RV Lemon

On Feburary 5,2002 I purchased another Four Winds International Corps. Hurricane Motorhome from a Dealer in Pa. At the time I picked the unit up I was assured I would have no leaks in this unit.

I left Williamsport,PA   and headed south, stopping in VA. , NC, SC, and GA.About 850 miles.  We stopped for the night in valdostas, GA and early morning a heavy rain came up. The unit leaked at every window and the living room to the bathroom floor was soaked with about a 11/2 inch of water.

The factory was contacted and waas told to go to Gulf Breeze, FL. Went to Gulf Breeze and the service department kept the unit for 29 days. Only had about 1100 miles on unit and no one offered tto find us a place to stay or even offered to reemburse our cost for the 29 day stay.

 

  After returning home in Aug 2002, I again contacted the Consumer Protection Office, Filed a complaint with no avail. Contacted my lawyer and again all talk and the problems not solved so I decided to go on the World Wide Web. I bought a domain name RVLEMON and had a web page designed.

In Jan 2003 I received a letter from the  dealers Attorney advising me to close the web page within 14 days or they would proceed with legal action.

In Feb 2003 received the second letter from the dealers Attorney he was advising his client to proceed with the injunction and also seek financial damages.

Throughout the remainder to 2003 the windows and slider leak during rainstorms have been to numerous repair shops and back to the factory in Jan 2004 for repairs. In Feb 2004 the warranty expired. Now What. Unit has 10344 miles on it and 3000 miles are for repair. It is a shame I cannot enjoy my retirement traveling in my $80000.00 Motor home.

 

In 2004 a lawsuit was filed in Lycoming County, Williamsport, PA

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2002 hurricane 33sl
New hurricane
2002 hurricane 33sl VIN # 1fcmf53s110a13934
Date of purchase: 02/05/02
Dealer in  Pa
Mileage 575


Repair Orders


Repair 02/18/02
Dealer in,Pa

Furnace blower runs all the time
Found to be time delay on board stuck, tapped relay and tested several times.


Repair: 02/19/02

Dealer inPa                                                                                                                                            
Repair to refrigerator, not working


Repair: 03/06/02
Emerald coast rv center

Mileage: 2309
Windows leak
Rear hitch measured for clearance - Measured 7 3/4 - 8" - Did not meet spec
Rear end drags
Automatic levelers not functioning


Repair: 03/11/02
Hub City Ford, Inc.

Mileage: 2367
Low in rear, hitch drags
Heat control switch wont turn completely off.
Tried to say unit with tow trailer was over weight
Have scale ticket to show entire unit is under weight


Emerald Coast RV Center

Mileage: 3537
Unit was turned back over to owner on 05/09/02
Rear chassis drags
Driver side window leaks
Front dash squeaks
Drivers side floor vent is hanging loose over the
Accelerator pedal.
Vents in dash are loose
Leveling jack system is not functioning
Handle on refrigerator is loose
Dash a/c drips water on driver's feet
Checked for water leak by awning and found bad fabric
Roof a/c will not work with isiai on audio
Roof a/c will not switch from front to rear
Slide out is leaving marks on carpet.
Washer spray nozzles are broken
Window valance on the forward side over the table needs moved.
Pump for the slide out is leaking fluids in the compartment.
Entry door window has leak
Rear hitch needed to measured
Out side exhaust vent on drivers side is loose and needs re-caulked
Checked slide out pump for a leak


Repair: 05/21/02
Stuarts alignment center

No mileage recorded
Repair and replace two rear springs


Repair: 06/14/02
Stuarts alignment center

No mileage recorded
Realign front end due to repair and replacement of
Springs caused by rear end dragging


Return to Pennsylvania after vacationing in July
And have had motor home parked ever since.



