Did you have quality issues for warranty repair?

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by Bigskyrider8

This thread is the reason I sold my new Airstream after six months of ownership......pathetic.

Maybe you missed the best part. Some would say get the bugs worked out and have a lifetime of enjoyment with it.

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by Bigskyrider8

This thread is the reason I sold my new Airstream after six months of ownership......pathetic.

You should have gotten all the issues repaired and enjoyed the trailer.
With all of its problems it is still better than other brands.
Overpriced? Yes.
Worth it? No.
But I still love it.

[Panama Red]

Just looked at Bigventure's pictures. I'm assuming the plastic PEX elbows are from the factory? Watch those... That will be your point of failure with PEX. They'd do a lot for their reliability reputation to use the brass fittings. And leave the extra screws out of the pipe...

-Red

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by Bigventure

I had a screw in (not though the water line causing the showers inside and out to stop working.

And Airstream refused to cover it! They told me I didn't transfer the warranty. ($250)
I ask what the warranty covers and was told only what Airstream builds.

It took me about 4/5 hours to figure it out and fix it. I'm a pipefitter.

Verse going 2 hours each way to the nearest and newest dealer.

I sent Dan a bill for $500 and he refused to pay it. I wrote Trailer Life and they inform me they are only intermeadetors and are only able to forward my concerns to Airstream.

Almost looks like a dissatisfied employee / technician ...intentionally planted it in the line!

... We have anchor points in our Eddie Bauer that are NOT anchored into the frame or outriggers ... only the wood floor! In case of an accident ...
*** Would you trust an expensive $20k machine to be anchored in the back of a trailer to self tappers in wood flooring!!! Washers were not even put on to retain D-rings to bolt head ... the installing tech had to know that! Was it intentional? Don't know. When the D-rings were rotated to use (before we left the dealership - but service guys wee all gone), they let go!!! Molly bolts sent by factory, but not sure if they will stand the load.

... We have already had leaks in our plumbing and had to re-crimp the Pex rings

... had to replace 10 rivets in the door that sheared off...6-8 elsewhere Did anyone even look at the door before it left OH?

... the aluminum refrigerator support is depressed 1-1 1/2 inches so I can't get the panel out to access the pump - winter has arrived up here and may have to cut the panel to get it out there goes our new AS !!!

... a latch for the folding bench seat is missing could be an oversight?

... solar display panel shorted out to the raw cut edge in the interior aluminum and had to be replaced. Very raw abrasive edge cut!

... various holes through the linoleum/floor and exposed to roadway debris / moisture / animals / insects The tech knew he was in wood ...NOT steel frame.

... missing features that were specified on the retail sticker: magazine rack could be just an oversight ...???

... unknown on the memory foam mattress - may just be aggressive advertising! see below

... promised pivoting mount for main TELEVISION as was in 2013 traded in was assured by dealer if we left larger TV in trade-in ... solution is pending.



So far, I have saved the factory hundreds of dollars in dealer labor by addressing the issues myself ... my selling dealer is a long day away.

The factory retail sticker says
"PRICING SUBJECT TO CHANGE IF UNIT CONFIGURATION IS CHANGED. PRICES AND SPECS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE".

Throughout all of this- my dealer, AS Adv NW, and the AS factory have both been very supportive (a HUGE thank you to Mike @ mothership & Dan and Larry @ ASAdvNW); however, sometimes it just takes time ... frustrating yes... as we have been at this since mid-July.

[m.hony]

After taking the factory tour I have a little better concept of how things can be forgotten or messed up. Too many people working in a trailer at once, disorganized, clutter, tight work area, poor flow- I also think too many floor plans-

[lsbrodsky]

These comments are pretty depressing, as a first timer one year into this sport. It seems quality is quite variable, a sign of no quality control. Maybe no RV maker has the kind of QC/QA I was used to in the boating world. I guess RVs do not sink and drown people. Even if the sample is small and the affected number of units are small, there are enough problems to make you wonder about ever buying one at these prices, if you knew ahead of buying. The fact that their service shop is so good at fixing problems under warranty does not make up for the lack of QC to begin with.
Larry

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

These comments are pretty depressing, as a first timer one year into this sport. It seems quality is quite variable, a sign of no quality control. Maybe no RV maker has the kind of QC/QA I was used to in the boating world. I guess RVs do not sink and drown people. Even if the sample is small and the affected number of units are small, there are enough problems to make you wonder about ever buying one at these prices, if you knew ahead of buying. The fact that their service shop is so good at fixing problems under warranty does not make up for the lack of QC to begin with.
Larry

Can't disagree - it's maddening that such an iconic brand hasn't joined the Demming revolution...however, most of the issues I've had with mine have been minor (you should see the crap I had to deal with in my stick house that was only 3 years old when I bought it...could have bought a trailer with all the funds I poured in to it to correct inexcusably shoddy workmanship.... But I'm not bitter :-)

Shouldn't have to - but for me, the joy it has brought me outweighs the frustrations at least a few thousand to one. Everyone's mileage varies - happy camping everyone!

[m.hony]

Supposedly approximately $10,000 of the price of a new RV is for re-work/warranty/touch-up. Why not build them better and charge $10,000 less?

[m.hony]

Look on the bright side. After a week long 2,000 mile trip all is well. Even though I actually enjoyed the entire experience, I should have never had to experience it. The trailer should have been built better to start with.
I will post "the list" at some point. Too bad I deleted the pictures of all the screw-ups.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Supposedly approximately $10,000 of the price of a new RV is for re-work/warranty/touch-up. Why not build them better and charge $10,000 less?

Why not have a chat with the bean counter out in the parking lot.

[m.hony]

They missed this one- or the new one already has moisture/condensation in it.

[dkottum]

m.honey, they may not have missed anything there but a bubble may have opened in the sealant. I had that. First look for a tiny opening somewhere. If this fixture is under the end of an awning, lots of water will drain over it.

Also, ours were properly installed with no sealant on the bottom side to drain. Is it sealed all around? If not it is possible to direct a hose on the bottom side and force water into it. It should drain back out but it might take forever to clear the moisture.

Rather than removing and resealing one of mine, I drilled a tiny drain hole near the bottom of the aluminum base to drain the water (plenty came out) and another near the bottom of the plastic lens to clear the condensation. It dried out and after a couple weeks I put a little dab of sealant in the drain holes. If it happens again I can poke out the sealant to dry.

Some call this sort of thing lack of quality, I just view it as routine maintenance like on everything else we own.