Old Forum Post
Senior Member
[wbeck] It's been months since we tried to repair a part on our Avion, and Fleetwood has left us high
and dry. Anyone need an EMS panel?
Last summer, the Liquid Level Monitor in our Avion fifth wheel died. Every time you push a
button to check the levels in fresh, grey, and black water tanks, or the proane tanks, all the
lights go on and you have no way of telling if the tanks are full or empty.
We tried to locate the manufacturer of this panel, with no luck. Then we went online to
contact Fleetwood/Avion for replacement or retrofit parts.
In early April, after trying several times to get a response on the Fleetwood Service site, we
finally received an answer. We were given the address and phone number of their plant in
Longview, Texas, where we found a knowledgeable service technician. He confirmed that the
origianl part was no longer available and gave us a part number, telling us that it would not be
difficult to retrofit the current panel version into our 1992 trailer.
We had to then locate a dealer who would order this part for us, no easy task since none of
the dealers for 150 miles represent Avion. A Fleetwood dealer 70 miles from here did place
the order, however, and we finally received a part in a little over a month from our first
two-way contact with Fleetwood.
Too bad it was the wrong part at a cost of $80. We now have an EMS (Electrical
Monitoring System panel which tells you what amp service you're hooked up to and which
main appliances are in use, so what does this have to do with liquid levels?) The dealer would
assume no responsibility, since we had provided part number and they were "doing us a favor"
placing the part order.
Calling Texas again resulted in the technician needing to go to the parts warehouse and check
to see why the wrong part was labelled with the right part number. He was supposed to call
back as soon as he had the right part. Then he would drop ship the correct part and include a
return shipping label for the wrong part. Sounds like great customer service so far, doesn't it?
Well, he never called back and many attempts to call him went to his voice mail without a
response. SO, we again contacted the main Fleetwood service site and were finally sent yet
another plant address and phone number, this time in Nebraska. This plant was to receive all
of our information via FAX from the main site and would contact us. After a week, we again
emailed the main plant to let them know there had been no communication from Nebraska.
Now we got no response from the main site, Texas or Nebraska. So we emailed the Investor
Relations department, the only available email address for upper level management on the
Fleetwood site. Again no response.
So, we went camping and the rear grey water tank repeatedly overflowed under "dry
camping" conditions at a state park. The overflow flooded the electrical and
storage compartments and left a wonderful aroma to permeate the trailer.
Since there seems to be no responsible customer service, and our customer satisfaction level
with Fleetwood has dropped below the tolerable level, we are writing to warn other owners
that they really need to take their Avion to an authorized service center if they want service.
Of course, since we'd have to take a vacation to do this, we have no real idea if this plan
works any better than trying to get satisfaction from Fleetwood headquarters.
We love the construction, style and quality of our trailer, but when we trade it in for a newer
model, it won't be for a Fleetwood product by any name.
and dry. Anyone need an EMS panel?
Last summer, the Liquid Level Monitor in our Avion fifth wheel died. Every time you push a
button to check the levels in fresh, grey, and black water tanks, or the proane tanks, all the
lights go on and you have no way of telling if the tanks are full or empty.
We tried to locate the manufacturer of this panel, with no luck. Then we went online to
contact Fleetwood/Avion for replacement or retrofit parts.
In early April, after trying several times to get a response on the Fleetwood Service site, we
finally received an answer. We were given the address and phone number of their plant in
Longview, Texas, where we found a knowledgeable service technician. He confirmed that the
origianl part was no longer available and gave us a part number, telling us that it would not be
difficult to retrofit the current panel version into our 1992 trailer.
We had to then locate a dealer who would order this part for us, no easy task since none of
the dealers for 150 miles represent Avion. A Fleetwood dealer 70 miles from here did place
the order, however, and we finally received a part in a little over a month from our first
two-way contact with Fleetwood.
Too bad it was the wrong part at a cost of $80. We now have an EMS (Electrical
Monitoring System panel which tells you what amp service you're hooked up to and which
main appliances are in use, so what does this have to do with liquid levels?) The dealer would
assume no responsibility, since we had provided part number and they were "doing us a favor"
placing the part order.
Calling Texas again resulted in the technician needing to go to the parts warehouse and check
to see why the wrong part was labelled with the right part number. He was supposed to call
back as soon as he had the right part. Then he would drop ship the correct part and include a
return shipping label for the wrong part. Sounds like great customer service so far, doesn't it?
Well, he never called back and many attempts to call him went to his voice mail without a
response. SO, we again contacted the main Fleetwood service site and were finally sent yet
another plant address and phone number, this time in Nebraska. This plant was to receive all
of our information via FAX from the main site and would contact us. After a week, we again
emailed the main plant to let them know there had been no communication from Nebraska.
Now we got no response from the main site, Texas or Nebraska. So we emailed the Investor
Relations department, the only available email address for upper level management on the
Fleetwood site. Again no response.
So, we went camping and the rear grey water tank repeatedly overflowed under "dry
camping" conditions at a state park. The overflow flooded the electrical and
storage compartments and left a wonderful aroma to permeate the trailer.
Since there seems to be no responsible customer service, and our customer satisfaction level
with Fleetwood has dropped below the tolerable level, we are writing to warn other owners
that they really need to take their Avion to an authorized service center if they want service.
Of course, since we'd have to take a vacation to do this, we have no real idea if this plan
works any better than trying to get satisfaction from Fleetwood headquarters.
We love the construction, style and quality of our trailer, but when we trade it in for a newer
model, it won't be for a Fleetwood product by any name.