Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Northwood Manufacturing Company's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Northwood Manufacturing Company

  PO Box 3359 La Grande, OR 97850-7359

• 

  Northwood Manufacturing Company

  59948 Downs Rd La Grande, OR 97850-5295

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/04/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  The aluminum frame of our 2020 ****** Fox 990 Legacy has separated and the bottom of the camper has become unattached.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/06/2023

    In response to Mr. ***** complaint he needs to refer to page 16a in his owners manual that states " Warning: Filling fresh water tank with more than one-half of faucet volume and or larger than a 5/8" o.d garden hose will create hydraulic pressure which can cause fresh water tank to swell and damage unit as indicated below" along with this warning there is a diagram attached to the warning that show what could happen if you fill the fresh water tank faster than the air can vent out through vent. We regret this happened to ************** but if he would have taken the time to thoroughly read his owners manual this problem could have been avoided. Thanks *********; 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/31/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Northwood ****** Fox ****l purchased 9-9-2020; Purchase price ~$74,000.00; In June 2022 I brought the ** in for minor repairs and servicing. The service department let me know there was a problem with the slide. This is the first I was informed of a problem. I was not able to leave the ** with them to try and fix the problem. I setup an appointment with Bishs ** in ********* to review the problem and get it fixed. After leaving the ** with Bishs we were told by Northwood (*******************************) the ** is out of Warranty for Factory defects. The service department at Bishs is telling us the box is not square. Northwood is now claiming that it just needs adjustment. Northwood has made no attempt to rectify the situation.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/04/2022

  DR.BBB, In response to this complaint from ******************************* we were not informed of any issues with his Northwood product until it was 9 month beyond the Northwoods 1 year Warranty, upon review of the information supplied by his servicing dealer we see no problem with the slide out operation so we do not see a reason for any type of repair having said that ******** never had a problem with the slide out when he took it into service. Thanks *********; 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/08/2022

   
  Complaint: 18339810
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  First off I have an email that shows I contacted Northwood service on 6/11/2021.  Stop with your lies and gaslighting.
  
  
  Secondly the slide made noises, shimmed, and stalled going in and out from day one.  I believed that a new ** would have been inspected by the Manufacture (Northwood) and the Dealer, so I reasoned it was due to tight seals and new slide brake in or some type of clutch to protect the gears.  I have since asked Northwood to show proof the slide was functioning on leaving the factory with no response.  How was I to know this was the gears being ground down?  Also, it became apparent that I shouldnt hold the out switch until it stopped.  The molding on the sides would start to creak and I was concerned it would break, so I learned to feather it out until it sealed.  This I later learned was a stopper (something I did not know existed) that was not welded correctly and had fixed on my dollar in June 2022.  I did not seek warranty repair due to time limits.  The ** repair shop said it takes a month to get approval from Northwood, if you get it at all and we were in the process of selling the last of our homes, therefore on a time crunch.  It was at this point I was alerted to a bigger problem with the slide rail mechanism was badly worn after less than two years. 
  
  
  Thirdly Northwood suggested that the problem with the slide is that it was not adjusted correctly.  Again on my dollar I paid to have it adjusted.  Now to put the slide out requires two people.  One pushing on the top of the slide while the other presses the button and it still hangs up and grinds on the gears.   Also, when the slide is out we need to stuff towels in the gaps between the slide and the wall for insulation.  This appears to prove the slide is not square as one side sticks out more than the other.  This can not be normal.  Again Northwood is wrong about the solution.  Incompetence or something more nefarious is yet to be determined.  Ive fixed most of the other sloppy workmanship myself, bypass valve not installed correctly, door wouldnt close when in the sun (required custom strike plate), screen door would stick, errant screws in bedroom slide, etc.  Still there is a problem with leaking windows that Im told by service its just the way those windows are. 
  
  
  Lastly this is not about the money, but the principle.  If Northwood backed its products, this would have just been an aggravating blip in my life.  I could buy a half a dozen **s and not affect my retirement of now over 20 years.  Im in this to get Northwood to understand they cant bully all their customers.  I have the time, money and will to fight this for the rest of my life no matter what the cost (my swan song).  Northwood is reluctant to help their customers and resorts to statements that are wrong or not backed up with facts (Seams to be a national trend).  This American company does not stand behind their products.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

  Business Response

  Date: 11/18/2022

  Wow !! Lies and Gaslighting ? What is true is that you purchased the Rv trailer in question on 9-9-2020 and your Northwood Warranty expired on 9-9-2021 and your attached document show that we were not contacted until 10-31-2022 more than a year after the Warranty had expired this is the truth not "Lies" So if you have a email that you did not supply in your complaint fell free to at any time send that to me. Thanks *********;Tell us why here...

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/07/2023

  The problem is I believed the **** of Northwoods quality.  That was just another LIE.
  
  Problems and fixes:

  • Broken shock - paid to have fixed
  • Worn tire because of broken shock - paid to have fixed
  • Improperly welded slide stopper - paid to have fixed
  • Main slide topper track was not secured to the **** paid to have fixed
  • Defective wheel - had to go to wheel manufacture and wait weeks for delivery, Northwood would only direct me to manufacture.
  • Bypass valve installed backwards - diagnosed and solved by me, after Northwood service had me replace the wrong part.
  • Ground control auto level system plugged in backwards - Dealer solved after we had to return after delivery.
  • Screw through bathroom door into bedroom slide, pulling the seal off - found and fixed by me
  • Front door would not shut when in direct sun and had to be slammed otherwise - fixed by me, had to make custom door strike plate.
  • Bubble in linoleum in Bathroom - paid to have fixed

  Problems not fixed:

  • Windows leak in hard rain
  • Slide requires two people to open.  One presses the button and two pushes on the top to keep it from hanging up and stripping the gears.
  • Slide gap when open.
  • Gaps in front door need sealed.
  • Gaps in construction to outside around water heater needs sealed
  • Dinette light falls apart while driving down the road smashing all over the floor. - still looking for replacement 

  
  Northwoods ****** Fox has the poorest construction Ive seen.  It seams that Northwood has taken the new trend of poorly manufactured RVs to a new level of bad craftsmanship.  The most troubling interaction with Northwood is how after they denied my warranty repair, they then convinced Bishs that it was a simple adjustment and now the slide out requires two people to operate to keep from grinding the gears.  I told Bishs I didnt want warranty work, because Northwood takes weeks, drags their feet, and doesnt know how to fix their own RVs.  They decided to submit it anyway and yet after denying the request Northwood sent them on the wrong path to fix the problem.  Also, Northwood never offered to look at the problem.  Its obvious that Northwood is annoyed by customers and just crosses their fingers for the first year to be over.  I will fix this piece of junk.  I also will continue to make sure I use all my resources to inform the public about the LIE of Northwoods quality.  A lemon law for RVs is needed and companies like Northwood should take notice that the quality of construction must improve or there will be legal consequences.

  
  Sincerely,

  *************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/18/2023

  Here's the email.  I got no response.  The problem I fixed was because Northwood MFG installed the bypass valve backwords, just like the levelers where plugged in backwards.  And Both those passed inspection?  Either there is no inspection, poorly inspected, or this unit was not inspected.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/25/2023

  In response to this latest information, as you recall from the previous complaints from this consumer he accused us of "Lies and Gaslighting" and he has contacting not only the BBB but every other network he can find to complain. Really not sure what this is all about but the fact still remains the same that the consumers obligation was to contact his dealer with any Warranty concerns within his 1 year warranty supplied by Northwood, the consumers purchase date was 9-9-2020 and here we are today 1-25-2023 well beyond the warranty period. Thanks ****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/26/2023

   
  Complaint: 18339810
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  New problem: passenger rear tire wearing unevenly for second time.   The first time we replaced a broken shock and thought that caused the problem, but it now appears to be an alignment issue.  Yet another problem that should have been caught by Northwood.
  
  
  This all started because Northwood convinced Bishs ** that the problem Bishs tech put their eyes and measuring tape to of the box not being square was not real and the problem is what Northwood said a simple slide adjustment.  That is gaslighting.  I paid to have that simple slide adjustment and It takes two people to put the slide out.   When we put the slide out we have to stuff the opening with foam to keep the freezing air out.   One can only guess they didnt want Bishs to acknowledge there was a problem with the manufacturing of the **. 
  
  
  Northwood claims the ** slide was adjusted correctly when it left the factory, but has failed to provide any proof that they even do inspections at the factory.
  
  
  I am reaching out to anyone that will listen.  Im also working on phase II that should be out in April and start a non-profit/foundation with PR, Lobbying, and legal defense funds to fight for **ers that get lemons like my **.  PR to air customer complaints ,  Lobbying to get a national ** lemon law,  and legal to allow people that dont have my means to file complaints without cost to themselves.  A bounty for manufacture Whistleblowers is being considered.  Every **er I spoke with has commented on the lack of quality.  This has to change.  
  
  
  Your warranty is a sham.  In a year the average **er will use that ** for about 4 weeks and if they dont find the problems they are SOL.  Im telling people that are looking to buy an ** to get it inspected by a third party not affiliated with the manufacture or dealer.  
  
  
  First thing Ill want in a lemon law is the right to get warranty work done anywhere the consumer wants and give consumers some recourse for manufacturing defects or poorly built **s.  This is long overdue.
  
  
  If Northwood is willing to put a disclaimer on all sales, marketing materials and manuals  that states in large font and red letters, Parts of the ** may not work because of poor manufacturing.,  Ill drop the BBB complaint. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************