NHTSA Complaint #10226370 — 2004 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR RV. THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE SMELLED AMMONIA IN THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT ORIGINATED. THE SMELL PERSISTED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, CAUSING THEM BOTH TO SUFFER SEVERE HEADACHES. HE INSPECTED THE UNIT AND NOTICED AMMONIA BLOWING OUT OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL ALL OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS EMPTIED. THE CONTACT'S NEIGHBOR INFORMED HIM ABOUT THE POSSIBLE FAILURE WITH THE DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR IN THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE A WEEK EARLIER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE NEIGHBOR'S VEHICLE. DOMETIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE UNIT. EVEN THOUGH THE UNIT CAUGHT FIRE, DOMETIC WAS ONLY WILLING TO INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.