1997 Newmar Dutch Star Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Dutch Star years
- Not enough data 15th of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star. That ranks 15th out of 29 Dutch Star model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 38,500 miles. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Newmar Dutch Star problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | 67% | 38,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 33% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 33% | 22,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Newmar Dutch Star recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering
Problem: 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.
Risk: A loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: 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.
Risk: Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
Fix: 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)
Equipment:recreational vehicle/trailer
Problem: 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.
Risk: Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Tires
Problem: 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.
Risk: This may result in a loss of control and could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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 years
← 1996 Dutch Star · 1998 Dutch Star →
See all Newmar Dutch Star problems by year, every Newmar model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star?
Owners most often report power train, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Newmar Dutch Star a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Dutch Star model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.