Recall 13V438 covers 31 2012 Newmar Essex and King Aire motor homes with inaccurate air pressure gauges. Repair is free at any franchised Newmar dealer.
Newmar is recalling 31 2012 Essex and King Aire motor homes under recall 13V438 because their Ametek air pressure gauges can read outside the required brake-pressure accuracy range. A low air pressure condition can look safe to the driver, which hides the true air brake condition and increases crash risk; the Newmar dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The air pressure gauges in the 2012 Newmar Essex and King Aire motor homes show the driver how much air pressure is available in the air brake system. Air brakes use compressed air to apply braking force, and the gauge lets the driver confirm the system is building and holding pressure before driving.
On these motor homes, the Ametek gauges can read outside the required accuracy range of plus or minus 7 percent. That means the gauge reading does not reliably match the actual air pressure in the brake system. The issue is a compliance defect under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, which sets requirements for air brake systems.
There is no warning sign before failure. The practical clue is the gauge itself: if the reading is inaccurate, the driver is working from bad pressure information instead of the brake system's actual air pressure.
Who's affected?
Covers the Essex and King Aire motorhome lines, with the same brake system component listed for each.
| 2012 Newmar Essex | brake system |
|---|---|
| 2012 Newmar King Aire | brake system |
| Units affected | 31 |
A matching 2012 Newmar Essex or King Aire does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
A faulty air pressure gauge can make a low air pressure condition look safe, so the driver lacks the true status of the air brake system. Treat any air brake pressure concern as serious and contact a dealer before relying on the coach. Repair will be free at any franchised Newmar dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Newmar Essex or King Aire is included in this recall.
- Contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 to confirm the repair path for recall number 13V438.
- Contact a franchised Newmar dealer to schedule the free air-pressure-gauge replacement that corrects the inaccurate air-brake pressure reading.
- Bring the recall notice if Newmar or Spartan Motors sent one.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Watch the air-brake pressure reading and stop safely if the gauge does not match normal brake-system behavior.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Newmar technician replaces the air pressure gauge on the Spartan Motors chassis. That gauge is part of the air brake system, so the repair focuses on restoring an accurate brake pressure reading for the driver. The dealer repair will be free once available. Ask the service desk to confirm the recall work by VIN before the appointment, since the recall applies only to included 2012 Essex and King Aire motor homes.
Timeline
| September 17, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 11, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V438?
Recall 13V438 covers 31 2012 Newmar Essex and King Aire motor homes built on a Spartan Motors chassis with Ametek air pressure gauges that do not meet the required air brake pressure accuracy standard. Spartan Motors dealers replace the air pressure gauge for free.
What should I do if my 2012 Newmar Essex or King Aire is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motor home is included in recall 13V438. If it is, contact Newmar or a Spartan Motors dealer to schedule the air pressure gauge replacement. Reference recall 13V438 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 13V438, Spartan Motors dealers replace the air pressure gauge free of charge for included 2012 Newmar Essex and King Aire motor homes.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the air pressure gauge can show a low air pressure condition as safe, leaving the driver without an accurate view of the air brake system. That increases the risk of a crash. Confirm your VIN, then arrange the free gauge replacement.
What if I bought this Newmar motor home used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received the November 2013 recall notice, check your VIN to confirm whether your 2012 Newmar Essex or King Aire is included, then call the dealer with recall 13V438.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V438000 |
|---|---|
| Newmar customer service | 1-800-731-8300 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V438 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V438000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →