RoadVitals

2002 Newmar Kountry 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.
7
Latest Feb 13, 2009
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.
8
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.
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 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Newmar Kountry Star, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, other / unspecified and electrical categories. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Tires & wheels457.1%
  • Other / unspecified228.6%
  • Electrical114.3%

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

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

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
09V217000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Jun 11, 2009
2,578 units potentially affected
The defect: NEWMAR IS RECALLING 2,578 MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH AXLES THAT INCLUDE BOSCH ZOPS OR ZOHT PIN SLIDE HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. WHEN COMBINED WITH OCCASIONAL OR SEASONAL VEHICLE OPERATION MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION. THIS CAN RESULT IN ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT THE WHEEL END CAUSING BRAKE DRAG. THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY HAVE WARNING OF THE BRAKE DRAG IF UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER.
The risk: THE DRIVER WOULD NORMALLY DETECT THE BRAKE DRAG BUT IF UNDETECTED THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE AT THE WHEEL END CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SOFT PEDAL CONDITIONS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID BOIL, AND POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. WORKHORSE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY AND OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN PLEASE SEE 09V-110. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WORKHORSE AT 1-877-246-7731.
NEWMAR CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
08V025000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jan 24, 2008
5,575 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES CONSTRUCTED ON FORD F-53TY1 AND P131 MOTOR HOME CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH FORD IN CONDUCTING THIS RECALL. FORD WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791. (NOTE: ALSO SEE FORD RECALLS 05V017, 05V388, AND 06V286)
NEWMAR CORPORATIONManufacturer number 05S28View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 13, 2009

ON DECEMBER 29, 2008 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE NEWMAR CORP. CONCERNING MY DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR IN MY 2002 NEWMAR KOUNTRY STAR 5TH WHEEL CAMPER. I CONTACTED DOMETIC THE SAME DAY AND THEY SCHEDULE A LOCAL RV SERVICE COMPANY TO LOOK AT PERFORMING THIS RECALL AND INSTALLING A PART TO PREVENT FIRES. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE RV DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND HE ADVISED ME THAT MY DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR COOLING UNIT HAS FAILED AND I NEED TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $700 TO AS HIGH AS $1000.00. I CONTACTED DOMETIC THIS MORNING (FEBRUARY 13, 2009) VIA TELEPHONE AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR/REPLACE THIS COOLING UNIT THAT IS NOT WORKING. DOMETIC HAS IN THE RECENT PAST REPLACED THESE COOLING UNITS IN CAMPERS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEEL DOMETIC KNOWS THEY HAVE A HUGE LIABILITY AND ARE NOW REFUSING TO FIX OR REPLACE THESE COOLING UNIT FAILURES BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED. THEY ARE JUST FIXING THE UNITS WITH A SAFETY RECALL, BUT THOSE UNITS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE THEY ARE WASHING THEIR HANDS OF THIS PROBLEM AND PASSING THE COST ONTO THE CONSUMER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AND WHERE THERE HAS BEEN COOLING UNIT FAILURES BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL DOMETIC BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE COST OF THE COOLING UNIT REPLACEMENT. DOMETIC STATES THAT THE FAILURES ARE LESS THAN 1% OF THE TOTAL. BUT IN MY CAMPGROUND AT SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, VA WE HAVE ALREADY HAD 2 CAMPERS HAVE THIS TYPE OF COOLING UNIT FAILURE AND JUST YESTERDAY ANOTHER NEIGHBOR OF MINE ALSO HAD HIS COOLING UNIT FAIL. THERE ARE ONLY 83 CAMPSITES AT THE LAKE AND WE NOW HAVE FOUR (4) IDENTICAL FAILURES OF THESE DOMETIC COOLING UNITS.... I AM REQUESTING THAT DOMETIC BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FAILURE TO MAKE A RELIABLE PRODUCT FOR THE CONSUMERS AND NOT ALLOW THEM TO HIDE BEHIND A WARRANTY PROGRAM WHEN THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THEY HAVE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR THE COOLING UNIT FAILURES OR WORST CASE OF A FIRE INSIDE ONE OF THESE CAMPERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258572
Incident
Dec 29, 2008
Electrical
Filed Dec 18, 2007

