The Used Car Index

2003 Newmar Dutch Star problems

NHTSA lists 4 complaints for the 2003 Newmar Dutch Star, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as NEWMAR DUTCH STAR.

At a glance

Complaints
4
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
12
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
34,699
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
3

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM125.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING125.0%
EQUIPMENT125.0%
STEERING125.0%
SUSPENSION125.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
EQUIPMENTRECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

12 recalls. Showing the latest 10 of 12.

17V809000

Date: 2017-12-15. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

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 (excerpt)

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury. (excerpt)

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 thi (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

16V501000

Date: 2016-07-05. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

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.

Consequence: If hot exhaust gas contacts other components or materials, it can increase the risk of a fire.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

15V829000

Date: 2015-12-09. Systems: STEERING.

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.

Consequence: A loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

09V324000

Date: 2009-08-11. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: NEWMAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 MOTOR HOMES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE TRAILERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 5, 2002 AND APRIL 3, 2003, EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE COOLANT SOLUTION IN THESE COOLING UNITS CAN ESCAPE.

Consequence: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE REMEDY CAMPAIGN WILL BE CONDUCTED BY NORCOLD. THE SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON OCTOBER 19, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101 OR NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

08V025000

Date: 2008-01-24. Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

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.

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

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)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

07V075000

Date: 2007-03-05. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: CERTAIN CLASS A AND DIESEL PUSHER MOTOR HOMES AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR, MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION, MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT. (excerpt)

Consequence: RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE. (excerpt)

Remedy: NEWMAR WILL BE WORKING WITH DOMETIC IN ORDER TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 06E076). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST YOU IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDUL (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V263000

Date: 2005-06-02. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.

Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH AMETEK NGI GAUGES, THE AIR GAUGES ARE NOT PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND THE LOW AIR WARNING INDICATOR MAY BE ACTIVATED WHEN ACTUAL AIR RESERVOIR PRESSURE READINGS ARE BELOW THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD REQUIRED RANGE OF 60 TO 65PSI.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING, THUS THROWING THE PASSENGER FORWARD, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: SPARTAN IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HARNESS JUMPER CABLE TO EACH AIR SENDER. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPARTAN AT 800-543-4277 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7719.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V170000

Date: 2005-04-25. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: ON CERTAIN CLASS A MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE SYSTEMS' AQUA-HOT AND HYDRO-HOT WATER HEATERS, WHICH ARE EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, THE BURNER TUBES DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.

Consequence: SHOULD THE BURNER TUBE FAIL, THE COOLANT HEATER COULD OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy: VEHICLE SYSTEMS IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VEHICLE SYSTEMS AT 1-800-685-4298 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7719.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V403000

Date: 2004-08-17. Systems: SEAT BELTS.

Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES, DURING MANUFACTURING, THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS ATTACHMENT LOCATION FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED OR ATTACHED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SHOULDER HARNESS MAY BECOME LOOSE OR UNATTACHED CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW PLATE OVER EXISTING BY DRILLING FOUR ATTACHMENT HOLES ON EACH SIDE OF NEW PLATE AND ADD SECURING BOLTS. THIS RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

03V064000

Date: 2003-03-26. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY STANDARD.

Consequence: IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE START POSITION OR FOR A LOW BRAKE FLUID CONDITION, IF THE BODY BUILDER RELIED SOLELY UPON FORD'S IVM COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REVISE THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

3 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT3

10121941

Date: 2017-09-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: 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.

10025861

Date: 2008-06-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

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

10025862

Date: 2008-06-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

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

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
DUTCH STAR4

Same model, other years

All model years | All Newmar models

Other Newmar models, 2003

Sources

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