Coachmen-Pursuit RV Exposed: Leaks, Slide Jams, F-53 Sway & Warranty Delays Dealers Won’t Tell

Introduction: What Shoppers Should Know About the Coachmen Pursuit

AI-powered research tools have systematically collected and analyzed public information to produce this report. The Coachmen Pursuit is a gas-powered Class A motorhome series positioned as a budget-friendly way to access big-coach layouts (bunkhouse options, short and mid-length floorplans like the 27DS, 29SS, and 31BH). In the RV marketplace, it’s known for attractive floorplans and features for the price. At the same time, years of consumer complaints, forum threads, and service-center stories point to recurring issues with build quality, water intrusion, slide mechanisms, handling on the Ford F-53 chassis, and warranty delays that can leave owners sidelined for months.

Our goal is to help you spot patterns before you buy. If you’re actively considering a Coachmen Pursuit, this report aggregates verifiable concerns so you can ask tougher questions at the dealership, perform an aggressive pre-delivery inspection, and protect your investment.

Find Unfiltered Owner Feedback First

Before you test drive or sign anything, review real-world owner discussions. These links route you to credible places where Coachmen Pursuit experiences are documented in detail:

• Search Google for “Coachmen Pursuit Facebook Groups” and join multiple groups. Read recent threads and search for terms like leaks, slide problems, handling, warranty, and dealer delays.
• YouTube: Coachmen Pursuit Problems — watch owner walk-throughs of issues and repairs.
• Google: Coachmen Pursuit Problems — scan top results and narrow by year and floorplan.
• BBB: Coachmen Pursuit — look for complaint patterns on sales, service, and warranty handling.
• Reddit r/rvs: Coachmen Pursuit Problems and Reddit r/GoRVing: Coachmen Pursuit Problems — crowd-sourced advice from owners and techs.
• RVInsider: Coachmen Pursuit Problems — filter by year and read low-star reviews.
• Good Sam Forums: Coachmen Pursuit Problems — long-running threads on repairs and upgrades.
• Owner forums: explore and search once there — RVForums.com, RVForum.net, and RVUSA Forum.
• Complaint aggregators: use onsite search for “Coachmen” and “Pursuit” — PissedConsumer (manual search).

Independent advocates are also shining a light on real RV ownership. See Liz Amazing’s investigative RV videos and search her channel for the exact model and year you’re considering.

Have you owned a Pursuit? Add your firsthand report so other shoppers can learn from your experience.

Before You Buy: Make a Third-Party RV Inspection Non-Negotiable

Hire an independent, certified inspector (not the dealer) to perform a deep-dive inspection and a long test drive before you sign. This is your best leverage to get defects corrected up front. After you take delivery, many owners report dealers deprioritize warranty work for months. Trips get canceled while the coach sits on a back lot awaiting parts.

• Action step: Search for a local expert — RV Inspectors near me.
• Insist on a water-intrusion test, thermal imaging for hidden moisture, slide mechanism synchronization checks, chassis alignment, and a full electrical load test (A/Cs, inverter/charger, generator, transfer switch).
• Require all punch-list items to be fixed and documented before you pay. Withhold final payment until repairs are verified by your inspector.

For broader context on common RV pitfalls, review industry exposés such as RV industry accountability videos by Liz Amazing and then search her channel for “Coachmen Pursuit.”

Patterns of Problems Reported on the Coachmen Pursuit

Build Quality, Fit-and-Finish, and Early-Use Defects

Owners repeatedly describe cosmetic and functional build issues surfacing in the first months: cabinet doors out of square, trim detaching, squeaks, rattles, missing sealant around fixtures, staple pops, misaligned baggage doors, and loose fasteners. These may seem minor, but they compound and can mask bigger system problems if left unaddressed. Survey low-star reviews and delivery punch lists here: Google: Coachmen Pursuit Problems and RVInsider: Coachmen Pursuit Problems.

• Interior hardware loosening after a few trips, especially around slides and overhead cabinets.
• Paint and caulk blemishes, ceiling panel seams gapping, and vinyl flooring bubbles.
• Window shades detaching, latches not catching, and screen door misfit causing bugs and dust intrusion.

Real-world symptom pages and videos: YouTube: Coachmen Pursuit Problems. If you’ve seen these issues, tell us what happened with your Pursuit.

