RE: Dangerous new 2003 Jayco

[AustinBoston]

 tim5055

ORIGINAL:  tim5055
 
 Well, I did a little searching on the [link=http://www.nhtsa.gov/]National Highway Safety Administration web page[/link].  There were no listings for brake component failures in the 2003 or 2002 model years, but this one in 2001.
 
 

Make:  JAYCO  
 Model:  JAYCO  
 Year:  2001  
 Complaint Number:  765595  
 Summary:  
 COMPLETE LOSS OF TRAILER BRAKES OCCURS FROM THIS BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. *AK  
 

 Make sure you [link=http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/]File a Complaint[/link] regarding this safety issue.
 

 Don t put too much stock in these reports...there was a complaint about a 2002 Coleman Caravan where the seat belts failed...seat belts...trailer...uh...
 
 Another complaint was for a 1999 Coleman Niagara.  The " headlights"  caused a fire.  Headlights on a pop-up??
 
 Austin

[PopupSgt]

 PopupSgt
Well an update so far,
 The dealer sent a delivery driver to my home to pick up the pu.  The driver didn t not come w/ a flat bed only a super cab truck.  I helped him hitch to his truck & then went to connect the emergency brake cable to the truck, I then made the comment you don t need this since it doesn t have any brakes.  He was flabbergasted at my comment b/c no one at the dealership informed him that it didn t have any brakes[>:].  Told him to be careful due to it will surge forward whenever he attempts to stop, he was definetly nervous to pull it[].
 I called Jayco & I was sent to some yahoos v/m & left all the info & my rtn phone number to call me, most likely won t hear nada.
 I also filed a complaint with the state attorney s office & they have already responded & wanted more information.
 Well see how it goes day by day & I ll keep all of you informed[].

[birol]

 PopupSgt
I hope you get exactly what you want Popupsgt. You were so proud of it, righfully so. It is a beautiful PU. You should be able to enjoy it fully ! Keep hammering at them.

[4Galvs]

 PopupSgt
Per Jayco manual - start with the dealer 1st.  Which you have done.  You might try to get them to come and flat tow the trailer back for a second repair.  They should stand behind the first repair.  Then contact Jayco s customer service group and see if there are any service bulletins for that unit regarding the surge brake install.

[Mahaffey-Family]

 PopupSgt
I am also very sorry.  It is tough when things like this happens.  Good luck with everything.  I know this is a beautiful camper, but, when the fear sets in it might be time to ask the dealership to give you a very good trade and I would also call Jayco and ask for a voucher to help you get even a better deal.  Let them know what all happened.

[jstaddwtr]

 PopupSgt
We can empathize with you on so many fronts.....all you wanted to do was go camping, have some safe family time and you are now in the thick of it.  We remember before you bought the unit and you were asking everyone s advice.
 
 We too agree that they will probably never modify the vehicle...nor would you want them to.  You probably want to move on and start again.    Good luck!!!!
 
 Can t give legal advice, nor would you want it.....but I can ruminate..
 
 The words you want to start with are " breech of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.  Example...you buy a car and you can expect it has wheels and an engine and is safe....unless it is sold " as is"  (and even then there are issues.  Every state has a variation of this concept regardless of what your contract of sale may state.
 
 In the law this means that you purchased a product based upon an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose  a.e. that it was a trailer and would be safe...clearly it is not.  The dealer " warrantied"  (not speaking of the written warranty) that it was a safe trailer...it is not....I would start with the demand for your money back and then discuss further damages....although your goal should be to simply make yourself whole.  Of course that in itself has many definitions to many people.  
 
 Educate yourself on the law... many, many apply....there is alot more here -In Your Favor - than you are probably aware.  
 
 I just want to add that I think the support from the folks at this board..is fantastic!!!     Best of Luck Truly.!!
 
 Dee and Arthur

[Tim5055]

 PopupSgt
jstaddwtr got me thinking.  So, from those car talk guys here is some great information:
 
 

1. Does my state have a New Car Lemon Law?
 
 Yes, it is Ohio Rev.Code Ann. ? 1345.71.
 
 2. What types of vehicles are covered? Car Talk s Lemon Law Tips for Ohio
 At the time of purchase, the manufacturer is required to provide you with specific, separate notice of your Lemon Law rights.  
 
 This law covers passenger cars, noncommercial trucks of no more than one-ton load capacity, motorcycles, and the parts of motor homes that are not used for living.
 
 The law does not cover manufactured home or recreational vehicles, and vehicles used for commercial purposes.
 
 
 
 3. For how long and for how many miles does the Lemon Law provide protection?
 
 The term of protection is for the first year or 18,000 miles from date of delivery, whichever is reached first.
 
 It is during this time period that you must report your vehicle s defect to the manufacturer or dealer.
 
 This term of protection may be extended by any amount of time during which repair services are unavailable due to war, strike, or natural disaster.
 
 If the vehicle is transferred to another owner or lessee during this period, that new owner/lessee is also covered under the Lemon Law for the remainder of the term of protection.
 
 4. What types of defects are covered?
 
 It covers any defect or series of defects that substantially impair the use and value of the vehicle, and that are not the result of your abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications or alterations to the vehicle.
 
 
 
 5. What do I need to do before I can claim that my car is a lemon?
 
 
 Step one: The vehicle must have been taken in for a reasonable number of attempts to repair the defect(s). It is already presumed that your vehicle has undergone a reasonable number of attempts -- and therefore that it is a lemon -- in the following situations:
 If you have taken the car in for at least three repair attempts for the same defect, and the defect continues to exist;
 Or, if you have taken the car in for at least one repair attempt to repair a serious safety defect, and the defect continues to exist;
 Or, if the car has been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days while being repaired for any number of defects, and the defect continues to exist. This 30-day period may be extended by any amount of time during which repair services are unavailable due to war, strike, or natural disaster.
 Your claim will be made easier if you have documentation (repair orders) proving three repair attempts or 30 days out of service; you have the right to receive dated, detailed statements each time the vehicle is returned for repair.
 
