Recall 12V578 covers 626 2011-2013 Newmar Dutch Star, Ventana, and Mountain Aire motor homes for loose diode jumper connectors. Repair will be free once available.
Newmar recall 12V578 covers 626 2011-2013 Dutch Star, Ventana, and Mountain Aire Class A motor homes built on Freightliner XB and XC chassis. Loose diode jumper connectors can keep cruise control engaged after braking or stop brake lights from illuminating, raising crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The 2011-2013 Newmar Dutch Star, Ventana, and Mountain Aire motor homes in this recall use Freightliner XB and XC custom chassis with diode jumper connectors in the electrical system. Those connectors help complete brake-pedal circuits. One circuit tells the cruise control to disengage when you press the brake pedal. The other turns on the brake lights so traffic behind you sees that you are slowing or stopping.
On affected motor homes, the connector for a diode jumper can come loose. When that happens, the circuit opens, meaning the electrical path is broken instead of carrying the brake-pedal signal. A broken cruise-control circuit can keep cruise control from canceling with the brake pedal. A broken brake-light circuit can keep the brake lights from illuminating when the pedal is pressed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign can be cruise control that does not cancel with the brake pedal or brake lights that do not come on during braking.
Who's affected?
Spans Dutch Star, Ventana, and Mountain Aire motorhomes across the 2011-2013 model years, with cruise control, brake light, and electrical system components listed for each line.
| 2013 Newmar Dutch Star | Cruise control |
|---|---|
| 2013 Newmar Dutch Star | Brake lights |
| 2013 Newmar Dutch Star | electrical system |
| 2012 Newmar Ventana | Cruise control |
| 2012 Newmar Ventana | Brake lights |
| 2012 Newmar Ventana | electrical system |
| 2013 Newmar Ventana | Cruise control |
| 2013 Newmar Ventana | Brake lights |
| 2013 Newmar Ventana | electrical system |
| 2011 Newmar Dutch Star | Cruise control |
| 2011 Newmar Dutch Star | Brake lights |
| 2011 Newmar Dutch Star | electrical system |
| 2011 Newmar Ventana | Cruise control |
| 2011 Newmar Ventana | Brake lights |
| 2011 Newmar Ventana | electrical system |
| 2011 Newmar Mountain Aire | Cruise control |
| 2011 Newmar Mountain Aire | Brake lights |
| 2011 Newmar Mountain Aire | electrical system |
| 2013 Newmar Mountain Aire | Cruise control |
| 2013 Newmar Mountain Aire | Brake lights |
| 2013 Newmar Mountain Aire | electrical system |
| 2012 Newmar Mountain Aire | Cruise control |
| 2012 Newmar Mountain Aire | Brake lights |
| 2012 Newmar Mountain Aire | electrical system |
| 2012 Newmar Dutch Star | Cruise control |
| 2012 Newmar Dutch Star | Brake lights |
| 2012 Newmar Dutch Star | electrical system |
| Units affected | 626 |
A matching model year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
If cruise control stays engaged after braking, the vehicle can keep pushing forward when you expect it to slow. Brake lights that fail to illuminate also leave drivers behind you without a clear stop signal, increasing crash risk. Drive cautiously and ask the dealer for recall instructions. Repair will be free at any franchised Newmar dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2013 Newmar Dutch Star, Ventana, or Mountain Aire motor home is included in this recall.
- Watch for the owner notice from Newmar or DTNA before scheduling the chassis repair.
- Contact a franchised Newmar dealer and ask about the diode-jumper inspection that fixes cruise-control disengagement and brake-light operation.
- Reference recall number 12V578 when you call, and ask whether a Freightliner chassis service location must complete the inspection.
- Drive with extra distance until the repair is complete, and confirm that the cruise control disengages and the brake lights work before each trip.
What happens at the repair
The final remedy status is not confirmed in this input. Once the dealer repair is available, the recall repair will be free. At the dealer, the diode jumper connectors are inspected to confirm they are fully locked in place. If a connector is loose, the dealer corrects the connection so the brake light circuit and cruise control disengagement circuit work as intended when the brake pedal is used. Parts and labor are covered under the recall once the repair opens.
Timeline
| December 11, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 26, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V578?
Recall 12V578 covers 626 2011-2013 Newmar Dutch Star, Ventana, and Mountain Aire motor homes built on Freightliner XB and XC chassis. Loose diode-jumper connectors can interrupt the brake-light circuit and the cruise-control brake-disengagement circuit, increasing crash risk. The inspection and correction are free.
What should I do if my 2011-2013 Newmar Dutch Star, Ventana, or Mountain Aire is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motor home is included in recall 12V578. If it is, contact Newmar or DTNA Warranty Campaigns at (800) 547-0712 and ask where to schedule the diode-jumper inspection and correction. Reference recall number 12V578 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be performed at no cost. For recall 12V578, the authorized dealer inspects the diode jumpers, locks them fully in place, and corrects the vehicle as needed without charging you for parts or labor.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the brake pedal input does not complete the intended electrical circuits. Cruise control can stay engaged when the brakes are applied, and the brake lights can fail to illuminate. Either failure increases crash risk because the driver has less control or following traffic receives no brake warning.
What if I bought this Newmar motor home used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. If you never received the original notice, check your VIN, then call Newmar or DTNA Warranty Campaigns with recall number 12V578 and ask for the authorized repair location.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V578000 |
|---|---|
| Newmar customer service | (800) 547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V578 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V578000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →