Full Time RVer

Russ and Tiña De Maris

In our issue number 28 we asked if any of our readers had purchased what they thought to be a “lemon RV.” Nearly 140 of our readers responded to that survey. Of them, over 38% felt they had purchased a lemon. While the majority of our readers felt their own RVs were not “lemons,” a number certainly haven’t been satisfied.

Some of you wrote to us about your experiences, and we’re printing them below. From “expensive education” to “bitterness,” some of you have dealt with real pain. The subject of “lemon” vehicles is a tough one for the industry and for consumers. We hope to explore the matter in more detail in a future edition.

Readers Experiences with “Lemon RVs”

“We purchased a new 2004 Airstream motorhome in October 2005. On our way home, we stopped for a break and found hot water pouring out. We got it stopped and continued on and imported it into Canada.

“We had that fixed at the Airstream factory a few months later on our way to Florida. On our first trip in it in Florida, the windshield wiper broke on a pouring rainy night. Very Scary. One dealer said it would take two months before he could get to it.

Then the Onan generator wouldn’t work. Next the brakes started squealing. We took it into a dealer who said we hadn’t maintained it. It now had 5000 miles. But he said the warranty wouldn’t cover the repair. We paid $1,133. After lengthy talks with Workhorse who were determined to repay us nothing, we talked to Airstream. They called back and said Workhorse would pay something, Airstream would pay something. But we were still short $75. It is now three months later and we have received nothing.

“There have been other problems-the fans above the driver and passengers’ head wouldn’t work. One finally fell off. The awnings were loose, one end came off the bolt. The hazard lights wouldn’t work. The cruise control didn’t work.

“Airstream has been good to us. Workhorse has been the worst company anyone could have to work with. We will never recommend anyone buy anything with a Workhorse chassis or other parts. We are considering putting big plastic signs on the sides and back of the motorhome telling people to avoid Workhorse and that they are NOT GOOD.” –E

“We do have a lemon with major safety issues and manufacturing failure from the company not attaching many areas of the RV together correctly. We have had smoke damage, siding cracks and no repairs completed until the last day of our two year warranty.

“The company required we travel over 1000’s of miles to their AUTHORIZED repairman who made things worse in every case. Then we would end up at a local dealership for them to repair the faults the company repairman worsened. Items paid for upon delivery of the RV and ruined by the lemon issues were kept from us for over a year and finally reinstalled again after the entire two year warranty ran out.

“We are in the process of taking a much less settlement than we should just so we can finally, after over 26 months from retirement, can go on with our lives. We have spent every day since retirement delivering our unit from one RV lot to another and even to the factory. After over $18,000 out of pocket expenses (hotel, fuel, restaurants) over 26 months and 16,000 miles of hassle we are settling out of court for ‘hush money.’ Our attorney suggests we take the offer, ‘Because the company can say they fixed the items and the Arbitrator could just throw the whole case out of court.’ Which are lies but we may not be able to prove it if not allowed to speak but only answer direct yes/no questions. What are you to do? Take his advice and get half of your money back or fight them all the way? The attorney says the fight could take another two years.

“This has taught me one thing….. ALL DOCUMENTS from the purchase order, the manual, the warranty are written by attorneys to make the case for the manufacturers prior to the RV even being made. The ‘out clause’ for our manufacturer was hidden in the manual you receive after purchase. Even today on their website it is not listed as the major warranty, you must click on one more step to find the complete warranty that has the ‘out clause’ in it to protect THEM.

“What is their punishment for doing a lousy job and taking your hard earned time and money, your entire life? Nothing! Then the attorneys tell each other, if you get a lemon law case you take the case and we will follow along these pre set lines and the customer will think they are being represented. You will get a third for making phone calls and telling them to settle out of court, we will make money from the manufacturer and we all make money except the consumer. That way My Client (the RV industry) is protected and can say we never had a lawsuit against us.

“Out of court settlements are never disclosed nor can they be tracked by potential customers or the government who is supposed to be protecting the consumer. We would have had more rights if we purchased a toaster. Yes, I am bitter. When going on the forums if you mention the name of your RV then the moderator will not post your problem. If you just ask a general question what would you do if you had this problem, the men tear you apart and take the manufacturer’s side instead of trying to problem solve and help you. Thank God, those in the campgrounds were nice people to be around when we would on occasion get to stay at a campground. We joined several RV resort memberships prior to retirement but were not able to use them as we had to be close to a certain city or dealership or even on blacktop parking lots for days in over 100 degree temperatures with no electric until they got around to looking at our unit.

“This is not our first RV. We planned full timing for over 15 years, we did the factory tours and we still got the lemon. The problems are all covered up and the consumer will never be allowed to research or find out what the real problems are with this entire industry. The RVIA and Attorney Generals of the states I wrote to all told me to get an attorney, we did and it only caused more grief and we never got to tell our story. The company does not have any ethical feelings towards the consumer. Not only were we robbed of our money when we purchased this unit, the company will not take it back and make it right. Instead they want us to trade it off to an unsuspecting family to insult their pocketbook too. This RV should not even have been sold in the condition it left the manufacturer yet we paid to have it worked on and worked on and still they just want it gone, out there for someone else to purchase again and again. –C

“My wife and I purchased a new 2004 Winnabego Realta which turned out to be a lemon. Four of the six months of ownership was spent in the shop. Unable to fix the constantly declining antifreeze we finally went to mediation.

“We were given a new 2005 at a cost to us of $2500. It seemed like a good deal at the time but in retrospect was a mistake. We should not have paid anything. I learned a lot about the process. $2500 spent on education. ” –DG

“If anyone ever plans to RV in Australia, DON’T buy or rent an RV manufactured here by Winnebago .

“I have owned two of these RVs the first one was unsafe from new and after six months of hell and neither the dealer nor the company would fix it. A Winnie dealer in another state gave my assurances that his upgrade Winnie would be 100% right, but NO–right from Day One problems started. Now after 20 months, there are major problems–some of the main structure has NOT been fitted, not knowing what the problem was until I had a independent engineer check [as I] couldn’t figure out WHY the sidewalls were continually cracking (along with many other owners vehicles). Also some of the major electrical were “forgotten to be installed.”

If any of you are planning to RV in Aussie–consider bringing an RV with you –for a HAPPY vacation.” –CM

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