Brand new motorhome gone totally wrong after 6 days!

Talitha

Free Member
Joined
May 10, 2019
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Funster No
60,737
MH
van conversion
We traded in our old MH and bought a brand new Autotrail V-Line 634 sport. On the first day our problems began when the reverse camera failed. (there were other small issues too). Yesterday evening we went out for a run in it and it conked out and we managed to make it home at a snail pace. We contacted the dealer who said we should call Fiat assist, basically letting us sort it our ourselves. Surely the dealer should take responsibility? Or the company that built it? It's such a disappointment!
 
Phone Fiat Professional Service Centre and get it booked in. They are very good at sorting out Fiat problems. They have all the kit and will get you back on the road far quicker than waiting for the Dealer. You could of course reject it within 30 days and buy another make.

We had a small oil leak from the turbo because the wrong part had been fitted. Took them 2 days to sort it most of which was waiting for parts from Fiat in Italy which included a new turbo.

There is a Facebook page you could join. Unhappy Autotrail Owners lots of advice and people getting really irritable about faults.

Ps Dont upset your Dealer .. Unless you can find another Dealer who will look after you.
 
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Must just be me ... and whilst I agree its a fiat issue with the limp mode etc the op
said they had a few other issues as well..

I'd be inclined to take the van back to the dealer who is ultimately responsible ..and let them sort all the issues...including the fiat related ones... then go back and pick the van from then when they say it's sorted..
Whatever you do I hope its all easily and quickly done..
I had similar with some minor ford related issues on a chausson.. the dealer said I should chase it up with ford.. I politely declined and told them to sort it as they had the van for a week....

Andy
 
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Interesting responses on here. For me it seems if your base vehicle needs something which costs you money the dealer is happy to get involved... cam belts, servicing, tyres, MOT's etc. Once the shoe is on the other foot and it's they who have to do the donkey work and possibly hand over some cash or fix a problem for free they don't want to know.

The whole industry needs a complete overhaul. 90% of customers have more product knowledge than the dealerships.

Maybe it's time to move on, they'll only get worse as they use cheaper materials to keep payloads down... I've been thinking of a narrowboat for while now.
 
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Minor problems or not, I’d feel just like you and be overwhelmingly disappointed after spending so much money.
I hope you can get it all sorted and set off somewhere beautiful to start again.

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Interesting responses on here. For me it seems if your base vehicle needs something which costs you money the dealer is happy to get involved... cam belts, servicing, tyres, MOT's etc. Once the shoe is on the other foot and it's they who have to do the donkey work and possibly hand over some cash or fix a problem for free they don't want to know.

The whole industry needs a complete overhaul. 90% of customers have more product knowledge than the dealerships.

Maybe it's time to move on, they'll only get worse as they use cheaper materials to keep payloads down... I've been thinking of a narrowboat for while now.

You think MHing is expensive wait till you get to boating. We kept a yacht at Burnham on Crouch. Needed lifting out for a 10 minute repair. £200 sir and I had to do the repair myself. £3000 a year to keep it in a Marina. £6000+ in the Solent. MHs are cheap by comparison. Only difference is that the Uk boats that are build are of a far superior quality to the British built crap that they call Motorhomes.
 
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No more replies from the op
Did they sort it or dud they run out of posts and content to subscribe
They will be back for more advise they are bound to be they have bought an autotrail
 
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No more replies from the op
Did they sort it or dud they run out of posts and content to subscribe
They will be back for more advise they are bound to be they have bought an autotrail
They only wanted FREE advice
( Does come with a money back guarantee though)
 
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As Andy63 (and others) have said, your contract is with the dealer not Fiat. It is a matter for the dealer to put everything right, including the engine, albeit that the dealer may well involve Fiat.
Given how close to the date you acquired the van the problems arose, you could probably reject the van as it is unsuitable for purpose. You'd get your money back including any deposits etc.
I'd take it to the dealer and any crap from them, I'd get a solicitor involved pronto.
 
