The defect
Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Dutch Star motorhomes manufactured from June 5, 2014, through October 16, 2015, and built on a Freightliner chassis. In the affected vehicles, the steering box may have been manufactured with an incorrect spacer with insufficient height that can cause too much play, causing the connection to wear between the steering wheel and the front axle.
The risk
The steering wheel's connection to the front axle could fail resulting in a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Newmar will notify owners, and Freightliner dealers will inspect and replace the steering box if necessary, free of charge. Note: Owners are urged not to drive their vehicles until they have been inspected. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact Freightliner customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Newmar's number for this recall is 16V 366.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Newmar Dutch Star | 2014, 2015, 2016 |
Components: STEERING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newmar Dutch Star | 2014 | 2 | 14 |
| Newmar Dutch Star | 2015 | 5 | 11 |
| Newmar Dutch Star | 2016 | 4 | 11 |
Other steering recalls in 2016
39 of the 919 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2016 concerned the steering; Newmar Corporation filed 120 campaigns in all.
| 16V899000 14 Dec 2016 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| 16V857000 29 Nov 2016 | Van Hool N.V. |
| 16V826000 15 Nov 2016 | Newmar Corporation |
| 16V809000 7 Nov 2016 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 16V745000 17 Oct 2016 | Entegra Coach |
| 16V743000 17 Oct 2016 | Seagrave Fire Apparatus, LLC |
| 16V720000 7 Oct 2016 | Autocar, LLC |
| 16V723000 7 Oct 2016 | Autocar Industries, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2016