The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·21V082000·Announced 2022-05-02

Newmar motorhome brake light switches may fail to illuminate

Newmar is recalling 2017–2021 Dutch Star and 2021 Kountry Star motorhomes because the brake light switch may chafe against the windshield wiper mechanism, preventing brake lights from illuminating. This increases crash risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: This is a structural vehicle defect affecting the brake light system, a safety-critical component. Non-functioning brake lights prevent other drivers from perceiving the vehicle's braking intention, directly increasing crash risk. Although no injuries or deaths have been reported, the mechanical defect itself meets the criteria for a Severe-level recall.

Plain-English summary

Newmar Corporation is recalling certain 2017 through 2021 model year Dutch Star motorhomes and 2021 model year Kountry Star motorhomes. A total of 1,370 vehicles are affected by this recall.

The brake light switch may chafe against the windshield wiper mechanism. This chafing could damage the brake light switch or its wiring, which could prevent the brake lights from illuminating. If the brake lights do not illuminate, other motorists will be unaware of the driver's intention, increasing the risk of a crash.

Newmar will notify owners of the recall. Dealers will inspect the brake light switch and replace it as necessary, at no charge to the owner. The recall began on April 12, 2021. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300. Alternatively, owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
2017 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR
Brand
NEWMAR
Manufacturer
Newmar Corporation
Category
Vehicle
Hazard
  • brake-light-failure
  • mechanical-defect
Affected units
1,370

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)

  • DUTCH STAR
  • KOUNTRY STAR

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.