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No response from the OP.......all the advice given......wasted? .....

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No response from the OP.......all the advice given......wasted? .....

I'll revise my post

- advice given on here is not wasted, it is shared and will always be useful, whether taken by the OP or not -

It's just a bit of a shame when there is no response

(y)
 
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No more replies from the op
Did they sort it or dud they run out of posts and content to subscribe
They will be back for more advise they are bound to be they have bought an autotrail

I did suggest they joined the Unhappy Autotrail Owners Group on Facebook.
 
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Sad really, moans about spending upwards of £60k and then doesn’t cough up £15 to join a group he comes to for advice or to have a rant.

I would
Sad really, moans about spending upwards of £60k and then doesn’t cough up £15 to join a group he comes to for advice or to have a rant.
Hopefully not realised that is how it works and will join.

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You think MHing is expensive wait till you get to boating. We kept a yacht at Burnham on Crouch. Needed lifting out for a 10 minute repair. £200 sir and I had to do the repair myself. £3000 a year to keep it in a Marina. £6000+ in the Solent. MHs are cheap by comparison. Only difference is that the Uk boats that are build are of a far superior quality to the British built crap that they call Motorhomes.

We had a 28ft aquafibre on the broads in Horning which we sold for those exact reasons especially when we considered how many times we used her together with the moho. Currently designing the interior of a narrowboat. Marina's, Lift or pull outs are far more realistic in price plus were having the hull zinc sprayed then covered in 2 pac epoxy which does away with the need to put her on dry land every 2 years for re blacking and anodes, it becomes a once in every 8 -10 year job and no magnesium anodes. Lengthens the life of hull before a possible re-plate too.

We'll keep the van of course.
 
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The whole industry needs a complete overhaul. 90% of customers have more product knowledge than the dealerships.
Can I rephrase that:-

The whole industry needs a complete overhaul. 90% of customers have more product knowledge than the UK dealerships.

I find that Belgium & German dealers have good product knowledge.
 
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Can I rephrase that:-

The whole industry needs a complete overhaul. 90% of customers have more product knowledge than the UK dealerships.

I find that Belgium & German dealers have good product knowledge.

Bit like Doctors .. The patients knows far more about what’s wrong with them ( The Expert Patient ) .. The time you need the Dealer or Doctor is when you have worked out what’s wrong and you need their help to fix it.

Trouble is of course 90% of Dealers are crap and don’t know how to fix some of the faults.
 
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We traded in our old MH and bought a brand new Autotrail V-Line 634 sport. On the first day our problems began when the reverse camera failed. (there were other small issues too). Yesterday evening we went out for a run in it and it conked out and we managed to make it home at a snail pace. We contacted the dealer who said we should call Fiat assist, basically letting us sort it our ourselves. Surely the dealer should take responsibility? Or the company that built it? It's such a disappointment!
If your van is in limp mode speak to Fiat Assist they are brilliant. Bank holiday, middle of the night other side of Europe they'll answer the phone to you in English, try that with your dealer. If you have a problem with the Fiat side of the van "Fiat Camper Assist" and the Fiat Professional Dealers are the place to go they look after the warranty on the mechanical aspects of your van on behalf of your manufacturer. The reversing camera is likely something simple that's, your dealers problem.
 
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We traded in our old MH and bought a brand new Autotrail V-Line 634 sport. On the first day our problems began when the reverse camera failed. (there were other small issues too). Yesterday evening we went out for a run in it and it conked out and we managed to make it home at a snail pace. We contacted the dealer who said we should call Fiat assist, basically letting us sort it our ourselves. Surely the dealer should take responsibility? Or the company that built it? It's such a disappointment!
You will have rights against the seller under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which will also cover any minor defects in a new vehicle. Sellers will often direct customers to the manufacturers for ease, but this may then fall under any warranty you have and may be limited. The sellers MUST have something in place to cover such problems. It is then up to you to choose which route you want to take.
 
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