NEWMAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME

Sep 22, 2010 — Recall Campaign #10V434000

NEWMAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 435 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

10V434000

Manufacturer:	Newmar Corporation
Recall date:	September 22, 2010
NHTSA Campaign #:	10V434000
Units affected:	435

Description:: NEWMAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DIMPLEX ELECTRAFLAME, SYMPHONY, OR OPTIFLAME BRANDED ELECTRIC FIREPLACES, STOVES, AND FIREPLACE INSERTS. THE PLUG IN REMOTE CONTROL RECEIVER FOR THE FIREPLACE CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequeces:: AN OVERHEATED RECEIVER COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Corrective action:: NEWMAR IS WORKING WITH DIMPLEX AND DIMPLEX WILL PROVIDE OWNERS A FREE REPLACEMENT PLUG-IN REMOTE CONTROL KIT. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DIMPLEX NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-888-346-7539.
Notes:: OWNERS 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 .

Affects the following:

2005 NEWMAR KOUNTRY STAR Complaints
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.;
2005 NEWMAR MOUNTAIN AIRE Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NEWMAR MOUNTAIN AIRE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NUMBER: 15V829000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.;
2007 NEWMAR ESSEX Complaints
WHILE DRIVING ON I-5 DOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE FRONT PRIVACY SHADE UNRAVELLED AND COMPLETELY BLOCKED THE DRIVERS FORWARD VISIBILITY. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE ROLLED UP THE SHADE AND DUCT TAPED IT TO THE FRONT TV. ONCE I HAD MY WINTER DESTINATION I CONTACTED NEWMAR AND I WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. LATER THAT SAME DAY THE SAME NEWMAR REP CALLED BACK TO INFORM ME THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR 2008 ESSEX MODELS NOT MY 2007 ESSEX. AT THAT TIME THE REP TOLD ME HOW TO REMOVE THE PRIVACY SHADE AND THAT WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE MOTORHOME TO A NEWMAR DEALER. NEWMAR WOULD PARTICIPATE IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. AS OF TODAY NEWMAR IS NOW DISAVOWING ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REPAIR. MYSELF AND MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED DURING THE EVENT. TO BE TOLD BY NEWMAR RECALLED THE VERY NEXT YEAR MODEL FOR THE SAME SPECIFIC PROBLEM SEEMS ONLY COINCIDENTAL.;