Newmar Corporation: Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Newmar Corporation reported this defect to federal regulators on Jan 11, 2008 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 126. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER VCL OR XC CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.
The risk
THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
FREIGHTLINER IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V-343) AND WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791.
6 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Newmar Dutch Star | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 Newmar Essex | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 Newmar Dutch Star | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 Newmar Essex | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 Newmar Mountain Aire | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 08V015000.
Full record for the 2005 Newmar Dutch Star → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →