Message:
We purchased our new 2000 Rialta in June of 2000 with great expectations. We had just retired and it was our first RV. We enjoy it very much when it doesn't have a problem. Our first problem (started at 3,000 miles)took several months and many calls to Winnebago to convince them that the excessive rear spring noise was not our imagination. An independant spring Co. found that the rear leaf spring spacers had been left out at the factory and were the source of the loud squeaking (fixed at 11,000 miles). The second problem was a leaking transmission (at 11,000 miles). We felt lucky to be home, having just returned from a 9000 mile trip. We also felt lucky to have an authorized VW dealer in town. It still took two days short of a month to get it fixed, after many - many calls to VW to get it done as soon as it was. We found that Winnebago was totally uncaring about our problem, it was "VW's problem". We are presently in Phoneix, Az with the A/C pump shot(at 15,000 miles) and the temperature is over 100 degrees every day. We were lucky to find an authorized VW dealer within 30 miles to varify the problem and repair it under the warrantee. The bad news was that there are NO pumps in North America and it will talk VW 3-4 weeks to get one. We belong to Coach Net and they also varified that there were no pumps in North America. I spent hours on the phone with the VW customer relations with no solution but to wait for a pump. They were not willing to take a pump off of a new unit and wait for the replacement. I was able to persuade VW to reemberse me? - if I could find an independent garage to get the A/C working again. We found a "locally recommended" garage and was told by a large parts company that they had a pump that would fit the Rialta. We were told that we would be back on the road in two days. The pump that was supposed to fit had the wrong mounting holes and I am not sure what to expect next. If the correct pump can not be located with in the next three days I will have the damaged pump reinstalled and we will head back to Iowa, driving at night to avoid the heat. We had planned to travel six more weeks to California and up the coast to Canada. If we have to return early because of the A/C problem we are considering putting big yellow lemon signs on the Rialta with "ask us about our VW - Winnebago Rialta". We will probably try to sell/trade it when we get home. I will be surprised if VW and Winnebago have much future after reading the message board.