Autotrail faults list. Forums

Mashy

I have recently purchased a new Hobby from Brownhills.
Love the van but would not recommend the dealer.
Very good at selling but terrible at aftersales.
The handover was nothing short of abysmall
Collected our van 9/2/07 and was told a new table would be ordered that day. Guess what? Nearly 3 months later no table ordered!!
Spoke to Simon Hyde at the show today 28/4/07 and said that if it was not ordered next week I would be talking to Hobby in Germany, Hobby at Derby and also their MD.
I like the idea of a collective "demonstration" of

This week alone I have spoken to 4 people that have nothing good to say about Brownhills.
Does anyone know of a Hobby owners club or a source of spares etc.
Thanks for reading

gromett

I have just picked up my secondhand Eura Mobil from Brownhills on Friday.
I gave them a list of stuff I wanted done prior to collection and it was all done (much to my suprise) In addition they found 4 faults with the vehicle which they corrected that I hadn't noticed.

I turned up with my old van and hadn't removed my £250 stereo due to lack of time. I asked would it be possible to swap these over prior to handhover. I made it clear I would be ok if they didn't have time as it was my own fault and hadn't let them know sooner. Suprisingly within 5 minutes a tech was removing the radio and it was fitted in the new van before I had got to it Smile

My experience with them this time was a magnitude better than the first time I when bought my Brand New Hymer.

My impression of them over the last 2 years has gone from "What a bunch of *$£&£($£" to MMmmm suprisingly good.

I still won't trust them to fit Alarms, inverters or anything electrical for that matter but the PDI checks and snaggings do appear to have improved dramatically.

I was also not given a good deal last time. This time I negotiated really hard and am really happy with them.

Cheers
Karl

richard863

Blimey Heritage
They should be paying you to take it off their hands.
Good luck with the rebuild.

arrow2

As I have said before it is not all doom and gloom with Autotrail. My Apache 700 is now 18 months old, had it from new and absolutely delighted with it.

3 snags rapidly fixed by Marquis in Hampshire - Blocked regulator, crack in shower wall and lower caravan door pins loose.

Would buy another one.

Kevin

Don Madge

Rapide561

Heritage

I think your Autotrail and mt Kontiki should stage a demonstration outside the relevant factory!

It really is not good enough. I laugh at my issues, and I dread to think what will break next. Today it was the rear ladder whilst I was doing 60 mph.

Russell

TommyS

Roy

I can understand your frustration with the supplying dealer and the manufacture. i have had a similar long list of problems with my Eura Mobil purchased new in 2003 from Westcroft. Everything took months to get sorted out and some never were fixed. I took the vehicle to Westcroft on numerous occassions but to no avail. I eventually rang Euramobil and informed them that I would be arriving at the factory at Sprendlingen in Germany in April 2007. I subsequently took the vehicle there and had it inspected and they have now agreed to sort out the faults. It was my intention to remain at the factory until someone took notice. I am now waiting for an appointment.

Tommy1758

rogerandsandra

Hi all

We collected our Chieftain G on 16th April, this is our first motorhome and we spent a long time looking and it was the only one which had everything we were looking for.
Our faults:

1. 2 days after collection leisure batteries failed. (we hadn't got a clue what the problem was just the electrics failed) phoned the dealer very unhelpful so we drove there parked on their front (rather large MH to be missed!) and gave them the keys and told them we were going for lunch and SORT IT OUT. when we returned we had 2 new batteries!
2. Trim on cab hanging off
3. step up to bed - screws coming through where it is fixed from garage
4. Interior step - non slip trim missing
5. habitation door when closed daylight coming in - top and bottom
6. Front blinds - bottom rail not attached blind comes off and needs feeding on by hand
7. habitation door internal lock - when door locked with central locking button on key, knob on door flies off Shocked

8. decals on outside have been attached over dirt - lumps in decals
9. water getting into engine compartment through water channel at bottom of windscreen - rust on engine
10. Hand book says garage maximum weight is 250kg sticker in garage says 200kg??
11. gas locker door split
12 waste water tank sensor does not work - always shows 0%

We sent an 11 page letter to Dave Thomas (Autotrail MD) S Turpin (Autotrail Sales Director) and a copy to our Dealer, including pictures of most of the faults. I pointed out to Autotrail that I know about the 'sale of goods act' but felt that their quality control left a lot to be desired and most of these faults should have been addressed before it left the factory. And for good measure I added that perhaps as advised we should have 'bought German'

We received a letter from Dave Thomas - he has passed the letter to Paul Howes (quality manager) and told me 'we have the largest owners club in the UK and I hope we can quickly restore your faith in a UK manufactured product' (I dont give a s**t about their owners club, wasn't even mentioned in my letter)
We received a letter from Paul Howes - thank you etc etc. He has been in touch with our dealer (who according to Autotrail should also be held responsible) and everything will be dealt with asap.
We received a phone call from our dealer the day after we sent the letter, apologising and saying he had ordered the parts and would call us in a couple of weeks to book the MH in.

None of this has stopped us using our MH and it is still everything we wanted, and more, but don't ask us if we would buy an Autotrail or a new motorhome again because we are just newcomers and still learning that nothing in life is simple!!

Sandra and Roger

PS Once again thanks to all of you for your help, information, stories and mostly for making me laugh Laughing

Heritage

Hi Sandra & Roger,

I was sorry to read of all the faults you have had with your Autotrail especially as it is your first motorhome. You may have read in my earlier posts of all the problems I had with my Autotrail, because of this and the poor reponse to my problems I have decided not to consider another Autotrail vehicle in the future. I do hope you are able to have your vehicle repaired swiftly and you can start to enjoy your rather expensive investment without the hassle you have had to date.

Regards Roy