2003 Newmar Kountry Star Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Kountry Star years
- Not enough data 3rd of 18 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 10 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Newmar Kountry Star. That ranks 3rd out of 18 Kountry Star model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is equipment (3 complaints, 50%). Complaints mention 2 injuries. There are 10 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 6owner complaints
- 10safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Newmar Kountry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 3 | 50% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 17% | 10,702 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 17% | 11,528 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Newmar Kountry Star recalls (10)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment
Problem: Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling various 1995-2018 motorhomes. A list of the affected vehicles available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V809-2309.pdf. These motorhomes are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Newmar will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2018. Owners may contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information or owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-574-773-7791. Newmar's number for this recall is 17E-062.
Equipment
Problem: Newmar is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 motor homes and recreational vehicle trailers manufactured between march 5, 2002 and april 3, 2003, equipped with certain norcold refrigerators. The coolant solution in these cooling units can escape.
Risk: If a leak occurs and the unit continues to operate, hydrogen gas may be expelled and can be ignited, resulting in a fire, possibly causing serious injury or death.
Fix: Newmar is working with norcold to notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The remedy campaign will be conducted by norcold. The safety recall campaign began on october 19, 2009. Owners may contact norcold service center at 1-800-767-9101 or newmar at 1-574-773-7791.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Newmar is recalling 2,578 motorhomes equipped with axles that include bosch zops or zoht pin slide hydraulic disc brakes. When combined with occasional or seasonal vehicle operation may experience calipers sticking in the applied position. This can result in abnormal heat generation at the wheel end causing brake drag. The driver would normally have warning of the brake drag if undetected by the driver.
Risk: The driver would normally detect the brake drag but if undetected the temperature increase at the wheel end can eventually lead to soft pedal conditions due to brake fluid boil, and possible extended stopping distance increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components free of charge. Workhorse is handling the remedy and owner notification for this campaign please see 09v-110. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-246-7731.
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.
Wheels:rim
Problem: On certain fifth wheel trailers equipped with tredit wheels, the rims may have poor weld quality and insufficient press fit between the wheel rim and disc.
Risk: The center of the wheel could separate from the rim. The wheel may wobble and cause a vibration or the mounted tire could lose air causing the tire to go flat, resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Newmar is working with tredit tire to notify owners and have the rims replaced. The recall began on october 17, 2005. Owners may contact newmar at 1-574-773-7791.
Electrical system
Problem: Certain class a motor homes built on workhorse chassis fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 101, "controls and display" and standard no. 105 "hydraulic and electric brake systems." models with actia instrument cluster, the incorrect software programmed into the cluster such that certain warnings are not displayed.
Risk: Incorrect software may not have the ability to illuminate warning lamps indicating brake system failures. The standards require driver warning when brake failure codes are set.
Fix: Workhorse is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Owners may contact workhorse at 1-877-294-6773 or newmar at 574-773-7719.
Service brakes, air:disc:caliper
Problem: On certain motorhomes built on workhorse chassis and equipped with bosch zops brake calipers, the pads can drag on the rotor surface due to the pin slide.
Risk: A hang up or lock up may cause the calipers to over heat and not allow the driver to stop safely. This could cause overheating of the brake calipers which could result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Workhorse is notifying customers and will arrange to have the calipers and brake pads replaced on the affected vehicles. Owners should contact workhorse at 1-877-294-6773 or newmar at 1-574-773-5153.
Service brakes, hydraulic:brake fluid low warning: lamp
Problem: Certain motor home chassis fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." the brake system warning indicator may not function as required by standard.
Risk: In some of the affected vehicles, the brake system warning indicator will not illuminate when the ignition is in the start position or for a low brake fluid condition, if the body builder relied solely upon ford's ivm compliance statement for the brake system warning indicator.
Fix: Dealers will revise the brake warning lamp circuit. Owner notification began april 14, 2003. 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 1-574-773-7791.
Unknown or other
Problem: On certain diesel pusher, and class a motorhomes, a bracket securing the tv in place in the front overhead cabinet above the driver may not support the weight of the tv.
Risk: The tv could become loose and fall out on the driver causing a loss of control of the vehicle and bodily injury.
Fix: Dealers will remove the tv from the front overhead cabinet and replace the installation brackets. Owner notification began july 31, 2002. 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 1-800-731-8300.
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.
Calipers on front and rear wheels have locked up after sitting over winter. Brakes over heated when vehicle was driven short distance in city. Will need service at my location as i will not be able to take the vehicle to a service center
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 new bar country coach. The vehicle has a dometic refrigerator, model ndr1062, which is included in a recall. The contact received a recall notice in august of 2008 and a crack in the boiler tube was repaired. In january of 2009, the refrigerator failed again. The contact…
Right front brake caliper locked up on way to campground on narrow road with out room to pull off. Tapped brakes several times with small success in freeing caliper. About 3 miles from campground we continued to park upon arrival brake pedal went to the floor and oil blew out of wheel bearing…
Tl* - the contact received recall 06e076000 on dometic refridgerator rm 3862. The contact stated that he called the toll free number provided by dometic ,and that he was told that there was nothing they could do for him. The contact had unplugged the dometic refridgerator because it was not…
Ltr fm jackie and william amburgey (wa) concerned about the safety of their defective 2003 newmar kountry star motorhome, interior step collapsed.*mr the consumer stated the rv had a mechanism that lifted the step to floor level, when she stood up, the step collapsed and subsequently the consumer…
Other Newmar Kountry Star years
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Newmar Kountry Star?
Owners most often report equipment, service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, equipment, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Newmar Kountry Star?
Yes, 10 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Newmar Kountry Star a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Kountry Star model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.