- The problem
- 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 fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
1997 Jayco Designer Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 1997 Jayco Designer with NHTSA, most often about the wheels & tires (3) and the body, doors & structure (2). It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in August 2006 for the vehicle speed control. For comparison, the 1996 has 3 and the 1998 has 2.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Designer year, for its age
#157 most complained-about 1997 vehicle
- Complaints
- 11
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1997 Jayco Designer problems
Share of all 11 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1997 Jayco Designer recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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 fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: fifth wheel and travel trailers. Rivets used to secure the step risers on these vehicles are the wrong size. The rivets are too short in length and under stress can allow the step treads to become unattached from the mounting bracket.
- The risk
- If the step riser falls from the mounting bracket while a person is stepping on it, personal injury could occur.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEP RISER ASSEMBLY.
- The problem
- An in-line fuse to the auxiliary battery was omitted.
- The risk
- If a short occurred in the power line from the battery without the presence of over-current protection, the 12 volt line can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will install an in-line fuse to the auxiliary battery.
What owners say
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11 complaints about the 1997 Jayco Designer
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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...
Read the full complaint
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
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.
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
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 [[redacted]]. 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
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
Consumer states after some mountain driving the frame to the trailer that the hitch is attached to cracked and collasped. *Mr
Front rear three covers underneath the vehicle came off while traveling and two slide out motors burnt up. *Yh
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
On or about november 9, 1999 the hydraulic surge brake system failed during an emergency stop. On october 22, 2000 the same wheel cylinder failed while cruising at 60mph. Dealer orig. Said others in series had same problem in 1999.
The goodyear wrangler ht tire size lt p215/85r16 experienced two tire tread separations while driving causing damage to the recreational trailer. *Mjs
Carbon monoxide detector is picking up an excessive amount of carbon monoxide in motor home. The dealer has been notified. *Ak
Jayco Designer: every year compared
All Designer years1997 Jayco Designer vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Jayco Designer | 11 | 5 | F | |
| 1997 Jayco Jayco | 10 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Jayco Eagle | 1 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Jayco Camper Van | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1997 Jayco Designer
Does the 1997 Jayco Designer have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 1997 Jayco Designer: vehicle speed control (August 2006); structure (August 2001); fuses and circuit breakers (February 1998); structure (July 1997) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Jayco Designer?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the wheels & tires (3), body, doors & structure (2), electrical system (2).
How many complaints has the 1997 Jayco Designer had?
11 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on August 4, 1998 and the latest on August 2, 2010. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1997 Jayco Designer a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 17 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Jayco Designer year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Jayco Designer years have the most complaints?
1997 (11), 1999 (6), 2000 (5). See every Jayco Designer year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 Jayco Designer has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data