Sightseer 36Z Failures/Issues

[Ptalee2130]

We bought our 2016 36Z new and since we did a year's worth of research before choosing Winnebago and the 36Z model, we opted to purchase the extended warranty (big mistake) to cover the inevitable failures/issues that would arise as we began to use our new coach. What I'm trying to find out is if we are "typical" in the number and type of issues and failures we've experienced in the 4 years we've owned our coach. Here is a brief list of the
biggest failures we've experienced:

1. Bolt missing from the right rear sway bar causing the coach to lean noticeably. Blown off by the dealer as "the slide is just heavier on that side" until someone followed us off a freeway and crawled underneath to reveal the missing sway bar bolt - repaired under warranty.

Side Note: We ended up having heavy duty sway bars installed on both the front and rear along with a steering stabilizer making the coach much easier to drive on freeways and winding roads

2. Front driver's side slide-out control/power cable raceway disintegrated . . . twice - repaired under warranty.

3. Two leveling jacks failed leaking out all the hydraulic fluid and making them inoperable - repaired under warranty (but they failed to refill the reservoir)

4. Front fiberglass facia on passenger side came unglued from it's mounting points - extended warranty refused to pay for it even though it was a factory defect

5. Onan generator fuel pump failed after 350 hours of service - out of warranty repair

6. Onan generator carburetor failed and had to be replaced - out of warranty repair

7. Front AC unit failed (refrigeration cycle) and had to be replaced - out of warranty repair

8. Passenger side slide-out rear motor mount failed - out of warranty repair

Side note: It failed again 3 weeks later and 2 weeks into a 75 day RV tour with another couple in their rig. Got it back in but cutting our trip short to head to Forest City to have the factory repair it.

9. Residential refrigerator failing (won't go below 50 degrees F after working fine for 4 years) but the freezer is fine - will be yet another out of warranty repair

There have been about a dozen other smaller issues that were repaired either under warranty or by me and/or a mobile RV repair company. Again, I would love to know if this is "typical" for those of you who have owned a Winnebago Sightseer product or any other motorhome for that matter. I knew going into this it wouldn't be as reliable as a new car purchase but never thought I'd have to spend north of $10K of out of pocket repairs in 4 years of ownership. Thanks in advance for your responses.

[rk911]

we've had roughly 30-problems with our '16 itasca suncruiiser 38q.

[SuperGewl]

Well I do know that 31 on your lost is a Ford item. 3 years into the ownership of my MH I found the same issue, luckily I had already had a Roadmaster Aux Sway bar installed and it kept the OEM one from falling down to the ground. It cost me $30 to repair it, I had to get a new bracket from Ford. As far as the things that were out of warranty, I must ask why, did you not renew yours and then they broke? My warranty just ran out I renewed it for 1 more year and good thing I did because the jacks just went out and the pump assembly cost almost $3k. As far as the other issues I'm sorry you have had such bad luck, but just think now that you have repaired all of those things they, in theory, should be fine for a few years. What ever you do, DON't buy a new one yet. The ones out there now were built during the Pandemic and who knows the actual quality of them.
Good Luck and Godspeed. May the W be with you.

[onebrit]

Originally Posted by Ptalee2130

We bought our 2016 36Z new and since we did a year's worth of research before choosing Winnebago and the 36Z model, we opted to purchase the extended warranty (big mistake) to cover the inevitable failures/issues that would arise as we began to use our new coach. What I'm trying to find out is if we are "typical" in the number and type of issues and failures we've experienced in the 4 years we've owned our coach. Here is a brief list of the
biggest failures we've experienced:

1. Bolt missing from the right rear sway bar causing the coach to lean noticeably. Blown off by the dealer as "the slide is just heavier on that side" until someone followed us off a freeway and crawled underneath to reveal the missing sway bar bolt - repaired under warranty.

Side Note: We ended up having heavy duty sway bars installed on both the front and rear along with a steering stabilizer making the coach much easier to drive on freeways and winding roads

2. Front driver's side slide-out control/power cable raceway disintegrated . . . twice - repaired under warranty.

3. Two leveling jacks failed leaking out all the hydraulic fluid and making them inoperable - repaired under warranty (but they failed to refill the reservoir)

4. Front fiberglass facia on passenger side came unglued from it's mounting points - extended warranty refused to pay for it even though it was a factory defect

5. Onan generator fuel pump failed after 350 hours of service - out of warranty repair

6. Onan generator carburetor failed and had to be replaced - out of warranty repair

7. Front AC unit failed (refrigeration cycle) and had to be replaced - out of warranty repair

8. Passenger side slide-out rear motor mount failed - out of warranty repair

Side note: It failed again 3 weeks later and 2 weeks into a 75 day RV tour with another couple in their rig. Got it back in but cutting our trip short to head to Forest City to have the factory repair it.

