The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·13V438000·Announced 2013-09-17

Newmar Recalls 2012 Essex and King Aire Motor Homes for Brake Gauge Defect

Newmar is recalling 2012 Essex and King Aire motor homes because air pressure gauges may be inaccurate, potentially hiding low air brake pressure and increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect in the air brake system that increases the risk of a crash, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for significant injury/property-damage reports or structural defects.

Plain-English summary

Newmar Corporation is recalling certain model year 2012 Essex and King Aire motor homes manufactured between December 15, 2010, and August 15, 2011. These vehicles are built on a Spartan Motors chassis and are equipped with Ametek air pressure gauges that may exceed the air brake pressure accuracy requirements of plus or minus 7 percent. As a result, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."

The defect means that a low air pressure condition may appear safe to the driver, leaving the operator ignorant of the true condition of the vehicle's air brake system. This increases the risk of a crash.

Spartan Motors will notify the affected owners on behalf of Newmar Corporation. Spartan Motors dealers will replace the air pressure gauge. The recall began during November 2013. Owners may contact Newmar Corporation at 1-800-731-8300 or Spartan Motors at 1-800-582-3454. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
NEWMAR ESSEX, KING AIRE
Brand
NEWMAR
Manufacturer
Newmar Corporation
Category
Vehicle — Motor Home
Hazard
Affected units
31

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • ESSEX
  • KING AIRE

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · NEWMAR

Same manufacturer · Newmar Corporation

See all →

Same hazard · brake failure

See all →

Similar recalls