NEWMAR Complaints

The factory installed tire pressure monitoring system does not work properly-even after a performed recall. The tpms system usually shows all tire pressures properly after initial start up and driving and then after a period of time it will start losing tire pressure signals from one to all tires and does not give any alarm or notification that this is happening. Additionally, it will also give over temperature and over pressure alarms at various times as well even though a back up tpms system that I installed indicates that there is no issue. You have to acknowledge the alarm or it will keep going off and then it will reoccur at subsequent random times. I consider this an important safety issue because this safety system as installed by the manufacturer does not perform its proper function and cannot be relied upon. Apparently, the manufacturer (Freightliner) is aware of these issues because the newer models have a different system. I have had my Freightliner in for service at various times and have asked them if this issue is being addressed after the initial recall and they have indicated that they are not aware of any updates but they admit that many owners are having the same issue.

The integrated Tire Pressure Monitoring System in this vehicle has never functioned correctly since it was purchased new in October, 2020. The system either drops connection fully, drops various tires on the coach, or randomly alarms for extreme high/low temperature and pressure. In August of 2021, the vehicle was driven 1600 miles to Newmar’s factory in Indiana for warranty repairs. The TPMS was on that list. Newmar disavowed all warranty responsibility for the system and its failures, and directed us to Freightliner. The RV has been returned to Doggett Freightliner in El Paso, TX multiple times since 2020 for recall repairs on the Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The last repair attempt was in January 2023 for Freightliner recall 9. This recall was not completed due to unavailability of repair parts. Doggett Freightliner has not responded to any of my calls since, and the repairs have yet to be completed. On a recent 3600 mile trip in December of 2023. The TPMS system alarmed for high temperatures (exceeding 400 degrees F) multiple times. It alarmed for high pressure multiple times. Each time the system alarmed, I pulled over at the nearest safe location and checked the tire pressure manually. Every time the manual checks indicated the tire pressure was in a safe zone. It has now been over 3 years since we purchased this vehicle with this factory safety defect. Newmar has refused assist with any form of corrective action. Freightliner has yet to effectively complete any recall work due to the apathy and ineptitude of their authorized Dealer and Repair facility, Doggett Freightliner in El Paso, TX. And, we, as the owners of the vehicle continue to deal with unacceptable safety risk, due to a malfunctioning system.

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.

The Back up camera and 360 camera fail frequently. The rear camera video will interminably go blank when backing. It will also sometimes change to the front view camera view which almost caused an accident in heavy freeway traffic because I thought I lost my trailer. I have had to replace 3 camera in 3 years and both Newmar and the camera manufacture Riverpark/Xicte have no solutions. Now the latest is to start replacing cables. The is a well known problem among RV owners.

Manufacturer-installed Hitch Receiver broke from the frame flanges while pulling away from a stoplight while towing vehicle, resulting in the detachment of the hitch crossbar, tow bars and causing the tow vehicle to cross one lane of traffic and into the grass median towards oncoming traffic. Tow vehicle stopped in median when attached tow equipment dug into soil just before striking a guardrail and on the verge of rolling into oncoming traffic. Had this failure of the hitch assembly occurred at highway speed, a catastrophic collision and death would have been the likely result. The resulting damage from the crossbar detachment resulted in approximately $7500 in damage to the RV, towing system and tow vehicle. Newmar purchased the W22 chassis from Workhorse and built the Kountry Star Motor Home onto that chassis. As part of the manufacturing process, Newmar installed Hidden Hitch part number 64-6100, a hitch receiver with a towing rating of 5000 lbs and a tongue weight rating of 500 lbs. The W22 chassis was used by Newmar over many years, with many of those vehicles still in operation. Inspection by an independent hitch shop indicates that the installed hitch was not designed strongly enough to withstand the stresses from its intended use, which is the flat towing of a passenger vehicle behind the motor home. Due to the height difference between the frame of the Motor Home where the hitch was installed and the attachment points of the towing equipment to the tow car, the Hidden Hitch 64-6100 should have been reinforced to compensate for angular torque from the towning equipment, or a hitch system designed to withstand these added stresses should have been specified and installed by Newmar. Since this was a manufacturer installed receiver hitch, it is likely that all other Workhorse Chassis gas powered RVs manufactured by Newmar in this era have the potential for similar catastrophic failure of the hitch system while flat towing with the Motor Homes.

The contact owns a 2022 Newmar Kountry Star RV. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds over a bump in the roadway, the comfort drive feature failed to operate as designed. Due to the failure, excessive effort was needed to steer the RV. The contact stated that after restarting the RV, the feature was reset and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the feature was reprogrammed; however, the failure returned soon after service. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The RV was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

The brakes on the Ford chassis were damaged due to extreme heat before the unit was sold to me and have been damaged 2 additional times due to extreme heat in the first 3,500 miles. The unit was purchased new and had 1,460 miles when purchased in August 2022. Ford is attempting to repair the vehicle again and have had the unit in their possession for 9 months. We are concerned with a brake failure or fire hazard and have asked the manufacturer to repurchase the unit from us under the Texas Lemon Law.

5 windows were replaced under the Lippert 21E-047 recall. The replacement windows were no better than the original recalled windows. One of the new replacement windows suddenly fell off the vehicle in traffic after only 4 months. The glue bond holding the window to the hinge failed. I sent pictures to Lippert showing the failed joint. Lippert refuses to have the defective replacement window repaired and shows no interest in evaluating the quality of the other replacement windows. This is a very dangerous situation as another one of the replacement windows could fall off and hit another vehicle causing severe damage and injury.

I used the Hydralift to carry my wife’s motorcycle, a 2018 Indian Chieftain. When you mount a Hydra lift on the back of an RV you no longer have access to the receiver hitch that came with the RV. Because of that Hydralift adds a receiver hitch to the lift so that you can flat tow a vehicle behind the RV. There is a plate on the receiver hitch that states it is rated to tow 8000 lbs. I was towing a 2018 Ram 1500 pickup. In the bed I had an Amerideck lift and on the lift was my motorcycle, a 2020 Indian Challenger. The total weight of the pickup, lift and motorcycle was approximately 6500 lbs., well within the tow rating the manufacturer claimed for the hitch. While on a cross country trip I had traveled approximately 2500 miles without incident. I then encountered a severe dip in the road on interstate 76 just S/W of Denver, Colorado. This dip caused the motorcycle on the Hydralift to shake loose even though it was in a wheel chock and was held in place by 3 ratchet straps. The motorcycle was suspended from the Hydralift onto the Blue Ox towing system I was using to flat tow the pickup. Since the straps were still attached, most of the motorcycles weight was born by the straps and a much smaller amount of weight was on the Blue Ox system. Along with 2 DOT Road Rangers and a passerby we managed to get the bike back into position. A visual inspection by myself and the 2 DOT employees showed no visible damage to the Blue Ox system or the receiver hitch. 2 days later we were traveling along Interstate 70 W/B. I pulled off the highway in Parachute, Colorado. When I turned right at the top of the exit the receiver hitch snapped and the pickup/ motorcycle took off on its own. It crossed a lane of traffic and went down an embankment. It travelled approx. 100 yds across a field and came to a stop against an embankment. I had the safety cables and emergency braking lanyard attached but they didn’t work because of where the manufacturer placed the attachment points.

My DEF sensor failed which required towing on Interstate 80 in a highly congested area. This same failure has happened to many other motorhomes and trucks. It creates a very unsafe situation which needs to be corrected. Please require the manufacturer to correct the flaw and recall all in use. Thank you.