I had a two month old Interstate battery boil out one cell. Noticed the sulfur smell.I contacted the manufacturer (Grand Design). They won't cover under warranty because the dealer apparently puts the battery in. Interstate replied to my request for compensation with this:"Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, in this case, the warranty would not be applicable because that would be considered “failure to keep the battery properly maintained”.It was a brand new battery when we left for the summer!Sounds like poor manufacturing to me.Thoughts?

“It was a brand new battery when we left for the summer!”“Brand new” isn’t the criteria. How often did you check the fluid level? Weekly checking is my rule when traveling. Monthly in storage with a trickle solar system.

I have been selling Marine-RV-Photovoltaic batteries since 1978. Interstate was one of my brands. I had so many failures, I dropped the brand and went to Powerstride. Should that be the case with Powerstride, Instant warranty and service. Had problems with Trojan as well.

Bad charger and/or not keeping the battery watered. "It was a brand new battery when we left for the summer!"How many times have you checked the levels? How long ago, before you had the issue?They're not like "maintenance free" car batteries.

They were shipped sometimes with one dry cell. The Dealer would charge to top off and "cook" that cell before sales. That Battery would fail in 1-2 months. I know, I sold them for 20 plus years.

Bad Interstate battery | Good Sam Community

jerseyjim
Explorer
Oct 09, 2018
Once, years ago, one of my Interstates failed within a few months. Took it back to the dealer I bought if from, he said he had to test the battery to make sure it was defective. However, the equipment he had was "broken". Then, maybe ship it to Interstate to make sure. So.... I had no battery, no battery replacement even tho it was well under the warranty period.

Sams' Club down the road, bought one of theirs, been going back there ever since. NEVER a "defective" anything. Heckuvalot cheaper too.
2oldman
Explorer II
Oct 09, 2018
gbopp wrote:
2oldman wrote:
Interesting first post.
I'm waiting for 'The Rest Of The Story.'
Wouldn't hold my breath.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Oct 09, 2018
Talk to the dealer. At 2 months that battery should not have NEEDED maintenance.

I have had batteries fail in next to no time (once) but I had no problem with warranty.. The replacement lasted several years.
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Oct 09, 2018
2oldman wrote:
Interesting first post.

Very interesting but then this forum is about crabbing anyway.

First off, the battery is warranted by Interstate which I believe is Johnson Controls, not Grand Design.

Two contact an Interstate dealer and get the issue resolved. I run Interstates and they have always been fine for me.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 09, 2018
Go to an actual Interstate battery dealer. If you have any proof of in service date I bet it gets adjusted and replaced just fine.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 09, 2018
Moved from technology
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 09, 2018
Warranty from Interstate

"Looks like you mis-treated the battery"

Warranty Of An Interstate Battery Purchased From Costco

"Here is your 100% cash refund"

Warranty From Wal-Mart

"Just as soon as I find my tube of Clearasil I will then grab my cheese grater 100 amp load tester, then find the battery holds a 100 amp load. What do you means your battery requires a 400 amp load to test properly. Mr, McDronedriver himself told us how to check our batteries!"
Chum_lee
Explorer
Oct 09, 2018
Brett4533 wrote:
I had a two month old Interstate battery boil out one cell. Noticed the sulfur smell.
I contacted the manufacturer (Grand Design). They won't cover under warranty because the dealer apparently puts the battery in. Interstate replied to my request for compensation with this:

"Thank you for contacting us.

Unfortunately, in this case, the warranty would not be applicable because that would be considered “failure to keep the battery properly maintained”.

It was a brand new battery when we left for the summer!
Sounds like poor manufacturing to me.
Thoughts?

Last time I bought new Interstate GC2 6V 232AH deep cycle batteries (2 @ $149.95 plus tax each) for my Class A, the Interstate Dealer told me that they no longer warranty 6V deep cycle batteries. Too bad they were already installed when I learned that. Like I was saying, . . . . . . last time I bought Interstate Batteries . . . . . . .

Chum lee
mchero
Explorer
Oct 10, 2018
wnjj wrote:
mike-s wrote:
Bad charger and/or not keeping the battery watered.

"It was a brand new battery when we left for the summer!"

How many times have you checked the levels? How long ago, before you had the issue?

They're not like "maintenance free" car batteries.

I checked the water levels in mine once after a couple of years the again a couple later. Since it never lost a drop I stopped checking. The first was an Interstate and the last two were Walmart-labeled Interstates. I got more than 6 years on the first two I had. The last one only got replaced because it was getting old and I needed several days of capacity.

"I checked the water levels in mine once after a couple of years the again a couple later"

You check your water level every 2 years and they don't need any water.

Something not right here.
wnjj
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2018
mchero wrote:
wnjj wrote:
mike-s wrote:
Bad charger and/or not keeping the battery watered.

"It was a brand new battery when we left for the summer!"

How many times have you checked the levels? How long ago, before you had the issue?

They're not like "maintenance free" car batteries.

I checked the water levels in mine once after a couple of years the again a couple later. Since it never lost a drop I stopped checking. The first was an Interstate and the last two were Walmart-labeled Interstates. I got more than 6 years on the first two I had. The last one only got replaced because it was getting old and I needed several days of capacity.

"I checked the water levels in mine once after a couple of years the again a couple later"

You check your water level every 2 years and they don't need any water.

Something not right here.

We make maybe 5-6 trips per year and the rest of the time it stays plugged in 24/7. We have a single group 29 and a PD9245 converter. They’re known for being easy on the batteries.

So in the right circumstances they can be as maintenance free as a car battery. Either way, 2 months is far too soon to ever have to worry about checking.