2005 Newmar Dutch Star: common problems

Owners of the 2005 Newmar Dutch Star filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about latches, locks, linkages and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 5
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Latches, locks, linkages 40% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
3 Equipment 20% of all complaints
4 Steering 20% of all complaints
5 Tires 20% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Latches, locks, linkages: 2 complaints (40% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Equipment: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Tires: 1 complaints (20% of all).

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Latches, locks, linkages	2	1
Electrical system	1	0
Equipment	1	0
Steering	1	0
Tires	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

I have a newmar rv and the doors on the storage areas on the sides can come open when driving done the road. One such door opened and hit a motorcycle parked on the side of the road. This could of been a death if the rider would of been on his bike.
Latches, locks, linkages · crash · 2007-06-05 · NHTSA complaint #10192456
Rear slide on 2005 newmar dutch star retracts without warning. This has occurred twice. Luckily we or our pets were not injured. This occurred while vehicle was parked, automatic jacks were deployed, but have never worked properly since the unit was purchased new in aug 2005.
Electrical system · 2006-03-30 · NHTSA complaint #10154219
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds there is play in the steering. This occurs without warning on normal roads. It does not occur when the vehicle is turning right or left; only when the vehicle is driven straight.
Steering · 2006-02-08 · NHTSA complaint #10149816
Automatic slide locks failed to close on slides. They have a cheap screw that they bend to make contact with a magnet. Very poor design.
Latches, locks, linkages · 2005-10-25 · NHTSA complaint #10140714

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20052
20062
20071

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Dutch Star has 7 complaints (26 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.

What to check before buying

Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Newmar Dutch Star?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: latches, locks, linkages, electrical system, equipment. Total complaints: 5.

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Newmar Dutch Star?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2005 Newmar Dutch Star from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2005 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.