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Front Crack Under Bedroom Slide-out or Frame Cracks? You May Be Entitled To Significant Compensation.
Class Action Lawsuit for owners of Jayco and other 5th Wheel units from manufactures owned by Thor Industries, the "Thor Family" of Companies.
Introduction
A potential class action lawsuit is being organized against Jayco, Inc., and other manufacturers within the Thor Family of RV companies. This legal action arises from widespread reports of critical structural defects in their fifth-wheel units.
One of the most commonly reported issues involves cracks near the bedroom slide-out and related frame failures, leaving RV owners facing ongoing repair costs, reduced vehicle value, and safety concerns. This page offers an overview of the case, including key facts, legal concerns, and how affected owners can explore their options for joining the potential class action.
Key Facts About the this Class Action
• Jayco and other fifth-wheel units from the Thor Family of RV manufacturers have been experiencing cracks at the bottom corner of the space where the bedroom slide-out is installed. These cracks travel downward and forward, serving as an indication of more serious issues occurring behind the wall. The underlying problems may include frame cracks, frame distortion, or even complete frame failure, which could lead to catastrophic collapse. These defects also increase the risk of water infiltration and other serious safety hazards while on the road.
• Jayco’s Response: Despite repeated reports of these issues, Jayco has assured owners that the defects were resolved or purely cosmetic. However, many customers continue to face these problems, with no permanent resolution from Jayco.
• Ongoing Failures: Owners have reported that repair attempts have been insufficient, with cracks reappearing shortly after repair attempts. This has left many owners with substantial repair costs and vehicles that are unsafe to drive.
Which RV Models Are Potentially Affected?
If you own, or have owned, a fifth-wheel RV from Jayco or other RV manufacturers owned by Thor Industries since 2011, and have experienced structural issues such as frame cracks, separation of walls and ceilings, or other significant structural defects compromising the integrity of the unit, you may be eligible to join the class action lawsuit.
Jayco
• Eagle
• North Point
• Pinnacle
• Seismic
KK-Z RV
• Durango
• Durango Gold
• Sportsmen
• Venom (toy hauler
fifth wheel)
Keystone RV
• Montana
• Montana High
Country
• Cougar
• Alpine
• Avalanche
• Raptor (toy hauler
fifth wheel)
• Fuzion (toy hauler
fifth wheel)
Heartland RV
• Bighorn
• Bighorn Traveler
• Big Country
• Elkridge
• Landmark
• Milestone
• Sundance
• Road Warrior
• Torque
Tiffin (Vanleigh
RV division)
• Beacon
• Vilano
CrossRoads RV
• Redwood (luxury
fifth wheel)
Timeline of the Case
• 2011: Early reports allegedly begin to surface from Keystone RV owners, detailing cracks near the bedroom slide-out. These cracks were said to indicate potential frame damage behind the walls, leading to concerns about water infiltration, frame instability, and costly repairs. Despite awareness of these reports, Keystone and other Thor Family brands, including Jayco, reportedly fail to implement a lasting solution, leaving many RV owners at risk of further issues.
• 2013: Jayco RV owners allegedly begin reporting similar cracking issues, with cracks appearing at the bottom corner of the bedroom slide-out space, traveling downward and forward. While the cracks themselves may not directly compromise the structural integrity, they arguably indicate underlying frame problems, including potential cracks and distortion. RV owners reported leaks, structural weaknesses, and increasing repair costs. Jayco allegedly responds with temporary fixes, which many owners claim do little to address the root cause.
• 2014-2016: More reports surface from Jayco and Keystone owners about cracks reappearing after repairs, often worse than before. Allegedly, consumer forums and groups become flooded with complaints about frame flexing, wall and ceiling separation, and misaligned slide-outs, all suggesting systemic design flaws. Despite repeated assurances from Jayco and Keystone that repairs would hold, owners allegedly continue to face safety concerns and expensive repairs.
