Faulty main panel

[Tex Marshall]

Hi, we have a Swift Icon Trend 560 - single axle (Challenger 560). We have now had this from new for 18 months. Several months in, less than six, the panel between the kitchen and toilet had come away from the side of the caravan half way down going to the floor. It was returned and fixed under warranty, it happened again and was returned. This time more screws were added through the panel and into the side of the body. The retailer assured us that it is not part of the structure of the caravan. Have any Swift owners had this problem with theirs, because it has happened again and they are now saying that it is pothole damage. It may not be part of the structure, but it is screwed into the main side wall. I feel that it may be to what it is attached to. I have written to them quoting the CRA 2015 and various sections within, under the guidance of Which Legal, hence them now saying pothole damage. Your feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks. Tex M

 

[otherclive]

You are doing the right thing by seeking Which guidance. Potholes and UK roads are a fact if life and they have no idea which roads you have used and how many miles travelled. How can they prove it’s caused by potholes? Just keep pursuing it via CRA2015 with Which advice. Clearly not fit for purpose. Have you found any other owners who have had similar issues?

 

[Oscarmax]

Early this year one of our panels started to part company with the adjacent adjoining panel (we fixed it ourself), we regularly check the fixings of the panels and door and make minor adjustments. Manufactures are loading more and more extras, but in the meantime trying to reduce weight, when you pull into a lay-by when trucks and vehicle are passing bye to see the effect of the caravan structure, plus off course the potholes and state of the roads.

 

[Buckman]

Hi, we have a Swift Icon Trend 560 - single axle (Challenger 560). We have now had this from new for 18 months. Several months in, less than six, the panel between the kitchen and toilet had come away from the side of the caravan half way down going to the floor. It was returned and fixed under warranty, it happened again and was returned. This time more screws were added through the panel and into the side of the body. The retailer assured us that it is not part of the structure of the caravan. Have any Swift owners had this problem with theirs, because it has happened again and they are now saying that it is pothole damage. It may not be part of the structure, but it is screwed into the main side wall. I feel that it may be to what it is attached to. I have written to them quoting the CRA 2015 and various sections within, under the guidance of Which Legal, hence them now saying pothole damage. Your feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks. Tex M

Stating it is pothole damage they have shot themselves in the foot as that indicates the caravan is not fit for purpose and due to a design fault cannot handle UK roads which have a large number of potholes.

Pothole damage is accidental damage so can be claimed from your insurer who will send out an assessor. The assessor will more than likely state it is not pothole damage and is due to a design issue. This is what we did and were successful with our claim!

Also it would help if you worked out the chronological order of the repair. When the caravan went in for the first repair within the first 6 months from delivery, the clock stopped ticking until the repair was done to the satisfaction of both parties. Our caravan was 11 months old when we rejected it as under CRA 2015 it was still within the first 30 days due to delays with each repair.