From purchase to final sale
A dated account based on service records, estimates, photographs, and correspondence.
Dealer work orders later provided to us document water intrusion and work involving the roof/front-cap area, interior ceiling and wall panels, batten and molding. The records warn that there "may have hidden damages." Separate records document slide-room work. At purchase, we understood the disclosed transit damage to be minor and resolved. We were not told the RV had experienced water intrusion.
We took delivery of the new 2022 Venture Sonic SN211VDB from Blue Compass RV in Loveland, Colorado.
We performed routine maintenance and inspections. The RV was also seen by Blue Compass in Loveland for other service before that location closed.
We found extensive water intrusion in the front portion of the RV, including the general area of the earlier work. The ceiling was bulging and soft, and damage was visible near the repaired roof seam.
Blue Compass's insurer, Zurich, investigated and denied the claim. State Farm did not cover the loss because it did not view the damage as the result of a sudden covered event. Responsibility remained disputed.
Blue Compass formally told us it would not participate in the repair. It said we could proceed through insurance or pay out of pocket and asked us to arrange pickup of the RV from Longmont.
After two requests for the promised estimate, Blue Compass provided an estimate totaling $22,054.49. It noted roof and front-window leaks and probable hidden damage. The service manager warned that freight was not included, so the final total would be even higher.
We asked KZ for the repair and recall history. KZ said there were no front-cap or front-window recalls and described the earlier roof-area work as addressing a "sealant void." After our follow-up, KZ cited the expired one-year warranty, directed us back to the dealer or insurance, and did not offer a remedy.
Read the correspondence recordAfter Blue Compass directed us back to KZ, KZ said a limited Technical Service Bulletin had applied to a defined group of units and expired on November 10, 2023. KZ characterized the transition-strip repair as effective, attributed most water intrusion to sealant maintenance, and again cited the expired warranty. We disputed that characterization and asked KZ to address the documented defects and prior repairs directly.
We consulted an attorney about the available options and the risk created by the purchase contract's prevailing-party attorney-fee provision. Litigation was possible, but carried significant financial risk.
Following the attorney consultation, we asked Blue Compass to warranty the repair performed by its Loveland branch or discuss another resolution. Blue Compass said it adopted KZ's conclusion that the loss was related to sealant maintenance, declined responsibility, and offered only to reconnect us with Longmont to proceed with the $22,054.49 repair at our expense.
Read the correspondence recordWith no practical resolution and a repair estimate far beyond the RV's usable value, we accepted $5,000 for it in its damaged condition. The sale ended our ownership, not the public record.