15 Most Common RV Problems and Complaints

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What’s the one thing that can put a damper on your RV adventures faster than running out of s’mores supplies?

Why do even the most carefully crafted RVs sometimes lead to frustration on the road?

In this post, we’re diving into the top 15 most common problems and complaints that RV owners face.

So, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or new to the RV life, stick around to discover what to watch out for—so you can keep your journeys smooth and stress-free.

The Most Common RV Problems and Complaints

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The Pain of RV Service

One of the hardest parts of being in the RV business is seeing campers at our shop instead of out there, where they belong—exploring the open road and making memories. 

Some of these RVs are brought in for something minor, like a loose wire or a misaligned screw—quick fixes that are more of an inconvenience than a catastrophe. 

But then there are the bigger jobs, like dealing with a roof leak or a failed slide-out mechanism, that keep these adventure machines off the road for far too long.

Recently, we took a look at the type of repair work we typically do on the campers brought into our Bish’s service stations. Here’s what we found.

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15 Most Common RV Problems and Complaints

Most Common Types of RV Warranty Complaints:

At Bish’s service centers, one of the most frequent warranty repairs we see involves cabinetry and woodworking issues—those little details that can make or break the comfort of your RV.

Below, we’ve compiled the Top 15 RV warranty issues we see in our shops, broken down by category, along with the percentage of complaints for each problem:

Issue by Category% of Complaints
Cabinetry, Woodworking, Fit & Finish 16.75%
Appliances 16.43%
Electrical 14.5%
Plumbing 13.58%
Exterior Body 10.22%
Slide Outs 7.08%
Awnings 4.43%
Brakes, Suspension, Towing 2.85%
Leveling Systems 2.76%
Propane Issues 2.68%
Audio / Visual1.46%
Vinyl / Linoleum 1.23%
Roofing 1.03%
Solar .91%
Inverters.85%

For a deeper dive into the details, check out our article, The Top RV Warranty Claims.

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Which RV Appliances are Most Likely to Break?

Given that appliance issues rank so high on the list of complaints, we dug deeper to find out which ones are causing RVers like you the most headaches.

Here are the 11 appliances that top our list for generating the most complaints:

Appliance of Issue % of Complaints
Refrigerator 27%
Furnace 23%
Air Conditioner 17%
Water Heater 14%
Microwave 4%
Oven 4%
Stove 3%
Electric Steps 3%
Ductwork 1%
Safety Detection Devices 1%
Washer / Dryer 1%

You can learn more about how long it takes to repair these problems by reading RV repair times across the RV industry.

The Sad Truth about RV Repairs

Simply knowing about common RV service issues isn’t enough. What really matters is understanding what steps you can take to speed up the repair process.

Because let’s face it — RV repairs take too long. Often several months.

We’re trying to change all that with BishFix

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BishFix: Say Goodbye to RV Repair Nightmares

Truth be told — waiting on RV warranty repairs can feel like watching paint dry. We’ve all been there, counting the days (or even months) until you can hit the road again.

That’s exactly why we launched BishFix RV Repair—to put an end to those frustrating delays and get you back to your adventures faster.

With BishFix, campers are getting repaired quicker across the country, and the best part? Your warranty work kicks off within minutes of contacting us, slashing your wait time by months.

But that’s not all—BishFix also handles the pesky warranty paperwork for you. This means you can take your RV to any approved repair shop or mobile service, minus the headache-inducing hassle.

Learn more about a BishFix Membership and see how quickly you can be back on the road, ready for your next adventure.

Don’t let RV warranty issues yuck your yum.

By staying ahead of the game, being well-informed, and choosing the right repair partners, you can wave goodbye to long wait times and hello to smooth sailing.

Get Faster RV Repairs Now!

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Todd Nuttall president Bish's rv

Todd Nuttall


President | Bish’s RV