Dometic oven door hinge problem

MartynandKym replied on 19/05/2019 10:53

Posted on 19/05/2019 10:53

Help!  I have a Dometic 'Tec Tower' Fridge Freezer and Oven package in my new(ish) Knaus Motorhome.  The fridge freezer has been great, no problems in two and half years but the oven has been a nightmare!

The hinges on the oven door are continually jamming. This is the fourth time they have jammed since new! The dealership we bought the Motorhome from, Southdown Motorhomes are now saying that the hinges are no longer covered by the warranty, even though they were only changed about 6 months ago. Classic example of the dealers taking the money and running!

I have been trying to contact Dometic in the UK directly for their feedback on the problem and there solution. Another nightmare! I think it took 6 emails for them to eventually agree to replace the hinges, but thats all!  I now have to find a Dometic dealer/agent to fit the new hinges. Needles to say I do not want to go back to Southdowns' so does anybody know of a company or Dometic registered agent that would be happy to install them?

I'm based in Herts but would be prepared to travel if not too far away to get this sorted.  Thanks in advance.

Incidentally am I the only person here with this issue?

 

 

MartynandKym replied on 19/05/2019 11:07

Posted on 19/05/2019 10:57 by Tinwheeler

M&K, have you seen the reply to your original thread on this issue?

Posted on 19/05/2019 11:07

😂

 No! I don't even remember posting something about it, unless it was the better half who's not with me at the moment.  Where is it?  I've had a quick look but couldn't find it. lol!

MartynandKym replied on 19/05/2019 11:19

Posted on 19/05/2019 11:19

Doh! I remember now, the ol' alzheimer's kicking in again lol!

Alas the hinges shown in the thread are not the same. 

 

Dawn F replied on 19/05/2019 15:20

Posted on 19/05/2019 15:20

We had the same problem with ours, after lots of e-mails and calls Heart of England repaired it (we did have to pay as no longer under warranty) Heart of England were excellent and did a very good job.  I would be making lots of noise to your dealer though and to Knaus this is a very bad design 

QFour replied on 19/05/2019 20:18

Posted on 19/05/2019 20:18

How long a guarantee do you want. Southdowns are one of the better companies to deal with. They cannot just keep fixing it forever which is what you are expecting them to do. They have honoured the guarantee they gave you. I had a problem with a Snipe Satalite Dish it packed up 2 months before the end of the 2 year guarantee. Cheekily I asked about the guarantee and was told it ran out when the original one ran out. Your gripe is with Dometic and they have supplied new hinges so why the complaint. You do have to pay out sometimes to get things fixed or DIY. If you phone Southdowns and tell them you have the hinges they will fit them for you but expect to pay for their time.

 

Leticia2 replied on 20/05/2019 17:09

Posted on 20/05/2019 17:09

 

Might be worth asking whoever does you annual habitation service as they have to check the oven. Ours were very helpful over various issues tho not necessarily oven hinges.

 

MartynandKym replied on 21/05/2019 09:54

Posted on 19/05/2019 20:18 by QFour

How long a guarantee do you want. Southdowns are one of the better companies to deal with. They cannot just keep fixing it forever which is what you are expecting them to do. They have honoured the guarantee they gave you. I had a problem with a Snipe Satalite Dish it packed up 2 months before the end of the 2 year guarantee. Cheekily I asked about the guarantee and was told it ran out when the original one ran out. Your gripe is with Dometic and they have supplied new hinges so why the complaint. You do have to pay out sometimes to get things fixed or DIY. If you phone Southdowns and tell them you have the hinges they will fit them for you but expect to pay for their time.

 

Posted on 21/05/2019 09:54

I am well aware of Southdowns reputation which is one of the reasons why we bought the Motorhome from them.  Indeed they have been excellent at resolving other warranty issues without question.

As I previously mentioned Southdowns have already changed the hinges 3 times whilst the van was under warranty so the hinges are only lasting 6 months. 

Would you accept a brand new product that only lasts 6 months?

So, yes, my complaint IS with Dometic because in my opinion the product is not fit for use but under consumer law my contract for the product is with Southdown Motorhomes therefore they are my first point of contact. 

Clearly Dometic will not admit the design of the hinge is not fit for purpose and so they, and the dealer, will try to fob off clients using the out of guarantee card because the product will continually fail until they change the oven design, which they now have.

Thankfully Dometic has agreed to supply new hinges FOC and they are on there way to me but Southdown are quoting installation in July!

 

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