PRIMARY BATTERY CABLE GROUNDED INTO TURBO. NOT PROPERLY ANCHORED OR ROUTED. RUINED STARTER ,BATTERIES. CABLES WERE REROUTED BY A FREIGHTLINER SERVICE GARAGE ANCHORED STARTER CABLE REPLACED. I RECOMMENDED TO NEWMAR THAT A RECALL BE ISSUED AND ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY DAMAGE. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THEIR OPINION THE CABLES WERE ADEQUATELY SECURED AND NO FURTHER ACTION WAS NECESSARY AND CLOSED THE ISSUE. WE LOST A PROPANE FACILITY IN LUBBOCK,TX TO FIRE LAST YEAR WHETHER THEY IDENTIFIED THE IGNITION SOURCE OR NOT I DON'T KNOW . I DO KNOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHE SUCH AS THIS. I DISAGREE WITH NEWMAR'S ASSESSMENT THAT THE CABLES ARE PROPERLY SECURED, IF THEY WERE MY PRIMARY BATTERY CABLE WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED ITS WAY INTO MY TURBO WITH SO FEW MILES. I HAVE THE BATTERY CABLE THAT WAS BURNT HALF INTO AS WELL AS PICTURES OF ROUTING AF CABLES BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE REPAIR. THE STARTER AND BATTERIES WERE CORE REPLACEMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212208
Incident
Nov 25, 2007
Mileage
25,160 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Dec 27, 2006

TL* - DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL #06E076000. THE CONTACT HAD NO PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME, BUT READ IN THE HIGHWAY RV MAGAZINE DATED JANUARY 2007 OF A DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KOUNTRY STAR BY NEWMAR, MODEL#KSFW33KSFB. *AK

NHTSA ID
10177102
Incident
Dec 27, 2006
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 30, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V037000 CONCERNING TIRES: CONSUMER WAS WAITING SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2004 TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE. DEALER CONTINUED TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A RUN AROUND. MICHELIN, XZA, 275/70R 22.5. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SUCCESS. THE RV WAS BUILT ON A FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS EQUIPPED MICHELIN TIRES. *SC

NHTSA ID
10087362
Incident
Feb 11, 2004
Mileage
20,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 7, 2004

CONSUMER'S MOTOR HOME TIRES WERE BEING RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE. NEWMAR, THE MANUFACTURER, WAS NOT VERY MUCH HELPFUL, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THEY WILL DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WHICH WAS 6 MONTHS IN TO THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081496
Incident
Jun 12, 2004
Mileage
16,210 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 12, 2004

TWO MONTHS AGO CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V037000 REGARDING MICHELIN TIRES, 255/80R22.5 FAILURE. MANUFACTURER DIDN'T RETURN THE PHONE CALL, AND CONSUMER CALLED TWICE A WEEK. COULD NOT GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10066988
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 4, 2004

I OWN A 2002 NEWMAR, KOUNTRY STAR MOTOR HOME. ON JANUARY 26, 2004 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM NEWMAR FOR THE 2 FRONT TIRES - " CARCASS PLY FATIGUE TIRE FAILURE". THEY PROVIDED A NUMBER TO CALL TO ARRANGE TO GET THE FRONT 2 TIRES REPLACED. I CALLED THE NUMBER AND RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME IN ONE WEEK! THEY DID AND I MISSED THE CALL. I CALLED AGAIN, SAME STORY, ETC, ETC. I FINALLY HAD TO TAKE A TRIP IN THE MOTOR HOME. THE TIRES LOOKED OK AND THEIR LETTER DID NOT SAY TO DRIVE. ( NOTE I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THE TIRE PRESSURE AT 105 LBS. AND I HAVE NEVER OVERLOADED THE MOTOR HOME WHICH IS WHAT THEY CLAIMED WOULD CAUSE THE BLOW OUT. AFTER DRIVING ONLY 100 MILES ON MARCH 27, 2004 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLOW OUT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH ON 4 LANE ROUTE, ;501 NORTH OF MYRTLE BEACH. I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN, PULL OFF THE PAVEMENT AND STOP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. IN ADDITION TO THE ENTIRE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE BEING GONE THE EXPLOSION BLEW OFF THE FRONT FIBERGLASS PANEL OF THE MOTOR HOME. AFTER 6 HOURS, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET A NEW TIRE AND CONTINUE THE TRIP. WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED NEWMAR, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPLACING MY TIRE OR FOR REPAIRING THE MOTOR HOME. MY DEALER GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THEM AND FROM MICHELIN. I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT AND I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD PAY. I ALSO THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE A MUCH TOUGHER WARNING AND STAFF UP TO GET OWNERS TIRES REPLACED MORE QUICKLY! *NM

NHTSA ID
10064519
Incident
Mar 23, 2004

Manufacturer communications

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

TSB-372

SEAT BELTS

NEWMAR CORP.: FAILED AMSAFE SEAT BELTS BEING RETURNED TO NEWMAR FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT WHEN CHANGING OUT WARRANTY AMSAFE SEAT BELTS, BOTH HARNESS STRAP WITH CLIP AND BUCKLE PORTION WILL NEED TO BE RETURNED. ALL MOTORIZED MODELS AND ALL MODEL YEARS ARE INCLUDED. *PE

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 Kountry Star by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024000—
2023010—
2022340—
2021160—
2020250—
2010000—
2009000—
2008020—
2007340—
2006150—
2005380—
2004690—
20036100—
2002Viewing780—
2001870—
2000350—
1999130—
1998030—
1997030—
1996120—
1995020—
1994010—

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.