Tips, Advice On RV Recalls

Above, at Campland On The Bay during the San Diego recall trip. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I bought my 2015 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R, I had to deal with two recalls with it.

The first one was a possible defect with the house door lock. I took the motorhome down to La Mesa RV in San Diego (where I bought it) for an inspection and/or needed repairs. We made the trip into a fun one. We stayed at Campland On The Bay (it was a disappointment) the night before the appointment time. The matter at La Mesa RV was done before we even finished breakfast, so we headed over to Sea World for the rest of the day. That wasn't a disappointment.

The other recall I had to deal with was with the Kidde fire extinguisher that came with the RV. It was one of the recalled models and it was replaced. No muss, no fuss.

The topic of recalls is covered in an article at RV Travel.

They begin it with:

FOMO stands for Fear of Missing Out. The world of recalls is one place where missing out is a real risk.

Recalls of any product can be a pain in the neck as well as a pain in the pocketbook. Yet to RV travelers, these notifications are also an important warning that your travels, and even your life, might be in danger.

It’s always good to know that the product is defective before you find out the hard way. It’s also a nuisance that takes a bite out of your RV timetable. If you’re lucky, you get an email or letter telling you that something you own has been recalled. If you’re diligent, you check for recall information on a regular basis of your choice and learn of recalls that might apply to you.

What comes next can be a real headache. When Kidde fire extinguishers were recalled a few years back, I spent an hour rounding up all my fire extinguishers from the house, car, RV, garage, and boat. It took hours to find and copy off the model and serial numbers, and then fill out forms online. With foods, you have to go to the pantry and freezer to check dates, UPC’s and other codes. It’s better-safe-than-sorry time. It may also be an opportunity to get a full refund, a replacement, a coupon for a discount on your next purchase, or even a settlement in dollars.

Vehicle recalls can mean hours in a dealership’s waiting room while repairs are being made. Recalls of smaller items might require shipping the product to a special address. Even if shipping is at the manufacturer’s expense, you have to go online to print out paperwork and a shipping label, then box up the product and return it. In the case of some foods and other small items, it’s easier just to throw it away, chalk it up to experience, and be satisfied that you were prevented from using a defective food or product.

 To read more, go here.