• 2017-2019: By this point, the issue is reportedly too large to ignore. RV owners report cracks so severe that walls and roofs allegedly begin separating during travel, making the units potentially unsafe to tow. Despite ongoing repair efforts, Jayco and other Thor brands allegedly fail to take full accountability, continuing to assure owners that the cracks are cosmetic or isolated. The growing frustration among RV owners leads many to believe they are being sold defective products, and the resale value of these RVs reportedly plummets.
• 2020-2021: Structural issues allegedly continue to plague Jayco RV owners, with cracks reappearing after towing their units long distances. Despite warranty repair attempts, many owners are left paying for repairs out of pocket. By this time, Jayco’s reputation among consumers is reportedly at stake, with many owners feeling trapped by RVs that are allegedly unsafe and unsellable. Jayco is accused of offering temporary fixes rather than addressing the deeper structural issues.
• January 2022: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues Bulletin 22-043, which allegedly addresses structural concerns in Jayco’s and Keystone’s fifth-wheel units. The bulletin highlights safety risks associated with frame cracks and urges manufacturers to take corrective actions. However, Jayco and Keystone are said to have offered only temporary repairs, failing to implement comprehensive solutions. As a result, the safety of families towing these units remains allegedly compromised.
• 2022-2023: Even after the NHTSA bulletin, Jayco and the Thor Family allegedly continue to face complaints about reoccurring cracks and safety hazards. Reports emerge of RVs breaking down mid-journey, malfunctioning slide-outs, and severe flexing, allegedly indicating ongoing structural issues. Despite these risks, Jayco is accused of not taking meaningful steps to implement permanent fixes, leaving owners with defective units and growing concerns about safety.
• 2024: With years of mounting evidence and consumer complaints, a class action lawsuit is reportedly being prepared against Jayco and the Thor Family of RV manufacturers. The lawsuit represents a collective of RV owners who have allegedly suffered financially and emotionally from owning RVs with ongoing safety concerns. The class action aims to hold Jayco and Thor accountable for their alleged negligence and to seek compensation for repair costs, diminished vehicle value, emotional distress, and potential vehicle replacement or buybacks.
Key Takeaways from the Case
• Persistent Defects: Years of alleged “patch repairs” and temporary fixes reportedly have done little to prevent the cracks from reappearing and worsening over time. Jayco and Keystone’s alleged refusal to fully address the root cause of the frame instability has arguably cost consumers thousands of dollars in repairs and may have placed them in potentially unsafe situations.
• Regulatory Concerns: Despite the NHTSA issuing a bulletin that warned of potential safety risks, Jayco and other Thor Family RV manufacturers allegedly have not issued a comprehensive recall, which may have left countless families towing RVs that could be structurally compromised.
• Financial Impact: RV owners have allegedly faced significant repair costs and severely reduced resale values due to these persistent structural defects. In some cases, vehicles have become arguably unsellable, leaving owners with financial burdens and ongoing repair needs.
• Emotional Toll: Beyond financial losses, many RV owners have allegedly experienced emotional distress, fearing for their safety while towing and feeling frustrated by what they perceive as Jayco and Keystone’s refusal to take full responsibility for these defects.
Full-Time RV Living Impact
If your RV qualifies to participate in this potential class action lawsuit, and if you sold your traditional home with the intent of living full-time in your RV, you may be entitled to:
• Reimbursement for Housing Expenses: You may be eligible for compensation covering the cost of temporary housing while your RV is being repaired, or if it has allegedly become uninhabitable due to reported structural defects. This could also include compensation for any financial losses incurred from selling your primary residence based on Jayco’s and Keystone’s alleged assurances that their RVs were suitable for full-time living.
• Compensation for Loss of Use: If your RV was your primary or only residence and you were unable to use it full-time due to defects, you may be entitled to compensation for the time spent in alternative accommodations, such as hotels or rentals. This may be particularly relevant if the sale of your home left you without other living options and the RV was expected to serve as your full-time home.
