve the issue.

NHTSA ID

11476652

Incident

Jul 18, 2022

Newmar Corporation has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in specific motorhomes built on Freightliner and Ford Chassis. On certain Newmar Class A motorhomes, the wiring under the seats may be incorrectly secured, which may lead to a pinched wire in the seat/slide adjustment mechanism.

The Shyft Group Inc. (Spartan Chassis) has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in specific motorhomes built on Spartan chassis (NHTSA #21V 589). In response, Newmar Corporation is issuing recall NHTSA # 21V 700 and TC # 2021-551. On certain motorhomes, under certain conditions, the instrument cluster may intermittently go blank for a brief period of time while the vehicle is in motion. Gauge data or indicators may appear to be delayed or slow to update prior to the instrument cluster going blank. Without the instrument cluster displaying important information such as the vehicle's speed, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

Newmar Corporation has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in specific motorhomes. Lippert (Newmar’s window supplier) is recalling Hehr 6400 series window vents (Lippert recall 21E 047) built between 10/01/2018 and 08/13/2020, which were used on various coach models during the affected period. The adhesive that bonds the vented portion of the window may fail. Adhesive failure may cause the vent portion of the window to detach, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Daimler Trucks North America has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in specific motorhomes built on Freightliner chassis (NHTSA #21V 326) based on Cummins recall (NHTSA # 21E 032). In response, Newmar Corporation is issuing recall NHTSA # 21V 506 and TC # 2021-427. On certain motorhomes, as described in Cummins recall 21E-032, the fuel rail assembly on the engine may develop leaks, which may result in an undetected prolonged diesel fuel spray. A leak involving spraying/misting fuel in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

The Shyft Group Inc. (Spartan Chassis) has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in specific motorhomes built on Spartan chassis (NHTSA #21V 319) based on Cummins recall (NHTSA # 21E 032). In response, Newmar Corporation is issuing recall NHTSA # 21V 372 and TC # 2021-303. On certain motorhomes, as described in Cummins recall 21E-032, the fuel rail assembly on the engine may develop leaks, which may result in an undetected prolonged diesel fuel spray. A leak involving spraying/misting fuel in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

Newmar Corporation has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety may exist in specific coaches. On certain units, the windshield wiper mechanism may contact the brake light switch. If the brake light switch or wiring is damaged, the brake lights may not illuminate. Non-functioning brake lights may not alert other motorists of the driver’s intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.