My 2 original AC units from Dometic died after 14 years.I was happy with this performance.So I put in 2 more $1500 AC units from Dometic. The fist one dies about 18 months after install and Dometic covered the repair under warranty and did an excellent job of getting me a replacement. When I looked at the circuit board of the failed unit there were several components that were not properly soldered in, which caused the premature failure.(Bad manufacturing, and bad quality inspection)Also the replacement unit was not covered under a new warranty, but only until the warranty of the original unit expired. (bad customer service, no belief in a quality product)A month ago after 3.5 years the 2nd new unit died. I sent Dometic an email explaining my frustration at having spent $3000.00 for 2 units only to have them die way too early.What did I get back ? Crickets, chirp chirpSo I am done buying their products because they are poor quality.This email is a warning to all those out there who may considering a purchase of a Dometic AC Unit.

When you find a better quality unit let us all know because they all are built like junk

I keep saying that they have us hooked on crack. Cheesy products just break over and over and keep buying more.

Yet my cheap Coleman Mach air conditioner units running off fluctuating generator power exclusively for thousands of hours don't break? I'd say that's definitely a Dometic problem.

We have a 2006 Phaeton. The front A/C has been replaced 4 times. The back one is original (both are Coleman). The fan is bad and we are having it replaced tomorrow. Still cools, though. The tech told us we would never get such service (14 years) out of a new one.Dale

You only have 2 choices for RV roof AC units. RVP(Coleman) and Dometic. From your post you must have Penguin models at least 3 to 4 years old. Those models did indeed have compressor problems. Now(last 2 years) they found and are using a better compressor. As to your comment about the Circuit Board. That is NOT a common problem and that board is easily replaced. So, if they replaced the AC due to a bad board, that was the Service companies fault. NOT Dometic, for a complete unit. Dometic has about 70 percent of the RV market and RVP takes up the slack. Also, to your comment about HOW the term of warranty operates. That is true of almost ALL products including Automobiles. You have a Auto with a 36/36 warranty and at month 35, you have the AC compressor replaced, you only have 1 month of warranty on that new compressor. When the term of warranty expires ALL items expire, regardless of when items were replaced under warranty. Doug

Dometic AC Unit, another failure | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

2_many_2
Explorer III
Nov 02, 2018
Thank you for the follow-up, I was secretly hoping for a better outcome. I have read here and on other forums of multiple failures on Dometic units. I believe there was even a recall of sorts at one time?

Unfortunately mine failed two months out of warranty, I didn't even bother to contact Dometic, I just ordered one on Amazon, rented a fork lift and did it in my driveway.

These failures are just a bad deal all around. I wouldn't mind so much but now I have an Airstream and doing any kind of roof work is a real bear :E

If you get the low profile model with the heat pump feature you are looking at least $1200 just for the A/C, Camping World was $400 more than Amazon and I would have to drive an hour each way to pick it up!

Best of luck with your new A/C, I hope it lasts a very long time.
JCat
Explorer III
Nov 02, 2018
THE FINAL WORD FROM DOMETIC: NO SURPRISE

Hello Mr. Catherwood,

Good day to you! I hope this email finds you in good health and spirit. I am writing you in regards to the AC issue on model#: 641816CXX1J0 serial#: XXXXXXXXX. After further investigation, at this time Dometic is respectfully denying coverage under warranty and/or reimbursement for this unit. This decision was determined due to the fact that the compressor failed 1 year & 5 months outside of the Dometic’s Manufacturer’s Warranty. We thank you for the opportunity of allowing us to address this matter. We wish you the best going forward!

DON'T BUY DOMETIC !
2_many_2
Explorer III
Oct 31, 2018
sweeperman210 wrote:
I have a 1989 blue bird WB40 with the 3 original dometic roof airs and had 2 repaired at National RV refrigeration in Sheshipawana Ind .Leon the owner said the older units last lots longer than the new ones.

My previous RV had a 20+ year old A/C that was working perfectly, obviously all the new units Chinese or otherwise are not the best :M
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Oct 30, 2018
"JCat".....I bought my 2014 Dutch Star in January of 2014. There were two on the lot outfitted almost identically. We bought one and I spoke to the buyer of the other on occasion. He had both Dometic units fail on his. At that time, which is about the same time frame as your purchase, Dometic was having an issue EXACTLY what you found, poorly soldered circuit boards. They had a rash of them.

I hate when these companies spend huge money on a known problem and then play stupid when you ask about it.
sweeperman210
Explorer
Oct 30, 2018
I have a 1989 blue bird WB40 with the 3 original dometic roof airs and had 2 repaired at National RV refrigeration in Sheshipawana Ind .Leon the owner said the older units last lots longer than the new ones.
77rollalong
Explorer
Oct 30, 2018
I Think its like everything else out there, manufacturers are making things a cheep as they can for more profit. like when you got married 20 years ago you got an electric frypan, it worked great for 20 years, you go out and get a new one at wally world, and it lasts 6 months. years ago we use to fix things, now its just replace. Our 40 year old motorhome has a 3 year old Dometic AC unit, which had not been used much at all , like maybe 3 times last year and a couple of times the year before. Owning an RV we also dont have the choices in appliances like we do in owning a home, and the costs for a similar rv part can be 3 to 5 times the price for a compairable home product, just one of the joys of owning one
Ralph_Cramden
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2018
JCat wrote:
Looks like an opportunity for some competition, someone that makes good products that last.

Remember the Industry being discussed LOL.

It's not about making good products that last. Its about making and selling as many products as possible, in as little time as possible, while maximizing profit to pump up the coffers before the sheet hits the fan again. Then just maybe a company will survive the fan sheeting to start over and do it all again. That applies from the Largest RV manufacturers to the smallest, and the entire way down the supply chain from air conditioners to pop rivets.

The only thing looked at when its comes to "lasting" is will it last until the warranty expires.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2018
My motor home came with Carrier Air V's. as you know Carrier is no longer making RV Air Conditioenrs (Wonder why> Design flaw killed 'em young).

I replaced one with an AdVent Air (DO NOT recommend)
and the other with a Coleman.

Now imagine my surprise when It came time to clean the condenser.
Colemans suck (not in a bad way) meaning they draw air IN over the condenser and exhaust it via the sides.. Most every other make blows (Pushes air through the condenser)

What does this mean

Coleman.. Remove outer cover (4 screws) and peal or brush the condenser clean. Replace cover and screws and done.

OThers Remove cover (usualy about 10 screws give or take) Remove INNER COVER (varies from 4 more screws to cut tape and bend tabs) and FAN then you can clean the condenser....

Now you know why I like Coleman.
Ava
Explorer
Oct 29, 2018
There was a thread about a/c life recently and can’t help but say again how my 24 year old Colemans are still working.
JCat
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2018
Looks like an opportunity for some competition, someone that makes good products that last.