Newmar quality tanking?

[Neal]

I'm hearing more and more reports of extreme dissatisfaction with what's coming out of Newmar. Very unhappy customers taking delivery and appointments already going out to the end of 2022 for warranty visits. I've heard problems started in 2019 and therefore warnings about buying used Newmars 2019 or later. Now it seems things have fallen to new lows and the question is why?

 

[MapNerd]

My two cents is that quality is tanking around the industry due to high demand, low supply and labor challenges.

That said, I think as long as Newmar stands behind their product and fixes what’s wrong as soon as it’s possible for them to do so, that’s probably the best experience you’re going to get from this industry. Even my 2020, delivered in October 2019 just before the world started to implode, had issues that required a total of three trips back to the factory to resolve. Still today not all issues are resolved and I still have open warranty incidents.

So yeah, I think their quality has taken a hit, but compared to the rest of the mass coach builders, I think it’s still better and the fact that they seem to keep owning their issues, we’ll after warranty expires leaves me pretty satisfied.

 

[FLSteve]

Well ... we are taking delivery of a 2022 Mountain Aire in about 45 days so will be able to give you a firsthand report after then.

FLSteve

 

[redbaron]

Well ... we are taking delivery of a 2022 Mountain Aire in about 45 days so will be able to give you a firsthand report after then.

FLSteve

Ditto...I plan on being very detailed in what is right and what is wrong

 

[Old-RV'er]

We took delivery in June 2019, as our year went along, more and more things popped up. That said, before warranty expired, took to mothership, they fixed all 39 items, and a few things was unaware of and did one computer station drawer modification for me. I was totally pleased with the level of work done and its successful outcome. Would I buy another RV, the answer to that is NO. With world upside down, millions of new RV owners who aint got a clue, impossible to get into parks, without making reservations 1 year out, the lifestyle is not for me. It's for sale. Like new. Newmar is owning the issues, so not worried until downturn, then problems might not be able to be addressed. Of all brands, aside from million-dollar upscale coaches, Newmar is better than most of them.

 

[FLSteve]

Ditto...I plan on being very detailed in what is right and what is wrong

@redbaron ... Glad you're up to bat first so I can use your findings to help me do mine.

 

[lostinfla]

This issue is precisely why I'm holding on to ours. I've sorted the issues over the 6 years of ownership. "Better the devil you know than the one you don't".

 

[Old Bubblehead]

I would think that most people have seen Brett Davis' note on the tracking and communication tool NIRVC is getting ready to go live with. In conversations with Brett, his data shows that Newmar quality (as measured by warranty claims/ magnitude) has been improving over the last year. I'm sure there are many reasons for this, not the least of which is probably the realization that warranty claim performance will soon be available to the market in a more visible way.

 

[Neal]

Deny all you want but Newmar is delivering some of the worst coaches I've ever seen in my time RVing (since 2017). Today on the Facebook Newmar Owners group a Dutch Star lost a GIRARD AWNING (faux cap it seems) while driving. Completely off the brackets as if it was never bolted on. Hopefully no one got hurt, they filed a report with the State Police. Another new delivery, a Ventana, is missing a window completely upon delivery to the dealer.

Keep raising those prices...

From Facebook:

 

[FL-JOE]

I suspect most things made during the height of Covid could have some issues. My 2021 Heartland 5th wheel had some pretty sloppy workmanship I had to work through. Most of it could be attributed to a new employee having zero training, for example the ice maker hooked up backwards.

The thing about Newmar is that even if they have some quality issues they will stand behind their coach even if it is after the original warranty. With Heartland it is like pulling teeth to even get to honor the warranty during the first year, after that if you call you basically get "now, who are you again......"