Three and a Half Years of Ownership: Beware My Experience with Jayco and General RV…read moreI purchased a brand-new 2022 Jayco Jay Feather 24RL from General RV in October 2022. Unfortunately, before I even took my first camping trip, it had already been back to the dealership for warranty repairs, including an improperly adjusted entry door, a bathroom pocket door, a defective kitchen outlet, a battery disconnect wired incorrectly, and an improperly applied ceramic coating.
After only a few camping trips, the list continued to grow. The A/C ducts had never been properly opened from the factory, the black tank sensors failed, the refrigerator latch wouldn't stay closed, and the battery had to be replaced because of the earlier wiring issue.
The more significant issues came next.
After driving through rain, the camper leaked, leaving water on the floor. The first time I assumed it was my mistake. When it happened again, a technician immediately found the cause--a missing factory foam seal in the slide-out. The repair took only a few minutes, yet I had previously been warned I might have to pay for water testing on a camper that was only about 18 months old.
The thermostat also malfunctioned from nearly day one. General RV inspected it multiple times and told me nothing was wrong, even charging me for inspections. After researching online, I found the actual problem myself: the thermostat sensor had been pushed back inside the return-air cavity during assembly. Pulling the sensor into the living area solved the problem immediately.
Within the first year, the slide-out also became extremely noisy. The solution was simply lubrication, but I was still asked to pay because it was considered routine maintenance.
Now, after only 3 1/2 years, the gel coat on the front cap is peeling badly. Both Jayco and General RV have declined assistance because the camper is out of warranty, leaving me with a $3,681 repair estimate.
Ownership Summary
Purchased: October 2022
Major camping trips before recurring issues became apparent: 5
Dealer service visits: 8+
Multiple recurring warranty-related issues
Two significant problems ultimately diagnosed and corrected by me
Current repair estimate for peeling front cap: $3,681
This is not my first travel trailer. Over the past 20 years I've owned multiple RVs, including another Jayco and a Keystone, and none have required anywhere near this level of service. I maintain my campers carefully, winterize them properly, and take pride in keeping them in excellent condition. These issues were not the result of neglect.
I understand that every manufacturer can produce an occasional defective unit. What defines a company is how it stands behind its product. Unfortunately, my experience with both Jayco and General RV has been repeated warranty issues, recurring repairs, multiple trips back to the dealership, charges for issues I believe should have been covered, and having to diagnose some of the problems myself.
If this camper had experienced one or two isolated issues, I wouldn't be writing this review. It was the continual pattern of defects, recurring repairs, poor communication, and the lack of accountability that led me to share my experience.
Before posting this review, I notified both Jayco and General RV that, if we were unable to reach a satisfactory resolution, I intended to publicly share my ownership experience. Unfortunately, despite giving both companies that opportunity, we were unable to resolve these concerns.
I have retained service records, repair invoices, photographs, and repair estimates documenting the issues described above should either company wish to review them. My goal is not simply to criticize, but to provide other prospective buyers with a factual account of my ownership experience so they can make an informed purchasing decision.
After more than 20 years of RV ownership, this has been the most disappointing RV ownership experience I have had. I can no longer recommend either Jayco or General RV, and I hope this review helps other buyers make an informed purchasing decision.
