Forum Discussion

Kate_and_Ed's avatar
Kate_and_Ed
Explorer
Sep 08, 2021

Anyone have to send fiver back to mfg for major repair?

Friend has Montana that’s flooring ruined by hot water heater leak. Brand new fiver. It’s basically her primary residence since she sold home. Wondered if anyone experienced what mfg might offer to do for customer in this situation?!? Offer temporary substitute until ready for instance?
  • I suspect she will have to find an apartment to rent.
    Barney
  • Needs to look for an Extend-a-stay type place with weekly/monthly rentals.

    Ken
  • I'm betting nothing. I don't think Montana advertises for use as Full Time (not that it's a problem), so they are unlikely to consider obliged to accommodate her non-recommended use.

    Standard fare for warranty work is, the dealer gets around to it when they get around to it. Paying customers come first and they fill in warranty work when they are slow. I've never seen a warranty that had a time requirement. It's not uncommon for buyers to lose much of their first summer with an RV waiting for warranty work.

    Unfortunately, if they have to take it back to the factory (unlikely), she's looking at some sort of medium term rental. Check airbnb for monthly stays.
  • She has already posted on the Montana Forum. She has owned it since early June and already spent 5 weeks with the dealer with little help.
  • Kate and Ed wrote:
    Friend has Montana that’s flooring ruined by hot water heater leak. Brand new fiver. It’s basically her primary residence since she sold home. Wondered if anyone experienced what mfg might offer to do for customer in this situation?!? Offer temporary substitute until ready for instance?


    If the leak was due to a faulty water heater or faulty installation, then she would likely have a warranty claim. If it was the heater, itself, then whoever made it would most likely be on the hook for damages. If it was only the floor =covering=, a dealer would likely handle that. If the entire sub-floor is shot, then it =might= need to go back to the factory, but it might not. IMO, an insurance claim needs to be filed and let them hash it out with the mfr/dealer.

    Since we can't talk about legal stuff, I won't suggest getting an attorney involved.

    Lyle
  • Back a few years ago, Sept of 2016, we had issues with some slide out seals / gaskets. Grand Design, scheduled the unit back to the factory for repairs. They paid for our gas to and from, paid for our lodging for four days and replaced all the slide out gaskets and went through and made sure everything was in spec. We didn't have any other issues with it while we had it until late 2019.
  • jffnkrn wrote:
    Back a few years ago, Sept of 2016, we had issues with some slide out seals / gaskets. Grand Design, scheduled the unit back to the factory for repairs. They paid for our gas to and from, paid for our lodging for four days and replaced all the slide out gaskets and went through and made sure everything was in spec. We didn't have any other issues with it while we had it until late 2019.


    That speaks very highly of Grand Design!
  • I don't have personal experience with Keystone Montana, but yes, I have had a camper that was back to the factory twice for repairs. It was a 2010 Coachmen Northridge. It was a piece of junk! In three years of ownership, I had at least 50 quality related/ warranty repairs. Turned me totally off to any Coachmen product! Every trip out I would come home with two to three repairs to make.
    In general, Manufactures, once the unit leaves the factory, turn all repairs over to the selling dealership. Only if the dealer determines they can not handle the repair will they send the unit back to the factory, or make arrangements for the owner to take it to the factory. Then the wait time can be weeks!

    Bandaid