NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Newmar Dutch Star Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Newmar Dutch Star has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Newmar dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1997 Newmar Dutch Star owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star, describing incidents dated February 15, 2009 to August 4, 2009.

Most-cited components

Power Train 2 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10318048 · Filed March 9, 2010
RUNAWAY MOTORHOME ON A 1997 FORD CHASSIS IN 2009 ON INTERSTATE 85. WHEN I REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK AN APPROACHING EXIT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE MOTORHOME WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC LUBRICATED THE LINKAGE. WHEN THE…
ODI #10280374 · Filed August 13, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR RV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO LOCK INTO GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE RV SLOWED DOWN…
ODI #10067351 · Filed April 19, 2004
ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS REAR AXLE BOLT BROKE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 4-5 MPH. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN 20,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

Read all 3 complaints

Steering Gear Mounting Bracket may Crack

NHTSA #15V829000 · Steering · NHTSA notice

Reported December 9, 2015 · Newmar Corporation

Potentially affected: 1,920 vehicles

Repair completion: 7.08% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Newmar campaign 15V 633 · Owners notified January 4, 2016 · Vehicles built January 5, 1997 – May 26, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/FORD

NHTSA #08V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice

Reported January 24, 2008 · NEWMAR CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 5,575 vehicles

Newmar campaign 05S28 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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)

Notes

NEWMAR RECALL NO. 05S28.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

REFRIGERATOR/DOMETIC

NHTSA #07V075000 · Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer · NHTSA notice

Reported March 5, 2007 · NEWMAR CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 16,190 vehicles

Owners notified January 30, 2008 · Vehicles built April 1, 1997 – May 31, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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 SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR NEWMAR AT 1-574-773-7791.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

NEWMAR/TIRES

NHTSA #04V037000 · Tires · NHTSA notice

Reported January 28, 2004 · NEWMAR CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 3,589 vehicles

Owners notified February 9, 2004 · Vehicles built March 5, 1997 – June 28, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON SPARTAN/FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN 255/80R22.5 XRV TIRES, THE CORDS CAN FATIGUE IF THE TIRES ARE OVERLOADED OR UNDERINFLATED.

Safety consequence

THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONLY THE FRONT TIRES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE NOT ROTATED TO THE REAR. A CERTIFICATION TAG DOCUMENTING THE NEW FRONT TIRES INSTALLATION AND SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING THE REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES TO 105 PSI WILL BE ISSUED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 9, 2004. 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 1-574-773-2381.

Notes

THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT.THE COMPANY HAS INFORMED NHTSA THAT IT WILL PROVIDE THE MODIFICATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE FREE OF CHARGE.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10318048

Incident: February 15, 2009 · Filed: March 9, 2010

RUNAWAY MOTORHOME ON A 1997 FORD CHASSIS IN 2009 ON INTERSTATE 85. WHEN I REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK AN APPROACHING EXIT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE MOTORHOME WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC LUBRICATED THE LINKAGE. WHEN THE PROBLEM CONTINUED I CALLED FORD AND THEY AUTHORIZED A FIX FOR A RECALL PROBLEM INVOLVING THE BRAKE IN WHICH A FIRE COULD START. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED AT LEAST 2 MORE TIMES IN THE SAME YEAR ON A TRIP FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO CALIFORNIA. I REALIZED THAT THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO OCCUR IF THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE GEAR TO DOWNSHIFT DUE TO HIGHWAY INCLINE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS FORD HAS HAD OTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM. SOME DATES AND FIGURES ARE ONLY ESTIMATES. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Power Train

ODI #10280374

Incident: August 4, 2009 · Filed: August 13, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR RV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO LOCK INTO GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE RV SLOWED DOWN. THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL UNTIL HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BURNING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. UPDATED 9/17/09 *CN THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RE-SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR A HALF HOUR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS USED IN HIS RV WAS NO LONGER BEING USED FOR HIS PARTICULAR RV DUE TO ITS SHORTCOMINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY.

Power Train

ODI #10067351

Filed: April 19, 2004

ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS REAR AXLE BOLT BROKE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 4-5 MPH. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN 20,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

Other Newmar Dutch Star model years

Check your 1997 Newmar Dutch Star VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Newmar Dutch Star at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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