2018 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR Complaints

Shortly after departing from J&J RV Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in my vehicle, a motorhome, two yellow check-engine lights illuminated on the dashboard. I continued driving for 52 miles to my next destination, Downtown Riverside RV Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The engine ran normally, and I arrived safely. I checked the vehicle's computer system on the dashboard and located three trouble codes: 3364, 1761, and 3031. I contacted the vehicle's chassis manufacturer, Spartan Chassis in Charlotte, Michigan, and was told the codes indicated the vehicle's Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) head was defective and needed to be replaced. The gentleman told me not to drive the motorhome and to remain in a safe haven off the road, which in my case is the RV park. He said the limited number of DEF heads in Spartan's inventory are being held for customers whose engines have displayed red stop-engine lights, gone into limp mode and stranded the customers on the side of a road. Those customers receive a new DEF head by overnight mail, are back on the road within a couple days and are able to continue their normal travels. The limited inventory does not allow for customers like me who are not broken down somewhere to receive the DEF head quickly. Spartan's inventory is not anticipated to be replenished until sometime in August 2021. Therefore, if I choose to follow Spartan's recommendation, which I plan to do, I have to cancel campground reservations and summer travel plans and stay in place for at least two months. I'm on a waiting list to receive the part. This is a well-known, long-term problem on motorhomes manufactured by Spartan and other companies, and is supposedly affecting the trucking industry. It has been much discussed on online forums. Spartan's DEF head is produced by Shaw Development LLC in Bonita Springs, Florida. The problem has not been confirmed by a local dealer or independent service center. The vehicle is available for inspection.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid Control unit failed 04/28/21 @ 21,151 miles. Unfortunately this can cause the motor to de-rate with speed restricted to 5mph. Very dangerous on the freeway. Problem was confirmed by the Cummins codes generated and verified by both Spartan motors as well as the repair facility that performed the repair. No warning lamps, symptoms, or messages prior to the failure.

THE FRAMELESS WINDOWS, USUALLY THE VENT PORTION HAS SEPARATED FROM THE DUAL PANES. THE SEALS COME APART CAUSING THE OUTER PANE TO BE ABLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE INNER PANE. THIS COULD SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE SO FAR AS I HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES TO DATE ON SEVERAL WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I NOTICED ALL SEPARATED PANES. RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASED NEW 08/03/2018

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CONTACTED CUMMINS WITH CODE. I WAS TOLD THE DEF HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MOTORHOME HAD 5211 MILES. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAD HEAD REPLACED

DEF SYSTEM FOR DIESEL ENGINE STARTED TO FAIL CAUSING REDUCTION IN PERFORMANCE OF MOTOR HOME. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET DIRECTLY TO A FREIGHTLINER SERVICE CENTER, I WOULD HAVE ENDED UP ON THE INTERSTATE ABLE TO GO ONLY FIVE MILES PER HOUR AND NEEDING TO BE TOWED. THIS IS AN ON GOING KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY CUMMINS. THIS PARTICULAR PART IS FAILING ON A REGULAR BASIS ACROSS MANY CHASSIS MAKERS CAUSING A POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE OWNERS OF THESE COACHES. THE PARTICULAR PART IS CALLED A DEF HEAD THAT REGULATES AND METERS THE POLLUTION REDUCING DEF FLUID. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND IF IT DOES FAIL, A BETTER SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED THAT DOES NOT DERATE THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE TO THE POINT OF BEING DISABLED LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED.

THE DRIVER'S WINDSHEILD WIPER DOES NOT CONTACT THE GLASS EXCEPT AT THE VERY TOP FOR THE LAST 30% OF THE STROKE LEAVEING THE PORTION DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER WITHOUT THE NEEDED VIEW. NEWMAR REPLACED THE WIPER BLADE, BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM.