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2003 Newmar Mountain Aire problems

The most common problem on the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire is brakes. It has 2.5 times the complaints of a typical Mountain Aire model year.

Typical year2.5x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
10
Recalls
13
Service bulletins
4
Worst area
Brakes

The worst 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Brakes
    6
  • Visibility
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Brakes
    6
  • Visibility
    1

Recalls 13

EquipmentReported December 15, 2017 · 34,699 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling various 1995-2018 motorhomes. A list of the affected vehicles available at: These motorhomes are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit:
Risk
In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Newmar will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2018. Owners may contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1‑855‑262‑3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information or owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1‑574‑773‑7791. Newmar's number for this recall is 17E-062.

Recall number 17V809000 · Recall details

SteeringReported December 9, 2015 · 1,920 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Newmar Corporation (Newmar) is recalling certain model year 1997-2005 Dutch Star and Mountain Aire, 1998-1999 London Aire, 2004 Essex and 1997-1998 Kountry Aire motorhomes. The affected vehicles have a steering gear mounting bracket that may crack, causing a loss of steering ability.
Risk
A loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Newmar will notify owners, and Spartan dealers will replace the steering gear mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 2016. Owners may contact Newmar customer service at 1‑800‑731‑8300 or Spartan customer service at 1‑800‑543‑4277. Newmar's number for this recall is 15V 633.

Recall number 15V829000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported September 22, 2010 · 435 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Newmar is recalling certain recreational trailers equipped with dimplex electraflame, symphony, or optiflame branded electric fireplaces, stoves, and fireplace inserts. The plug in remote control receiver for the fireplace can overheat.
Risk
An overheated receiver could cause a fire.
Remedy
Newmar is working with dimplex and dimplex will provide owners a free replacement plug-in remote control kit. The safety recall began on april 6, 2011. Owners may contact dimplex north america customer service at 1‑888‑346‑7539.

Recall number 10V434000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported August 11, 2009 · 493 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Newmar is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 motor homes and recreational vehicle trailers manufactured between march 5, 2002 and april 3, 2003, equipped with certain norcold refrigerators. The coolant solution in these cooling units can escape.
Risk
If a leak occurs and the unit continues to operate, hydrogen gas may be expelled and can be ignited, resulting in a fire, possibly causing serious injury or death.
Remedy
Newmar is working with norcold to notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The remedy campaign will be conducted by norcold. The safety recall campaign began on october 19, 2009. Owners may contact norcold service center at 1‑800‑767‑9101 or newmar at 1‑574‑773‑7791.

Recall number 09V324000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulicReported June 11, 2009 · 2,578 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Newmar is recalling 2,578 motorhomes equipped with axles that include bosch zops or zoht pin slide hydraulic disc brakes. When combined with occasional or seasonal vehicle operation may experience calipers sticking in the applied position. This can result in abnormal heat generation at the wheel end causing brake drag. The driver would normally have warning of the brake drag if undetected by the driver.
Risk
The driver would normally detect the brake drag but if undetected the temperature increase at the wheel end can eventually lead to soft pedal conditions due to brake fluid boil, and possible extended stopping distance increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components free of charge. Workhorse is handling the remedy and owner notification for this campaign please see 09v‑110. Owners may contact workhorse at 1‑877‑246‑7731.

Recall number 09V217000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed controlReported January 24, 2008 · 5,575 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain class a motor homes constructed on ford f-53ty1 and p131 motor home chassis and equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
Risk
Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
Remedy
Newmar is working with ford in conducting this recall. Ford will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. Owners may contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332 or newmar at 574‑773‑7791. (note: also see ford recalls 05v017, 05v388, and 06v286)

Recall number 08V025000 · Recall details

Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailerReported March 5, 2007 · 16,190 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain class a and diesel pusher motor homes and fifth wheel trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerator, manufactured by the dometic corporation, may have a defect in the boiler tube. Pressurized coolant solution could be released into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present.
Risk
Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.
Remedy
Newmar will be working with dometic in order to repair these refrigerators (please see 06e076). Dometic will repair these refrigerators by installing a secondary burn housing, a thermal fuse, and a melt fuse free of charge. Dometic has retained stericycle inc. To manage this campaign. Stericycle will assist you in locating dealerships or service centers and will provide assistance with scheduling of appointments. Owners may contact dometic/stericycle at 1‑888‑446‑5157 or newmar at 1‑574‑773‑7791.

Recall number 07V075000 · Recall details

Service brakes, air: supplyReported June 2, 2005 · 2,127 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain motor homes equipped with ametek ngi gauges, the air gauges are not properly calibrated and the low air warning indicator may be activated when actual air reservoir pressure readings are below the federal motor vehicle safety standard required range of 60 to 65psi.
Risk
This may cause the parking brake to engage without warning, thus throwing the passenger forward, creating the potential for injury to occupants.
Remedy
Spartan is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will install a harness jumper cable to each air sender. Owners may contact spartan at 800‑543‑4277 or newmar at 574‑773‑7719.

Recall number 05V263000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported April 25, 2005 · 935 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain class a motor homes equipped with vehicle systems' aqua-hot and hydro-hot water heaters, which are equipped with webasto burner tubes, the burner tubes do not meet specifications and could fail prematurely.
Risk
Should the burner tube fail, the coolant heater could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.
Remedy
Vehicle systems is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Owners may contact vehicle systems at 1‑800‑685‑4298 or newmar at 574‑773‑7719.

Recall number 05V170000 · Recall details

Electrical systemReported March 24, 2005 · 1,738 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain class a motor homes built on workhorse chassis fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 101, "controls and display" and standard no. 105 "hydraulic and electric brake systems." models with actia instrument cluster, the incorrect software programmed into the cluster such that certain warnings are not displayed.
Risk
Incorrect software may not have the ability to illuminate warning lamps indicating brake system failures. The standards require driver warning when brake failure codes are set.
Remedy
Workhorse is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Owners may contact workhorse at 1‑877‑294‑6773 or newmar at 574‑773‑7719.

Recall number 05V109000 · Recall details

Service brakes, air: disc: caliperReported January 9, 2004 · 37 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain motorhomes built on workhorse chassis and equipped with bosch zops brake calipers, the pads can drag on the rotor surface due to the pin slide.
Risk
A hang up or lock up may cause the calipers to over heat and not allow the driver to stop safely. This could cause overheating of the brake calipers which could result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Workhorse is notifying customers and will arrange to have the calipers and brake pads replaced on the affected vehicles. Owners should contact workhorse at 1‑877‑294‑6773 or newmar at 1‑574‑773‑5153.

Recall number 04V019000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lampReported March 26, 2003 · 1,227 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain motor home chassis fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." the brake system warning indicator may not function as required by standard.
Risk
In some of the affected vehicles, the brake system warning indicator will not illuminate when the ignition is in the start position or for a low brake fluid condition, if the body builder relied solely upon ford's ivm compliance statement for the brake system warning indicator.
Remedy
Dealers will revise the brake warning lamp circuit. Owner notification began april 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact newmar at 1‑574‑773‑7791.

Recall number 03V064000 · Recall details

Unknown or otherReported July 25, 2002 · 88 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain diesel pusher, and class a motorhomes, a bracket securing the tv in place in the front overhead cabinet above the driver may not support the weight of the tv.
Risk
The tv could become loose and fall out on the driver causing a loss of control of the vehicle and bodily injury.
Remedy
Dealers will remove the tv from the front overhead cabinet and replace the installation brackets. Owner notification began july 31, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact newmar at 1‑800‑731‑8300.

Recall number 02V198000 · Recall details

See all 13 recalls for the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire

Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire 4

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

What 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 6, 2017 · 35,000 miles · VA · fire

Norcold 1200 recall, back of refridge caught fire while on gas setting in driveway at my home after a return trip to fla.

