Hi, Has anyone out there had any warranty issues with Windsor caravans? Purchased a new Windsor Genesis GC638s which we collected in June. Has some issues with minor things but mostly with gas hot water system. We have experienced reluctance from anyone to get these issues fixed under warranty. Has anyone had similar problems?
Terro said
07:18 PM Nov 9, 2010
Not really my area of expertise. Does the hot water system have a separate warranty from the manufacturer? Most of the added items in a van are guaranteed this way, fridge, micro wave etc. All the best.
Terro.
william the third said
11:58 PM Nov 9, 2010
I was about to set off in my new coromal van today and guess what? The bloody fridge doesn't work on power or gas. So it's back to the dealer first thing in the morning. Hopefully it's something simple and i can get on my way on thursday.
VHW said
12:24 AM Nov 10, 2010
Jeepers, whatever happened to quality control and customer service and aren't they supposed to check and test all these things out prior to or at handover to the client?
As you know Windsor and Coromal are owned by Fleetwood so perhaps they need to get their act together.
Hope you get your vans fixed ok and are able to get on with your trips !
-- Edited by VHW on Wednesday 10th of November 2010 12:25:59 AM
ozjohn said
07:09 AM Nov 10, 2010
Accessories are covered by the accessory manufacturer. If you ordered and purchased your van from a dealer then your contact is with the dealer and it's their responsibility to make good on warranty claims. It's up to the dealer to put the claim into the accessory supplier on your behalf. Good, caring dealers who want repeat business will bend over backwards to remedy most problems, but some others really couldn't care less and will shirk their responsibility at every chance. Following reports on other forums it would appear that trying to get Fleetwood to do anything can be a frustrating experience. Although I must say Windsors reputation on warranty issues has generally been better than Coromal. By law the product purchased must be "Fit for Purpose". Go back to the dealer and winge, whine and remind the dealer of their leagal responsibility. As a last resort threaten to take the matter further. Best of luck, Cheers, ozjohn.
Coakley said
10:11 AM Nov 11, 2010
Thanks OZjohn,
I did contacted Coast to CoastRV who distribute the suburban gas water system in Australia. I spoke with a company rep in Sydney by phone. He troubleshooted the problem and said it was most likely a failed tempering valve. Took it to a service agent suggested by the dealer (Ipswich Caravans) in Nerang. They replaced the tempering valve (under warranty) which solved the issue for about One week. The same problem occurred in that the gas hot water was heating in the boiler but not coming out of the taps in the van. Again contacted Ipswich Caravans and Windsor about that problem and other minor issues. The dealer advised that windsor suggested taking the van to the closest Service agent as per their instruction book! (Thanks for your caring attitude). This we did, contacting a service agent in Port Macquarie, They checked out the problem and confirmed that it was a tempering valve issue. They suggested they contact Windsor for permission to repair under warranty. As it would take a few days to get the part and we were travelling further north they suggested we take it to their workshop in Ballina. When after a week I contacted the service agent I they told me Windsor had denied any warranty work stating that tempering valves don't fail! This after two Windsor recommended service agents have said it was the tempering valve! Even more baffling was the refusal to fix a small shelf that hadn't had the correct number of supporting lugs fitted in the manufacture process! In desparation we have had the tempering valve bypassed which has solved our problem but has cost us money. Will persue thorugh the dealership and attempt to get our money back that we paid for a five year extended warranty, as this is obviously not worth the paper it is written on. Thanks for your reply Keith
william the third said
12:15 PM Nov 11, 2010
I'm on the road again.It was the piezo ignition that was faulty. fixed in half an hour. Mandurah rv were very apologetic and said they were going to give the factory a blast. As for the power not working on the fridge, apparently i was a bit impatient. It tates a few hours to cool.
Cruising Granny said
05:15 PM Nov 11, 2010
I'm glad everything has sort of worked out ok.
Why is it these dealers carry these products but don't honour the warranty?
They handball everything to the manufacturer.
The caravan builder uses appliances from Dometic, Electrolux or wherever but don't honour the warranties they promote.
What did happen to customer service? What did happen to public relations?
Well folks, word of mouth is the best OR worst form of advertising.
Just spread the word.
This applies to everything we experience. Whether buying something, staying somewhere or whatever. Spread the word!
VHW said
10:03 PM Nov 11, 2010
Cruising Granny wrote:
I'm glad everything has sort of worked out ok. Why is it these dealers carry these products but don't honour the warranty? They handball everything to the manufacturer. The caravan builder uses appliances from Dometic, Electrolux or wherever but don't honour the warranties they promote. What did happen to customer service? What did happen to public relations? Well folks, word of mouth is the best OR worst form of advertising. Just spread the word. This applies to everything we experience. Whether buying something, staying somewhere or whatever. Spread the word!
I agree CG, although the appliances are in most cases covered under warranty, if an item in a new caravan has not been tested and fails from the word go, then the selling caravan dealer should fix it up, replacing the faulty appliance and requesting a replacement for the faulty item from the applicance manufacturer. And whose to say that it hasn't been fitted properly by the caravan manufacturer in the first place, including connections/pipes etc? Too much buck passing for my liking, they get your money then try to pass the buck. Glad Billy had a decent dealer who did the right thing.
-- Edited by VHW on Thursday 11th of November 2010 10:04:50 PM
edward 1959 said
06:48 PM Mar 10, 2012
We have a windsor 638s and have had nothing but greif from both the dealer and windsor itself.We have had a great amount of issues. With the warranty running out this week we have been ignored or flogged off.Tanks are had to fill, there is a water leak in 1 tank, front window winder is broken will not work correctly.One of the gaurds are crazed. When we picked up the van from the dealer it was dirty and not detailed correctly dented in several spots.The fold down table used as a second bed is designed so poorly it cannot be used as the infill is lower than the seat pillows.
