RoadVitals

1997 Jayco Designer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Aug 2, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Aug 30, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Jayco Designer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, electrical and body & structure categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels430.8%
  • Electrical323.1%
  • Body & structure215.4%
  • Other / unspecified215.4%
  • Brakes17.7%
  • Engine17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06V320000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 30, 2006
6,285 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURNING, AND IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: FORD IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06V286) AND WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332 OR JAYCO AT 1-800-283-8267.
JAYCO, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
01V251000

STRUCTURE

Aug 1, 2001
12,281 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAVEL AND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS. THE FASTENERS USED ON THE UNDERFLOOR CAN EITHER COME LOOSE OR PULL THROUGH THE UNDERFLOOR CAUSING PORTIONS OR ALL OF A SECTION OF UNDERFLOOR TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE.
The risk: IF THIS OCCURRED, THE SECTION COULD FALL TO THE PAVEMENT, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH FOR FOLLOWING VEHICLES.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD OR REPLACE FASTENERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT JAYCO AT 1-219-825-5861.
JAYCO, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
98V122001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Feb 10, 1998
7,660 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI-MOTOR HOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS, AND FIFTH WHEELS EQUIPPED WITH A PRINTED CIRCUIT (PC) BOARD HOUSED IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX ASSEMBLY EQUIPPED WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. AN ELECTRICAL RELAY ON THE PC BOARD WILL FAIL TO ACTIVATE. WHEN THE RELAY FAILS TO ACTIVATE, OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, AND THE PC BOARD ITSELF, ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY EXCESS ELECTRICAL CURRENT.
The risk: THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND THE PC BOARD CAN OVERHEAT, CHAR AND PRODUCE SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: RV PRODUCTS IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS RECALL. OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER INSTALL THIS CONTROL BOX.
JAYCO, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE01019ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

UNDERCARRIAGE PAN/COVER DETACHMENT

Opened Jun 18, 2001
Closed Aug 15, 2001

A

STRUCTURELed to recall 01V251000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
Body & structure
Filed Aug 2, 2010

THE 6" CHANNEL WELDED ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE FIFTH WHEEL PIN BOX BROKE IN HALF CAUSING THE TRAILER TO DROP.THIS IS THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TO THE TOW VEHICLE. THE CHANNEL SUPPORTS THE FRONT PART OF THE KING PIN BOX. ON REMOVAL OF THE SHEET METAL UNDER THE GOOSENECK PART OF THE TRAILER IT EXPOSED THE CHANNEL BROKE INTO ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PIN BOX, THE METAL ON THE LEFT SIDE RIPPED OPEN, THE BACK OF THE PIN BOX ATTACHMENT BROKE LOOSE AND METAL RIPPED OUT. ONE WELD WAS BROKEN. I HAVE BEEN INTOUCH WITH JAYCO BUT THEY SAY IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT THIS UNIT IS 13 YEARS OLD AND I WILL HAVE TO REPAIR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE METAL USED FOR THIS MAJOR STRESS POINT IS TO THIN AND INFERIOR. THE CONTINUED FLEXING OF THESE COMPONENTS CAUSE THEM TO BREAK AFTER TIME AND THE RESULT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE TOW VEHICLE AS WELL AS OTHER UNSUSPECTING MOTORIST. REPAIR OF THIS WILL ONLY MOVE THE FLEX POINT TO THE SIDE OF THE WELD AND AGAIN AFTER CONTINUOUS FLEXING BREAK AGAIN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE HANDLED ASAP. THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MANY UNITS ARE TRAVELING OUR HIGHWAYS THAT ARE ONLY SECONDS AWAY FROM TRAGEDY. I HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW IF SO NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10346837
Incident
Jun 12, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 28, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAYCO DESIGNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 01V251000 (STRUCTURE). FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, THE CONTACT HAD BEEN TO THREE DEALERS AND THE VEHICLE STILL HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER FINALLY RECEIVED THE PART, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10194896
Incident
Feb 24, 2006
Electrical
Filed Apr 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 98V122001 REGARDING THE FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT HAVING THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 5/3/2006 - THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10154808
Incident
Apr 7, 2006
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 2005

RETURNED TO MOTORHOME FROM DINNER WITH A/C ON AND FOUND A COACH FULL OF SMOKE. DISCONNECTED ALL POWER, TRAVELED 2 DAYS WITHOUT AIR IN OVER 100' TEMPS. BROUGHT COACH IN FOR REPAIR AND FOUND ONLINE WITH GOODSAMS CLUB, 2 RECALLS FOR THIS UNIT. NHTSA-- 98V122001. OUR VIN # IS [XXX]. NOTIFIED JAYCO (29FT. JAYCO, CLASS C DESIGNER SERIES MOTORHOME) AND THEY SAID OUR UNIT DID NOT FALL INTO THAT RECALL. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THE WHOLE COACH COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO, THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL--NHTSA CAMP. ID-97V062000. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS ONE ALSO. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10132663
Incident
Jun 28, 2005
Mileage
35,700 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 22, 2003

ON SEPT.16,2002, I HAD A LEFT FRONT TIRE, FIRESTONE STEELTEX 225/75/16, TREAD SEPARATE FROM THE STEEL BELT. JULY 27TH THIS YEAR, TWO BACK DUALS, LEFT SIDE, SEPERATED. THEN ON AUG. 16TH, 124 MILES MORE, TWO MORE TIRES SEPERATED. FOR AS TOTAL OF 5 TIRES WITH LESS THAN 19,000 MILES. THESE TIRES WERE ON MY RV. WHEN I BOUGHT IT NEW. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033294
Incident
Aug 16, 2003
Mileage
16,766 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 8, 2002

CONSUMER STATES AFTER SOME MOUNTAIN DRIVING THE FRAME TO THE TRAILER THAT THE HITCH IS ATTACHED TO CRACKED AND COLLASPED. *MR

NHTSA ID
8020350
Incident
Aug 8, 2002
ElectricalOther / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed May 10, 2002

FRONT REAR THREE COVERS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE CAME OFF WHILE TRAVELING AND TWO SLIDE OUT MOTORS BURNT UP. *YH

NHTSA ID
565730
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 23, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, 2 TIRES, LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR, HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, ONE IN MARCH AND THE OTHER IN APRIL OF 2001, BOTH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT, LT215/85R16 E. *YH

NHTSA ID
563766
Incident
Mar 1, 2001

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

INC 22-067

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

JAYCO AND ENTEGRA COACH STORAGE TIPS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR STORING JAYCO AND ENTEGRA COACH DIESEL PUSHERS.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Jayco Designer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010130—
2009120—
2008240—
2007030—
2005020—
2004210—
2003022—
2002142—
2001030—
2000550—
1999630—
1998230—
1997Viewing1151—
1996320—
1995420—
1993010—
1992020—
1991020—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.