Filed Aug 24, 2013 · Brakes · 16,400 miles · MN

I delivered our rv to a certified workhorse repair center to have the #51101-c brake recall addressed. The workmanship was excellent. My complaint is workhorse does not want to pay for the complete repair. Their argument is that the rv wasn't driven enough. I purchased this rv used and found out about the recall when I registered it with workhorse.com. When you read the trouble tree, paragraph 1.3/a, all these parts were changed and completed in steps 8 & 9. The trouble tree says it is covered but the workhorse service dept. Doesn't want to pay for the complete billing. In my opinion, they should. Please feel free to contact me with your response.

Filed Jun 15, 2011 · SD

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 newmar mountain aire motorhome 3778. The contact stated that the hitch fractured where it was welded while pulling another vehicle. The dealer was notified and provided the failure information to the manufacturer on the contacts behalf. The current and failure mileages were 61,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 06/30/11 *bf updated 3/01/2012

Filed Apr 28, 2011 · Visibility · 33,000 miles · AL

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 newmar mountain aire recreational vehicle a class. The windshield separated at the drivers upper left side. The contact took the recreational vehicle to a local glass shop who replaced the windshield three times, but the failure was not corrected. The windshield continued to separate at the driver upper left side. The manufacturer will be contacted. The failure mileage was 33,000 and the current mileage was 42,020.

Filed Oct 13, 2010 · Brakes · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 newmar mountain aire motor home with a workhorse w22 chassis. The contact referenced recall 09v217000, service brakes, hydraulic the contact was upset that the parts has not come in after more than 1 year. He stated he received a recall letter in may 2009, december 2009 and september 2010. The contact stated he checked 2 days ago and the parts were still not in for the recall. The contact stated he has not experienced a failure. The current mileage was approximately 67,000.

Filed Sep 18, 2009 · Brakes · 30,500 miles · MI

A burning smell was coming from the front of the vehicle and the brakes were beginning to grab and not release. After sitting for an hour the brakes cooled enough to drive to cummins-bridgeway, who are the local workhorse service garage. They examined the brakes, said they had overheated but they were ok to drive on vacation and charged $70.70 for the inspection. On june 26, in lancaster, pa the same problem occurred. Knowing the diagnosis we just cancelled vacation and brought the motorhome back home.

Filed Oct 24, 2008 · Brakes · 37,000 miles · TX

Right fronts brake lock up causing loss of control pulled me into the ditch. Second problem 2000 thousand miles later, right rear brake dragging and over heating. Right front wheel over heated and caused oil to boil out of bearing, towed to repair shop for fix.

Filed Aug 13, 2008 · Brakes · 22,500 miles · WI

Abs brake failure and loss of cruise control. Happened during stop and go traffic. Calipers hung up and over heated brakes burning out ABS sensor. Same problem on 2002, 2001 workhorse chassis. Recall should have included 2003 as problem is the same. Many complaints about same year and same situation as mine. Workhorse should have notified owners to lube caliper slides immediately.

Filed Apr 5, 2005 · Brakes · AL

Recall campaign 04v084000 concerning workhorse-bosch zops brake calipers: after having recall repairs performed, within 800 miles or less, the brakes locked up, and almost caused a vehicle crash. The consumer took the vehicle to another dealer, who informed the consumer that this vehicle's recall repairs were not performed. *ak the front bearings kept losing fluids. Both inner wheel seals were leaking therefore both front inner and outer seals on the rotors were replaced.

Filed Oct 15, 2004 · 27,272 miles · TX

While driving at a low speed, the trailer hitch broke in half while the towing a vehicle. The trailer was manufactured with a hidden hitch, serial 64-6100 , five thousand pound weight. The motor home was damaged and the vehicle which was being pulled.*ak

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Questions about the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire

Is the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire reliable?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, 2.5 times a typical Mountain Aire model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire?

Brakes, with 6 complaints. Next is visibility (1).

How many recalls does the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire have?

13 recalls, covering equipment, steering and service brakes, hydraulic.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Newmar Mountain Aire brakes?

Yes, 4 recalls: 09V217000, 05V263000, 04V019000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

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