The Problems with RVs These Days
RVs, or recreational vehicles, have all the problems that other vehicles have plus more. They are effectively homes on wheels, with more functionality than a car, and many more things that can go wrong.
As lemon lawyers, we get a lot of complaints from RV owners across the country. Some RV owners are literally left stranded on the other side of the country because their transportation and accommodation has broken down and is stuck at a dealer awaiting repair. If your new RV is broken down, falling apart, or defective in some way, you may be entitled to compensation, a replacement RV, or reimbursement of your purchase price. Lemon laws and other consumer protection laws exist to protect new RV owners from being stranded with a problem vehicle. If you would like to find out more about your rights, and how you can get the help of a lemon lawyer for free, contact our experienced lemon lawyers at Timothy Abeel & Associates today for a free consultation.
Leaks
Leaks may be the number one problem that we see with RVs. Leaks around the windows, doors, sliders; leaks through the roof; leaks from the water tanks; leaks everywhere. Whether it is a Forest River, Keystone, Jayco, or Heartland RV, there has been a complaint about a leak.
Leaks also lead to more problems such as rust damage, water staining, subfloor rotting, and mold. If a leak is not detected and fixed promptly, you may be looking at carrying out even more repairs to your RV.
Broken Sliders/Slide Outs
Slide outs have a lot of component parts – mechanical and electrical – and are very prone to problems. It is common (but not acceptable) to have a misaligned slider that will not open or close fully or at all. Motor failure or electrical issues can cause a slider to malfunction. In a hydraulic slide out, a leak in the hydraulic system will cause problems and the leaking valve will need to be replaced. Slide outs are also prime spots for water leaks, and if a leak causes rust in a slide out, it will cause even more issues.
Delays
In the current world of shortages and delays, particularly in the automotive industry, it is not surprising that many owners of problem RVs are complaining about delays to their RV repairs. We have clients who have waited months for their new RV to be repaired, and are still waiting. RV dealers are telling their customers that there are long delays for parts, but the RV owners are the people suffering. An RV is a major investment, and for many people, it is intended to be for much needed relaxation or even a home. Your source of leisure or your home should not become the cause of stress in your life. Lemon laws may protect you if there are unreasonable delays to your RV repairs. The laws are different in each state but typically if your RV is out of service for more than 30 days, you are entitled to a remedy under lemon law. You should contact a lemon lawyer in your state to find out the specifics of lemon laws where you are.
Structural Problems
A Forest River with bowing floors and walls, an Airstream with a busted awning, a Heartland with broken trim and flooring, and a Keystone with damaged subfloor and doors that will not close. These are just a sampling of the structural problems that our RV clients face in their new RVs. Structural problems can be difficult, or impossible, to repair and, very often, prevent an RV from being safely used. If you have structural problems with your RV, you may have the basis of a lemon law claim.
Electrics
In today’s vehicles, electrics affect the steering, brakes, safety sensors, displays, windows, and many other systems. In an RV, electrics also power additional systems such as the appliances (such as a refrigerator,) outlets, lighting, and slide outs. We hear complaints about problems with the electrical systems of many different brands of new RVs, from minor issues to major defects that make an RV unusable.
Customer Service
Many of our clients come to us after trying to handle the problems with their new RVs themselves. They have done everything right by contacting their dealer, or other authorized repair shop, to get their new RV repaired or replaced, and they are given the runaround. Some dealers deny that there is a problem with the RV, some owners are told that their problem is not covered by their RV warranty, and others are just ignored. This attitude is not isolated to one or two RV manufacturers. It seems a general approach in the industry to avoid customer complaints and repairs. This is only made more difficult when dealing with an RV because RV owners often travel across the country to purchase an RV or to use the RV for the very purpose for which it was intended – travel.
If you have bought an RV and discovered that it is defective, there are steps that you should take to get the repairs or remedy that you need. Your state lemon laws may protect you. An experienced lemon lawyer can help to advise you on your options, and to pursue a claim against your RV manufacturer. Call us at 888.611.5481 or contact us online to discuss your case for free, and find out how Timothy Abeel & Associates can help you.
We guarantee we will never send you a bill for our fees.