2022 - Newmar Quality Call to Action

[redbaron]

In this post, I am going to show several examples of current production coaches being delivered to actual owners. I am intentionally not naming the dealers and or owners of the coach, as it is not my intent to get involved with a specific issue, but rather to discuss the overall quality of Newmar, and to make other new owners aware of poor construction. If you wish to name your coach, that is fine. Please do not name other people’s coaches. Also please refrain from naming the dealer, as the dealer is not responsible for the build and construction of the coach. This is a Newmar Corporate issue, and we need to all work together to get Newmar to listen to its owners.

It is time that we hold Newmar accountable for poor quality. If you have recently purchased a Newmar coach, or have one that is under the factory one year warranty -- you need to stand up and be heard.

Now is the time.

Please read my blog post on this subject located here:

2022 – Newmar Quality Call to Action

I am writing this post regarding the quality of Newmar coaches, and how the lack of quality control is currently affecting production. In this post, I am going to show several examples of current p…

newmarhoots.com

 

[redbaron]

The summary of my blog post has this Call to Action

We owe it to Newmar, the dealers, and to ourselves to make Newmar aware of the quality issues. The long-term damage that will come from acceptance of poorly manufactured RV’s will affect all of us. As owners of Newmar coaches, our investment will be lost if the product quality continues to drop. This affects us short term and long term.

Newmar has routinely increased pricing yearly, and recently multiple times per year. The justification for this increase is the additional hardships associated with labor and supply chain. For this reason alone, we must insist on the product that we are being delivered meets the very standard we have been promised.

There is a lot of power in numbers. I have personally proven this many times, most recently with the Freightliner Dash Recall that I was able to organize. It will not take long for Newmar to implement the very necessary quality control if they start seeing massive amounts customer complaints.

I think that most people have not taken the time to look for the problems that exist. Their assumption is the dealership or Newmar already did this, so it is not necessary for the customer.

The opposite is true. Only the customer is incentivized to complain. The dealer is in the middle, so they are not going to go looking for a problem. Newmar is already selling every coach they can manufacture, and they are behind on production due to supply chain. They are playing the odds game hoping that only 2% of all customers will notice these problems, and they are right. Many of the coaches that I have seen are owned by private persons already. They did not know they had a problem, and I was left struggling with how to handle the situation. Obviously, I want my coach perfect, but in the grand scheme, I want the overall quality of Newmar to remain superb.

This post is my solution to that dilemma. By documenting what you should look for, I am letting you find the issues for yourself. Once you find it, I implore you to document it and open a case with Newmar, not your dealer. Newmar needs to hear from its owners directly. They will coordinate with your local dealer for repairs.

Feel free to post your findings here. If you want information shared anonymously, send me a message and I can post additional findings. The goal is to make Newmar aware of the problems, so that it can be corrected.

 

[turbopilot]

I admire your initiative. I got my first (and only Newmar) in 2017. It took me a year to "finish the build". A few months after purchase I got one of those post purchase customer surveys. I totally unloaded on the poor lady who was a contractor. Two weeks later I got a call from New Aire "Specialist" at the factory. Same fellow whose name was on the sticker in the window at delivery. We went through the laundry list again. That was the last I heard from Newmar. They go through the actions of customer service and the proclaim the illusion of build quality but it is all a facade. Given the structure of the business and the current glut of orders I see zero chance anything will change.

Once I got the coach "finished" we a few good years with minor problems. But I am done with big, complex class A's. A machine that complex with so many systems must be built right. The pain is simply not worth the gain.

 

[redbaron]

I have had experience in the past with Newmar. They are slow to respond, but persistence and overwhelming supportive evidence has always worked for me.

I have heard your experience along with many others. It almost appears as though there is a spinning wheel as to who is going to win---the customer or newmar. I seem to spin a win each time, as do many people. Then there are others, like yourself, that seem to spin a loss every time.

It is for this reason that I am publishing my process for finding flaws and educating others as to what should not be accepted.

Quality is slipping fast at Newmar.

Owners of older coaches, such as yourself, cannot actively particpiate with this call to action since there is no longer a warranty for Newmar. You will benefit from this action though, as the resale value of your coach will be preserved, and if you choose to purchase a new newmar in the future, the quality will be improved.

 

[turbopilot]

I have had experience in the past with Newmar. They are slow to respond, but persistence and overwhelming supportive evidence has always worked for me.

I have heard your experience along with many others. It almost appears as though there is a spinning wheel as to who is going to win---the customer or newmar. I seem to spin a win each time, as do many people. Then there are others, like yourself, that seem to spin a loss every time.

It is for this reason that I am publishing my process for finding flaws and educating others as to what should not be accepted.

Quality is slipping fast at Newmar.

Owners of older coaches, such as yourself, cannot actively particpiate with this call to action since there is no longer a warranty for Newmar. You will benefit from this action though, as the resale value of your coach will be preserved, and if you choose to purchase a new newmar in the future, the quality will be improved.

I sold mine a few months ago. New owner is having a good experience so far. I did a good job finishing it. The biggest issue for the New Aire and many of the new coaches is that they are all electric. An all electric coach with the worlds worst electrical system quality control is a potent mix.

 

[sheridany]

There is a reason I went to a different brand not because I could nor did I really want to because I figured out how to work with Newmar and they stepped up and did me right many times.

I had a new coach on order last year and after reading and seeing so many quality issues, some so basic, I walked from the deal. Of course not every coach has issues but a lot more do than in the times past. It’s one thing when you are working the kinks out in the first year and another when it is blatant poor quality that stares you in the face after you just signed the papers. I lost faith in Newmar despite my positive experience with the second one I had. I truly hope Newmar turns this around after hearing your voices loud and clear.

 

[FLSteve]

@redbaron ... as a person that currently has a new coach on order, I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. It has certainly opened my eyes and I will do my part to try and push this along once I take delivery. To date my overall experience with Newmar has been a good one, but it has taken some effort and staying on top of things as they go through the system.

FLSteve

 

[Neemer]

Perhaps I have a unicorn, but I have had none of the issues reported. I believe that is in part because I did FPU and had an outstanding tech prepare my coach for delivery. I’m seven months into ownership and have nothing to return to Napanee for at this point. I will be doing a few months of continuous travel over the winter, so perhaps something will surface that I am presently unaware of.

 

[turbopilot]

So much of the ownership experience is context. There were some great discussions on the other forum as I struggled through the first year of ownership while other Newmar owners reported no major issues. My experience was the worst mix of misery. The coach was delivered in California far from the mothership, so a return to the factory was not feasible. My local Newmar dealer is reported to be worst dealer in the country. I could not deal with them. The nearest FreightLiner dealer was 100 miles away in the congested LA basin and they would not take appointments. I was on my own. So that situation amplified every new problem I discovered. I could see how someone living close to the factory with good local dealer and Freightliner support could have a different experience. But as @redbaron stated it all starts with build quality control. You really don't need a good local dealer or Freightliner if the bus never breaks.

 

[redbaron]

@turbopilot we have posted for years about quality. Many of us have taken the time to improve and fix the problems on our own.

for both my 2013 and 2019, I paid for FPU. For both I spent 4+ weeks each time at the factory the first year, and 3+ weeks the 2nd year, just to get the coach dialed in.

Even with all of that work, I still had to personally fix the wiring issues, the Girard Awning issues (missing lock nuts), and live with problematic designs of the tank sensor, and various other items.

I love the RV life. It is a hobby for me, it is a fun way to travel, and it is a great way to meet people. I found myself in a position where I could buy another brand, but decided that the London Aire would be a perfect fit.

I am almost to the point of regretting the decision to purchase a newmar. The quality is pathetic. It is deplorable. It is offensive. Having said all of that, it is still much better than Entegra. There are many other areas I could pick on Newmar. Electrical, Plumbing, Appliances, etc. There is a lot that needs to be done with the coach, but the core of what Newmar is should never so poorly delivered as it is today. I dare say if this is not corrected, the brand is going to lose value very quickly.

I am going to continue with my purchase of the 2022 London Aire. I am going to persist and insist on perfect paint, cabinet, and structure, and I know I will end up with it.

I struggled with how to proceed with this post, as I do not want it to be a negative post, or Newmar bashing. At the same time we cannot ignore the problem.

I hope that by raising consumer awareness, we will raise newmar awareness. I am sure there is someone within Nappanee that has been asking for changes, but has been overruled by the accounting department. I am asking all new owners to help make Newmar aware of the problem, and ensure that Matt Millers vision is delivered.