_wombat_ said
09:22 PM Mar 10, 2012
edward 1959 wrote:
We have a windsor 638s and have had nothing but greif from both the dealer and windsor itself.We have had a great amount of issues. With the warranty running out this week we have been ignored or flogged off.Tanks are had to fill, there is a water leak in 1 tank, front window winder is broken will not work correctly.One of the gaurds are crazed. When we picked up the van from the dealer it was dirty and not detailed correctly dented in several spots.The fold down table used as a second bed is designed so poorly it cannot be used as the infill is lower than the seat pillows.
edward 1959, this topic is over 12 months old so can I suggest you start a new topic.
Having said that even though your warranty is about to run out you still have statutory rights after your warrenty runs out, ph 1300 555 727 ACCC and seek their advice.
oh and welcome to the site
Geoff n Jen said
04:17 PM Mar 11, 2012
Coakley wrote:
Hi, Has anyone out there had any warranty issues with Windsor caravans? Purchased a new Windsor Genesis GC638s which we collected in June. Has some issues with minor things but mostly with gas hot water system. We have experienced reluctance from anyone to get these issues fixed under warranty. Has anyone had similar problems?
That would be us The intake of air in the gas heater is not sufficient apparently - the gas man fixed this along with a few other relatively minor issues, but I did write an un-ignorable letter to Windsor directly and they have covered everything. You need to call Hellen @ Windsor 0399304915 or email helenc@winsorcaravans.com.au . don't want to bag windsor we are happy, but we are still not finished getting the minor leak in our shower combination fixed, but it happens at the end of this month even though now out of warranty. Best advise is to go on at least one week holiday to really find all things you are unhappy with and put it in writing-keep copies of all correspondance lets us know if you want more info on our exp. kind regards
-- Edited by Geoff n Jen on Sunday 11th of March 2012 04:19:32 PM
_wombat_ said
12:26 AM Mar 12, 2012
good info there GnJ, especially about 'put it in writing-keep copies of all correspondance'
Has anyone out there had any warranty issues with Windsor caravans? Purchased a new Windsor Genesis GC638s which we collected in June. Has some issues with minor things but mostly with gas hot water system. We have experienced reluctance from anyone to get these issues fixed under warranty. Has anyone had similar problems?
Terro.
As you know Windsor and Coromal are owned by Fleetwood so perhaps they need to get their act together.
Hope you get your vans fixed ok and are able to get on with your trips !
-- Edited by VHW on Wednesday 10th of November 2010 12:25:59 AM
If you ordered and purchased your van from a dealer then your contact is with the dealer and it's their responsibility to make good on warranty claims.
It's up to the dealer to put the claim into the accessory supplier on your behalf.
Good, caring dealers who want repeat business will bend over backwards to remedy most problems, but some others really couldn't care less and will shirk their responsibility at every chance.
Following reports on other forums it would appear that trying to get Fleetwood to do anything can be a frustrating experience.
Although I must say Windsors reputation on warranty issues has generally been better than Coromal.
By law the product purchased must be "Fit for Purpose".
Go back to the dealer and winge, whine and remind the dealer of their leagal responsibility. As a last resort threaten to take the matter further.
Best of luck,
Cheers, ozjohn.
I did contacted Coast to CoastRV who distribute the suburban gas water system in Australia. I spoke with a company rep in Sydney by phone. He troubleshooted the problem and said it was most likely a failed tempering valve. Took it to a service agent suggested by the dealer (Ipswich Caravans) in Nerang. They replaced the tempering valve (under warranty) which solved the issue for about One week.
The same problem occurred in that the gas hot water was heating in the boiler but not coming out of the taps in the van. Again contacted Ipswich Caravans and Windsor about that problem and other minor issues. The dealer advised that windsor suggested taking the van to the closest Service agent as per their instruction book! (Thanks for your caring attitude).
This we did, contacting a service agent in Port Macquarie, They checked out the problem and confirmed that it was a tempering valve issue. They suggested they contact Windsor for permission to repair under warranty. As it would take a few days to get the part and we were travelling further north they suggested we take it to their workshop in Ballina. When after a week I contacted the service agent I they told me Windsor had denied any warranty work stating that tempering valves don't fail! This after two Windsor recommended service agents have said it was the tempering valve! Even more baffling was the refusal to fix a small shelf that hadn't had the correct number of supporting lugs fitted in the manufacture process!
In desparation we have had the tempering valve bypassed which has solved our problem but has cost us money. Will persue thorugh the dealership and attempt to get our money back that we paid for a five year extended warranty, as this is obviously not worth the paper it is written on. Thanks for your reply Keith
-- Edited by VHW on Thursday 11th of November 2010 10:04:50 PM
edward 1959, this topic is over 12 months old so can I suggest you start a new topic.
Having said that even though your warranty is about to run out you still have statutory rights after your warrenty runs out, ph 1300 555 727 ACCC and seek their advice.
oh and welcome to the site
That would be us
The intake of air in the gas heater is not sufficient apparently - the gas man fixed this along with a few other relatively minor issues, but I did write an un-ignorable letter to Windsor directly and they have covered everything. You need to call Hellen @ Windsor 0399304915 or email helenc@winsorcaravans.com.au . don't want to bag windsor we are happy, but we are still not finished getting the minor leak in our shower combination fixed, but it happens at the end of this month even though now out of warranty. Best advise is to go on at least one week holiday to really find all things you are unhappy with and put it in writing-keep copies of all correspondance lets us know if you want more info on our exp. kind regards
-- Edited by Geoff n Jen on Sunday 11th of March 2012 04:19:32 PM
good info there GnJ, especially about 'put it in writing-keep copies of all correspondance'