Forum Discussion

LarryDel's avatar
LarryDel
Explorer
Nov 06, 2018

Warranty Work Frustration After Frustration -

I had posted some of our issues regarding our 2019 Forest river Forester. Now that we have finally arrived at the dealer for warranty work, three days now, I can share my frustrations. We have a Smart Arm that did not work at all (we have had our unit 3 months) only now to get work done because we were committed at a camp host position with our new coach. After several days the serviceman got our Smart Arm to work outside with the panel on the arm, however if you want to use the functions from the Control Panel Inside you can only close it from the inside, it doesn't allow you to open it from the inside. They are trying to reach someone at forest river, thinking it could possibly be factory wiring. The other issue are two of three TV in our coach do not work. They test them, one does not work at all and the other only has wavy lines going through it. So of three tvs only the bedroom TV works. They have ordered two, but are wondering if wiring is also involved. Also there is an emergency window in bedroom, it has leaked after three major storms. Thank God for Bounty towels. In each storm I had to sit at the back window sopping up water until it stopped. They caulked the window today. It is now raining. Fortunately we are leaving the place where we are getting work done tomorrow. If it leaks tonight they then would order a new window. Finally, we have a small piece of clear film that was put on the overhang (full body paint) that needs to be fixed. The guy never showed up to make the repair. My husband stated, I don't mind having issues that need to be fixed, but when they can't seem to fix them, well now that is a cause for concern.
Anyone other Forest River folks with issues like this. When do we hire a lawyer?
Class C
  • bobndot's avatar
    bobndot
    Explorer II
    Nov 06, 2018
    LarryDel, my 2018 FR had a hidden 2" hole under the left stationary awning arm that is attached to the rv close to the emergency window. The window leaked like a waterfall.

    When the awning arm is deployed, you will see a vinyl insert on the stationary arm that's attached to the rv. It can be popped out using a flat bladed screw driver, its held in place by pressure.
    Once that was done, the open 2" hole was visible. It was plugged and caulked at the factory but someone did not wait long enough for the caulk to cure and closed the awning. The wet caulk sealed itself against the insert and not the hole . Water poured in the hole, thru the wall and hit the window frame and ran down the interior wall like a waterfall.
    In my case, running water poured off my rain gutter extension that backed up due to its level/upward angle, allowing rain water to run down the arm adding more water to my leak.
    When my awning was closed, the tight closed arm help seal the hole but when the awning was open it ran like a waterfall thru the E-window interior wall. Depending how that hole was sealed by FR could be a potential problem with the awning in or out. Look into it.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Nov 06, 2018
    IMO the OP had a right to expect it would all work when he committed to the job and could not take it in just then. IMO in such cases you should be allowed to get a mobile repair guy in and claim for that.

    The other thing that is annoying, is if you do a temporary fix yourself when away, you worry if that will mean you lose your warranty when you get back and want to get it fixed "right".

    After getting the big things fixed for free during warranty period on the 5er we had, I was also happy when the warranty expired, because now I could do whatever I wanted if anything went wrong.

    Of course if you are not a handyman looking for things to fix like that old Maytag repair man, it is not the same. In that case you are just up the creek with no paddle. Yes, you need to be something of a handyman if you have an RV or else have lots of money. (But then you would not be in an RV!)
  • westernrvparkow's avatar
    westernrvparkow
    Explorer
    Nov 06, 2018
    Not sure you can blame the Dealer or Forest River if your rig leaked every time it rained and you didn't take it in to get it fixed. I'm thinking anything after leak one is on you.
  • garyemunson's avatar
    garyemunson
    Explorer II
    Nov 06, 2018
    Sidecar is right. Learn to do your own repairs. The warranty will be over before you realize it and you will be on your own then anyway. Much easier on the blood pressure to just do it yourself.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Nov 06, 2018
    Some things that people fail to understand about dealers and warranty work in general.

    Dealer would rather sell units than do warranty work in the first place.

    Moist employees at a dealership are paid minimal wages and have limited experience in the first place so don't expect fast and quality service because it's not gonna happen. Low wages equal low employee performance and that applies not only to dealers but the OEM's as well.

    If I have an issue and I have, I fix it myself because I know it's done right. With a dealer, you never know if it's done right or not and considering the quality and caliber of low wage employees, probably not.

    Far as hiring a mouthpiece, I'd advise against it. FR has more money and better legal consul that you can afford. I'd take the unit elsewhere or learn to do your own repairs.

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