Recall 16V501 covers 742 Newmar motorhomes on Spartan chassis for torn exhaust tubes that raise fire risk. Repair is free at franchised Newmar dealers.
Newmar is recalling 742 motorhomes from 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015, including Dutch Star and King Aire, because the flexible exhaust tube can tear and send hot exhaust against nearby components or materials. If hot exhaust gas contacts those parts or materials, the fire risk rises, and Newmar dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
On affected Newmar motorhomes, the exhaust flex tube is the flexible section of the exhaust system. It lets the exhaust pipe move with engine and chassis vibration while carrying hot exhaust gas away from the engine area. That movement matters because a rigid pipe in that location would place stress on nearby joints and mounts.
The problem is alignment. On these motorhomes, the flex tube can sit out of position, which puts extra strain on the tube as the coach moves and the exhaust system heats and cools. Over time, the tube can tear. Once it tears, hot exhaust gas can blow directly against nearby components or materials instead of staying inside the exhaust path. If those materials get hotter than their ignition point, the fire risk increases.
There is no warning sign before failure. The filing says this can happen without warning, so an owner should not count on a noise, smell, or dashboard light before the tube tears.
Who's affected?
The scope runs from 1998 through 2015 with gaps across the listed Newmar motorhome lines, all tied to the exhaust system.
| 2008 Newmar Kountry Star | Exhaust system |
|---|---|
| 2009 Newmar Ventana | Exhaust system |
| 2000 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 1998 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2009 Newmar All Star | Exhaust system |
| 2010 Newmar Dutch Aire Dp | Exhaust system |
| 2009 Newmar Dutch Aire Dp | Exhaust system |
| 2004 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2008 Newmar All Star | Exhaust system |
| 2010 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2009 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2008 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2007 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2006 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2005 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2003 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2002 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2001 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 1999 Newmar Dutch Star | Exhaust system |
| 2015 Newmar King Aire | Exhaust system |
| 2014 Newmar King Aire | Exhaust system |
| 2008 Newmar Ventana | Exhaust system |
| 2015 Newmar Essex | Exhaust system |
| Units affected | 742 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorhome is included.
What's the safety risk?
Hot exhaust gas contacting nearby components or materials increases the risk of a fire. This can happen without a warning sign, so treat the recall as a reason to schedule the inspection and repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Newmar dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 Newmar Kountry Star, Ventana, Dutch Star, All Star, Dutch Aire Dp, King Aire, or Essex is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Newmar dealer to schedule the free exhaust-tube alignment inspection and repair that keeps torn flexible exhaust tubing from blowing hot exhaust onto nearby materials.
- Bring the recall notice if Newmar mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V501 when you call.
- Avoid running the motorhome near dry grass, stored materials, or enclosed spaces until the exhaust repair is complete.
- Call Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 with questions about the recall or repair appointment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Newmar technician inspects the flexible exhaust tubes for alignment, corrects any tube routing that is out of position, and replaces tubes that are torn. The inspection and needed repairs are free under the recall. Newmar has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for the same repair before the recall notice. Bring dated receipts and repair documentation to the service desk so the dealer can explain how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 5, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 11, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 29, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| August 29, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 29, 2016 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 29, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V501?
Recall 16V501 covers 742 Newmar motorhomes built on Spartan chassis with a flexible exhaust tube that can tear and send hot exhaust toward nearby parts or materials. The affected models include Dutch Star, Kountry Star, All Star, Ventana, Dutch Aire Dp, King Aire, and Essex.
What should I do if my 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 Newmar Dutch Star, Kountry Star, All Star, Ventana, Dutch Aire Dp, King Aire, or Essex is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorhome is included in recall 16V501. If it is, contact Newmar customer service at 1-800-731-8300 or a franchised service location to schedule the exhaust tube inspection and repair. Reference recall 16V501 and Newmar recall number 16V 313.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Newmar's remedy states that the inspection, tube alignment correction, and replacement of torn flexible exhaust tubes are free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V501?
The safety risk is fire. If the flexible exhaust tube tears, hot exhaust gas can blow against nearby components or materials and increase the risk of a fire. Confirm the VIN, then schedule the free inspection and repair through the recall service path.
What if I bought this Newmar motorhome used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm inclusion in recall 16V501, then contact Newmar customer service or a franchised service location with the campaign number.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V501000 |
|---|---|
| Newmar customer service | 1-800-731-8300 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V501 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V501000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →