What's "normal" for a new Coachmen?

[kerry53406]

This being my first new Class A and the first Diesel anything I've ever owned, I'm seeking opinions from the more experienced as to whether my early experience is ordinary or out of the ordinary.
In April 2025, I bought a new (not pre-owned) 2024 Sportscoach Diesel pusher from a dealer. In the first 3 months of ownership, it's had around two dozen issues requiring correction, ranging from minor to serious, and has already exceeded the 30 days out of service (in possession of a repair facility and thus no available for use) and other factors that would qualify it for a Lemon Law claim. Here's a list of the most significant:
1. CO/LP detector inoperative on delivery; DC power was hardwired reverse polarity.
2. Solar panel not charging house battery; incoming power from panel to controller wired reverse polarity (AND opposite from the normal red-positive and white-negative convention).
3. Fresh water tank read FULL even when tank is dead empty; wired wrong. (I'm detecting a pattern here.)
4. Generator Auto'start does not start generator when air conditioner thermostat call for cooling (or heating via heat pump). Dealer said they found a software module not enabled--but apparently didn't test it as it still doesn't work. (Would it be unreasonable for me to suspect a wiring problem?)
5. First trip out, a wheel seal blew and soaked the right front brakes with oil, requiring several days in the repair facility.
6. The engine developed a coolant leak; two fittings were cracked, requiring 4 days in the shop.
7. Cab ventilator control non-functional at one speed position, had to be replaced.
8. Headlights poorly aimed; high-beams provide zero road-level lighting, and no one can tell me whether the low-beam lamps should be staying on when the high-beams are on. (And the dealer tells me they aren't capable of adjusting them.)
9. Entry door will not, from inside, engage second stage of the 2-stage latch, despite dealer adjustment.
10. Passenger-side window in cab nearly impossible to open (actually impossible for my wife). Dealer says they've tried every manufacturer suggestion to no avail. (Although one of those suggestions was to replace the widow and I have doubts about whether they tried that.)
11. Bathroom door would not reliably latch nor remain closed during travel. (This one, at least, appears to be fixed.
12. Coach sat immobile in my driveway for a week due to total loss of chassis battery power. (Jacks were down and no one could tell me how to retract them without power, so it couldn't even be towed.) No manufacturer-authorized mobile tech was available for at least three weeks; Coachmen's factory service manager helped me troubleshoot to a failed chassis battery disconnect switch; they shipped a replacement to my dealer and persuaded the dealer to make an exception and come out to replace it.
13. Locking latches on the rear hood (engine fluids access) jammed and inoperable (at least in tbe unlocked position so I have access!). Still awaiting parts for that.

So, there you have a PARTIAL list. And all in the first 90-100 days of ownership. If there's a (meaningful) post-manufacture quality inspection, this thing CANNOT have gone through it. Besides all that, many component manuals were missing. And, despite the manufacturer's claim that all of them are available electronically on the owners' page of their website, several were absent even from there. I'd love to hear from anyone whether this is typical, or way beyond the pale. Either way, this has not been a positive introduction to the brand. Thanks!

 

[John&Andrea]

We had our share of issues in 2021 after taking possession of or Concord in January. After many calls to Coachman we got our coach back to them in June of 2022. We were out of warranty but I figured they knew we had an inferior product so the got us in. I made my list of items , a slide off track was the big one.
They did a good job on the items. We were back to the shop in March of this year , another slide and all went well. This was a pay trip. I will include a list of contacts. You may need to call, speak to the receptionist and get the manager’s contact over you CS contact. I called many times and finally got in ( back in 2022). You need to get back to the factory.

Sportscoach SRS Contacts - Coachmen RV

Contact Sportscoach SRS representatives.

coachmenrv.com

 

[AbdRahim]

My Forester had to go back to the factory, as well. Funny how the warranty part of the factory does a far superior job of rebuilding the coach, than the original build. Perhaps factories need to slow down, take less profit, and put out better products the first time.

 

[kerry53406]

We had our share of issues in 2021 after taking possession of or Concord in January. After many calls to Coachman we got our coach back to them in June of 2022. We were out of warranty but I figured they knew we had an inferior product so the got us in. I made my list of items , a slide off track was the big one.
They did a good job on the items. We were back to the shop in March of this year , another slide and all went well. This was a pay trip. I will include a list of contacts. You may need to call, speak to the receptionist and get the manager’s contact over you CS contact. I called many times and finally got in ( back in 2022). You need to get back to the factory.

Sportscoach SRS Contacts - Coachmen RV

Contact Sportscoach SRS representatives.

coachmenrv.com

Thanks, and factory service is being arranged on some items. But my focus is not on how to get service, but on whether this is an abnormally high number of defects this early in the vehicle's life, or if RV manufacturing quality is routinely this shoddy.

 

[John&Andrea]

For me hard to say, how many is too many. We had several issues as well. My focus was always getting it right.
We had a small water leak while using the fresh tank and pump in 2024. I found the issue and repaired. The hose clamp they put on was completely missed the fitting. Easy fix and we found it three years later. So things may show up later.
If you have an appointment to get service at the factory you are in business. Give them a good list. I hope that gets you on track.

 

[kerry53406]

My Forester had to go back to the factory, as well. Funny how the warranty part of the factory does a far superior job of rebuilding the coach, than the original build. Perhaps factories need to slow down, take less profit, and put out better products the first time.

Your phrasing suggests shoddy workmanship is the expected norm among RV market consumers. Frankly, I don't think slowing down and producing better quality would reduce profits--it would increase them, for two reasons.
First, the quality builder would gain a market reputation for that, and customers would beat a path to their dealers' doors.
Second, improved quality MIGHT actually allow a price decrease. When I was in a manufacturing environment (medical equipment), someone once produced a chart about when problems are found and fixed, and their resultant costs of correction. I don't remember it in complete detail, but it went something like: Fix it in concept, a penny. Fix it by adjusting design, a buck. Fix it in implementation, ten bucks. Fix it during manufacturing, a hundred bucks. Fix it after build before shipment (post-build inspection/quality control checks), a thousand bucks. Fix it in the field, ten grand.
Thanks for chiming in.