 Step two: You must provide written notification of the defect to the manufacturer (not to your dealer), as long as it is disclosed in the warranty or owner s manual that such written notice is required. Send this notice via certified mail, return receipt requested. The letter should describe the problems you ve had with the vehicle, what attempts have been made to correct them, that you may have a claim under the Lemon Law, and whether you are requesting a replacement vehicle or a refund.
 
 We have drafted a letter and have a list of manufacturers  addresses you can use for this purpose.
 
 You may also contact the Consumer Protection Section of the Ohio Office of the Attorney General for the address of the manufacturer s regional office.
 
 Be sure to keep a copy of this letter for your records.
 

 Because the Ohio law has a restriction on recreational vehicles, I highlighted one are to look at.  You may need to talk to someone at the Attorney Generals office to clarify.

[mike4947]

 PopupSgt
Tim unfortunately like NY s law it s designed to cover only " motorized vehicles"  or portions of motorized recreational vehicles dealing with propulsion. Neither are designed to cover non motorized vehicles.
 Besides most of the laws only come into effect if the same problem, in the same location on the vehicle, comes up 3 or more times within a certian time span.

[Tim5055]

 PopupSgt
Mike I agree, the loopholes in most lemon laws are large enough to drive a class A through.
 

[mike4947]

 PopupSgt
Funny you should mention class A s, my aunt & uncle are involved in a disput over one of Fleetwood s finest class A s right now. Since in only involves not being able to live in it, not drive it the law doesn t apply.

[wahoonc]

 mike4947

 

ORIGINAL:  mike4947
 
 Funny you should mention class A s, my aunt & uncle are involved in a disput over one of Fleetwood s finest class A s right now. Since in only involves not being able to live in it, not drive it the law doesn t apply.
 

 Gee funny how FLEETWOOD S name would popup(pun intended) with a defective vehicle thread![:@]
 
 Popupsgt,
 Glad to see you have got the ball rolling, at least you are getting some results in the beginning. Make sure you document EVERYTHING! including phone calls and coverstations. Also if you take pictures, and you should, use a film camera not digital.
 
 Aaron[]
 

[debbiedee1957]

 PopupSgt
Just reading this thread about your continuing problems with your new camper []Terrible, terrible, terrible! Let all of us know if you need more letters to be written on your behalf or a petition, whatever you think may assist you.  No matter what they do to fix that mess of a brake system you are now always going to be tense driving (that s a shame since camping is supposed to be a fun time).  Plus your new camper is tainted in your mind...terrible to expend sooooo much $$$$, and have it be such a disappointment.
 Just mainly wanted to let you know that I feel for you guys, if that helps at all []
 I would push REAL HARD for your money back or a completly NEW camper with electric brakes.
 

[Ab Diver]

 PopupSgt
PopupSgt, while I am stumbling onto this thread a little late, I am very glad that neither your family nor anybody else was hurt during your excursions into " Extreme Towing" . Hopefully, you will have made some progress towards rectifying this situation with your dealer.  The responsibility would seem to lie solely with them, and Jayco, for selling you a trailer with a defective, although distinctly vital, safety component.  
 
 I doubt very much if the dealership s owner would be willing to take a ride with you and your new trailer as your Safari tows it down the freeway in the trailer s current condition. Have you thought of inviting him and his family for a ride after it s once again " fixed" , with the stopping point of the journey being just in front of his dealership s front window? [] A video of his refusal to ride with you might be good evidence should you need to pursue this further through the legal system. One person I know actually used this technique to have the two engines of his airplane completely replaced when the owner of a gas company sold him some bad gas and only wanted to " rebuild"  the airplane s motors . When the video camera came out, the gas dealer suddenly decided on the spot it was better to replace the engines with new ones than fly his family to Tahoe with " rebuilt"  motors.
 
 Hope the situation works out for you, and soon. That s a wonderful trailer you ve purchased. May it bring you many years of happy camping!

[PopupSgt]

 wahoonc
Thanks for all the warm support & I wanted to give somewhat of an update at this time.
 Of course the dealer has the camper and haven t heard a word but did inform the service manager of the dealership that I wanted Jayco involved and insisted that point to him.  Also I informed him that Ohio s State Attorney General was involved in this matter.
 Jayco called my house on Friday around 3:30p.m. but I was at the AF Base & the wife was out with the kids.  The warranty service mgr wanted me to call him back at my earliest convenience.  Of course when I tried to call them they were closed so will call first thing on Monday.  
 Again thanks for all the kind and warm support, I feel that I don t think the dealer will take the camper back but I am very persistent on the brake system replacement.  Guess we ll see.

[PopupSgt]

 wahoonc
Okay update so far.  I called Jayco this morning to Henry of the warranty service group, he was away so left v/m to call me at home.  Henry had originally called me on Friday the 11th.  Henry called me back about 2 hrs later & wanted to go into detail about what has happened.  
 I explained to him the entire event & the failure upon leaving the eastern rally.  I expressed to him that I wanted the surge system removed and replaced with the electric brake system due to lost of confidence in the surge system after twice failure.  He understood my lost of confidence in the product (at least he seemed that way over the phone).  
 He was going to call my dealer and discuss with them the matter (I guess in more detail) and return a phone call to me today with an update.  Haven t heard from my dealer since my camper was picked up on the 10th.  I will update as I know from Jayco []