Repair:11/04/02-11/22/02
Four Winds International Corporation

Mileage: 5862
Pulled and sealed all windows
Rain tested 3 times - no problem found
Adjusted slide out and installed new butterfly seal and wipe seal
Installed new range hood vent
Installed one new day and one new night shade
Front end alignment - no problem found
Tested hot water temperature-122 degree- 1 set temp - no problem found
Checked water pump for noise - no problem found
Checked awning installed by dealer - no problem found
Insulated blower motor
Adjusted awning arms
Relocated thermostat sensor in roof A/C
Adjusted reefer drain hose
Checked vehicled for levelness - no problem found
Installed new dinette table
Adjusted wipe seal
Adjusted slide out arms


11/20/02 received call from Ron Dillen that the unit was ready for pickup
Went to pickup unit and ask to see the rain tank
After completeing line items 15 and 16 that they missed we proceeded to rain tank
Spent 15 minutes in rain tank and as we were pulling out found extensive water leak
at kitchen counter and sink coming from kitchen window
Installed new kitchen window
Cleaned glue off of wall inder left slide out window
Sublet to Moore's for alignment, done as customer courtesy - chassis issue
I have been informed to take unit to Ford Motor Truck Dealer to have
the steering checked because it wanders


11/23/02
1500 miles of the 5862 have been for repairs, actual usage is 4362 miles 

1/13/03 Attorney sent letter advising me to shut down my web page or face legal action

2/11/03 Website still running.  Received 2nd letter from the attorney they were going to proceed with the legal action.

2/28/03  website still running.

3/25/03 Informed Fourwinds windows still leaking.

5/2/03 Recall received from Ford Motor co. Brake indicator light installed in the wrong area of dash.

5/21/Dealer in Pa  done recall service

6/21/03 Slider leaking behind drivers seat and drivers  window leaking. Curtains stained, carpet soaked and moulding at the slider stained.

6/28/03 Fourwinds authorized Kimball's Rv Service to do repairs.

9/5/03Discussed water leaks with MKURTZ @4Winds.com and he stated my MH was out of warranty and leaks were related to manufacture design an the manufacture reconizes the limits of their products. Told them they should look for new product since I have had three and one half yeras of water leaks. Warranty is good till Feb 04.

9/11/03 Took MH to Brass Alignment in Williamsport PA to have rear checked because ti drags when going over bumps. Springs were not heavy enough to carry the load with the overhang being so far back behind the axle. Fourwinds authorized replacement of springs.

9/12/03 Left on vacation.

9/13/03 Ran into rain and found the slider leaking behind the drivers seat

9/29/03 Informed Fourwinds

10/1/03 Received call from Jerry Lawson at Fourwinds and he recommended I take MH to T&J Rv Service Center in Vandergrift PA 

10/13/03 T&J RvService Center realigned the slider and repaired damaged moulding behind the drivers seat.

11/28 MH parked and in a rain storm slider leaking behind drivers seat.

12/2/03 Contacted Fourwinds and they said to bring MH to Elkhart IN for factory service. Appoint set for 01/19/04

1/19/04 Left PA on 17th because of bad weather and arrived at Fourwinds evening of 18th. On AM 19th they took MH for service.
 1. Retighten A/C bolts

 2. Repaired leaking rear window and exit window.

 3. Slider leaking and they replaced wipe out seal and realigned.

 4.Repaired seal at doghouse.

 5. Checked roof for bubbles.

 6. Removed passingers side windshield. reinstalled properly and sealed. Was originally installed wrong.

 7. Tighten bolts on drivers chair.

 8. Cleaned and resealed all windows.

1/22/04 Again we have 3000 miles back and forth for repair out of 11000 miles diven.

2/28/04 Warranty expired. NOW WHAT.

8/1/04 Web page still running. Still waiting for my day in court.

Wanted to trade on a new MH different brand and found i would loose $38000.00.This tells me  what an overpriced item  this unit is.

9/9/04 While camped in western Pennsylvania we had the slider leak and got the sofa bed soaked. I was under the impression that the sliders were sealed tightly while open or closed. Look at the times the slider has leaked in this unit.  Mileage is 10941. 

10/25/04  When we raised the levers to return home, we found that water had leaked into the speaker compartment above the drivers side and water came pouring out of the crack where the overhead console is put together. Down over the dash and lever controls. Mileage 11000. Maybe I should build a garage for the Motorhome  and when i want to vacation go out there and sit in it and make believe I am traveling.

11/1/04 thru present....... Windows continue to leak so I opened my awnings so the windows are covered.  Middle of 05 we filed counter suit  against the dealer and manufacturer. On 19 September o6 the court dropped the suit against the dealer. We went forward against the manufacturer. On 20 September o6 the jury found in my favor. Final settlement will be forthcomming. 

10/5/06 Here it is 15 days after the jury awarded damages and Fourwinds refuses to settle. We had to file a petition to the courts requesting the court to order  Fourwinds to show just cause to why they have not settled.

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