• Reimbursement for Repair Costs: You may be eligible for full or partial reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses for failed repairs related to structural cracks, frame failures, and associated damages that allegedly were not adequately resolved by Jayco or Keystone.
• Diminished Resale Value Compensation: If you attempted to sell your RV at a loss due to ongoing defects, you could be entitled to compensation for the reduced resale value, allegedly caused by Jayco and Keystone’s failure to fully address these structural issues.
• Compensation for Loss of Your Home: If you sold your traditional home believing that your Jayco or Keystone RV would be a suitable full-time residence, you may be entitled to compensation for the financial and emotional toll incurred as a result of relying on alleged misrepresentations by Jayco and Keystone. This is particularly relevant if your RV has since allegedly become uninhabitable or unsafe, leaving you in a precarious living situation.
• Emotional and Psychological Damages: You may also be eligible for compensation for the emotional distress, anxiety, and frustration experienced as a result of living in an RV that allegedly became structurally compromised, especially if it posed safety risks while traveling or led to significant financial burdens from repairs.
What Can Affected Owners
Expect from the Lawsuit?
This potential class action lawsuit aims to seek comprehensive compensation for RV owners who allege they were misled, inconvenienced, and left with RVs that exhibit structural defects. The failure of Jayco and the Thor Family of RV manufacturers to fully address these well-documented issues has allegedly led to widespread financial loss, emotional distress, and significant safety concerns. Plaintiffs may be entitled to:
• Full Reimbursement for Repair Costs: Owners who allegedly paid out-of-pocket for repairs to address recurring cracks, frame failures, and related defects may be eligible for full reimbursement. The lawsuit contends that Jayco’s and Thor’s inability to provide a permanent solution makes this compensation necessary.
• Compensation for the Loss of Vehicle Value: Many owners are reportedly left with RVs that have dramatically reduced resale value or are allegedly unsellable due to these ongoing defects. The lawsuit seeks to hold Jayco and Thor accountable for the diminished value of these RVs, with the potential for substantial damages to be awarded.
• Damages for Emotional Distress and Inconvenience: Living in, traveling with, or attempting to sell an RV with structural concerns has reportedly caused significant emotional distress and anxiety for many owners. In addition to financial losses, the lawsuit seeks compensation for the emotional toll and disruption these alleged defects have caused, especially for those relying on their RVs as full-time residences.
• Vehicle Replacement or Buyback Options: Plaintiffs may seek a complete replacement of their defective RV or a buyback offer to fully compensate them for the cost of the vehicle. This would hold Jayco and Thor accountable for allegedly failing to provide safe, functional, and reliable RVs.
• Compensation for Loss of Full-Time Living: For those who sold their homes based on alleged representations that their Jayco or Thor RV would be suitable for full-time living, the lawsuit aims to seek compensation for the financial and emotional losses suffered. Being left without a safe or habitable residence as a result of relying on these claims is a critical element of the case, and the damages sought reflect the serious impact this has had on individuals’ lives.
Objective of the Lawsuit:
This lawsuit is not solely about financial relief—it seeks to hold Jayco and Thor accountable for allegedly ignoring known defects, continuing to sell RVs with these issues, and putting families at potential risk. The legal action aims to expose the full extent of their alleged negligence and to ensure that affected owners are fully compensated for their losses.
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
― Robert F. Kennedy
This website provides general information about a potential class action lawsuit against RV manufacturers such as Jayco, Keystone, and Heartland. It is not intended to provide legal advice, and nothing on this website should be interpreted as legal advice. The creators of this website are not licensed attorneys, and no attorney-client relationship is established through your use of this website or submission of any information.
We are in the process of researching and evaluating potential law firms that may represent plaintiffs in this class action. At this time, no law firm has been officially retained, and no legal representation is being offered through this website. By submitting your information on this website, you are expressing interest in joining the potential class action lawsuit, but no legal representation is being offered or implied at this stage.
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