9. Residential refrigerator failing (won't go below 50 degrees F after working fine for 4 years) but the freezer is fine - will be yet another out of warranty repair

There have been about a dozen other smaller issues that were repaired either under warranty or by me and/or a mobile RV repair company. Again, I would love to know if this is "typical" for those of you who have owned a Winnebago Sightseer product or any other motorhome for that matter. I knew going into this it wouldn't be as reliable as a new car purchase but never thought I'd have to spend north of $10K of out of pocket repairs in 4 years of ownership. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Hi having problems with a new unit isn't un common as I have had personal experience with this, I think extended warranties in general are not what they are cracked up to be as your still at the mercy of the dealer or repair shop and many times they put you on the back burner and leave you hanging around most of the time. However in your case it sounds like you did all the right things, at this point I think if you haven't already done It I would consult a attorney and see if you can get some compensation or a complete refund via the lemon law that exists.
Good Luck Sad to here such a bad experience RVing is supposed to be fun right !!
Onebrit

[rk911]

you're not alone. we've had 30 or so issues ranging from annoyances to major issues, virtually all of them out-of-warranty. i wrote a multi-page letter to Winnebago addrssed to the ceo and vp's detailimg our issues and they agreed to pick up some of the repairs. my opinion? ineffective or non-existent quality control and cheapened parts from suppliers.

[onebrit]

Originally Posted by rk911

you're not alone. we've had 30 or so issues ranging from annoyances to major issues, virtually all of them out-of-warranty. i wrote a multi-page letter to Winnebago addrssed to the ceo and vp's detailimg our issues and they agreed to pick up some of the repairs. my opinion? ineffective or non-existent quality control and cheapened parts from suppliers.

Your absolutely right when you say Winnebago have no zero quality control, it would have been impossible for my Coach to have left the factory had it been fully inspected, so clear and obvious problems as simple as a shelf installed 1,1/2" out of level would have made the beer mug slide to one side my wife pointed this one out. That's just a small example so many other issues that would have been found even by a sloppy inspector. Can't Imagine why a decent Company wouldn't want this stuff found and corrected before stressing out its customer's that have to fight tooth and nail to get them to do the right thing.
Pretty sad I think.

[puttin]

Ptalee2130,


First, sorry you've had such a bad time with the Sightseer. I hope that you'd be in the minority as far as the amount of trouble you've had. Our '08 Sightseer owner's experience is the opposite of yours. With the exception of a few minor repairs under the factory warrantee, we've had no unusual issues. I do most of my own work but there's been very little to do actually. The support I get from Winnebago has been great and I've found them to be very responsive. Our local dealer however has been the opposite. Again, I feel your pain and hope things get better for you.

[Ptalee2130]

Thanks for all the responses. I feel better that we’re not the only ones experiencing these issues. I can’t believe Winnebago can remain profitable given all the warranty repairs they have to absorb. It reminds me of the major US car manufacturers in the 70’s and 80’s. Coming off the assembly line they were classified as either having minor issues or major issues - none had no issues. That’s when foreign manufacturers like Toyota, Datsun and Honda came to the US and their build quality far surpassed the US cars causing their market share to shrink substantially and it’s never really recovered. I’m wondering when/if a “Toyota” like domestic manufacturer will arise and do the same to the industry. We can only hope :-)

[rk911]

Originally Posted by Ptalee2130

...It reminds me of the major US car manufacturers in the 70’s and 80’s. Coming off the assembly line they were classified as either having minor issues or major issues - none had no issues. That’s when foreign manufacturers like Toyota, Datsun and Honda came to the US and their build quality far surpassed the US cars causing their market share to shrink substantially and it’s never really recovered. I’m wondering when/if a “Toyota” like domestic manufacturer will arise and do the same to the industry. We can only hope :-)

the following numbers are US auto sales/shares of market for calendar 2019. If you count Chrysler as a domestic mfg the total market share between GM/Ford/Chrysler vs the rest gives the foreign mfgs a slight edge in total sales (50.56% to 49.44%). we all know that numbers can be managed to provide whatever conclusion is desired but there is no question that in total sales GM and Ford lead the pack. Just FYI.

source: https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2...to-sales-2019/

1...GM/2,887,046/19.00%
2...Ford/2,422,698/5.94%
3...Toyota-Lexus/2,383,349/5.68%
4...Fiat-Chrysler/2,203,663/14.50%
5...American Honda/1,608,170/10.58%
6...Nissan Group/1,345,681/8.85%
7...Subaru/700,117/4.61%
8...Hyundai/668,771/4.40%
9...Kia/615,338/4.05%
10...Volkswagen/363,322/2.39%

[Ptalee2130]

GM once had north of 50% of the market in North America and now they’re down to around 20%. If anything, the foreign cars coming to the US have raised the herd average of car quality through the years. Hope it works with the RV industry as well