Water Intrusion: Roof, Cap Seams, and Slide Rooms

Water intrusion is among the most expensive risks in any coach. Pursuit owners have posted about leaks at front/rear cap seams, around slide rooms, at windows, and from roof penetrations (antennas, A/Cs, vents). If undetected, moisture leads to mold, soft floors, and wall delamination. Look for bubbling on exterior fiberglass, loose trim, staining, and musty odors.

• Slide toppers holding water or pooling, wicking moisture into slide roofs.
• Failed or missing sealant on roof edges; wind-driven rain entering at poor transitions.
• Backflow from A/C condensate lines saturating roof decking.

See owner threads and reports: Google: Coachmen Pursuit Water Leaks, community discussions in Good Sam Community: Coachmen Pursuit Leaks, and video walkthroughs at YouTube: Coachmen Pursuit Water Leak. Many owners also document water issues on Reddit: r/rvs leaks search.

Slide-Out Mechanisms and Leveling Systems

Complaints cluster around slide rooms binding, going out of sync, or jamming partially open/closed. Reports often cite component brands frequently used across the industry (e.g., Schwintek-style in-wall systems on smaller slides) and hydraulic/electric leveling jacks (e.g., Lippert). Symptoms include loud grinding, erratic movement, and controllers tripping under load.

• Slide tubes or tracks wearing prematurely; motors failing; control module faults.
• Leveling jack leaks, collapsed jacks, or error codes that strand owners at campsites.
• Out-of-level storage causing frame twist that worsens slide binding.

Research threads and fixes here: Good Sam: Coachmen Pursuit Slide Problems, YouTube: Pursuit Slide Problems, and Reddit owner experiences: r/GoRVing Slide Problems. Share your slide or jack story: post your ownership timeline.

Electrical, Multiplex Controls, and Charging Problems

Electrical issues reported on various Pursuit model years include intermittent 12V dropouts, shorts traced to pinched wiring behind cabinets, transfer switch failures, inverter/charger configuration errors, and control panel glitches (multiplexed lighting or tank monitors reporting incorrectly). These problems can cascade, especially after water intrusion.

• “Ghost” lights, blown fuses, and tripped GFCIs without clear cause.
• Generator runs but no load transfer; shore power contacts scorched in low-quality outlets.
• Inaccurate tank sensors leading to overfills or misreads.

See video diagnostics and owner fixes: YouTube: Coachmen Pursuit Electrical Problems and owner review sites: RVInsider: Electrical Issues Search. Reddit threads also chronicle wiring gremlins: r/rvs: Electrical Problems.

Climate Control: A/C Capacity, Ducting, and Heating

Owners in hot climates frequently say one or even two roof A/Cs struggle to cool the cabin, particularly in sun-exposed Class A windshields and when insulation is inconsistent. Ducting leaks, loose plenums, and thermostat calibration can aggravate the problem. Heating complaints include uneven furnace distribution and noisy blowers.

• Check for poorly sealed return ducts and gaps in ceiling registers.
• Verify that both A/C units are drawing full amperage and that the generator/transfer switch can support combined loads without voltage sag.
• Use IR thermometer checks during your inspection to detect duct leaks.

See owner diagnostics and hacks: YouTube: Coachmen Pursuit A/C Problems and discussion boards: Good Sam: Pursuit A/C Issues.

Chassis Handling and Steering (Ford F-53)

Like many gas Class A motorhomes on the Ford F-53, the Pursuit is widely reported to wander, sway in crosswinds, and porpoise over undulating highways. Owners commonly spend thousands on aftermarket fixes to achieve acceptable control: front steering stabilizer (e.g., Safe-T-Plus), rear track bar, sway bar upgrades, SumoSprings, and proper alignment/load balancing.

• Symptoms include white-knuckle driving, steering play on center, lane drift, and passenger discomfort.
• Some handling complaints are exacerbated by poor weight distribution, underinflated tires, or misaligned axles from the factory.
• F-53 recall history affects many brands; check VIN-specific recalls for your Pursuit year: NHTSA recalls: Coachmen Pursuit.

Explore owner-handling threads and upgrades: r/rvs Handling Problems and YouTube: Pursuit Handling Problems. If you corrected handling issues, report your repair experience to help others.

Generator, Shore Power, and Transfer Switch Reliability

Common Onan generator complaints include surging under load, hard starts after storage, and voltage drop when both A/Cs are running. Transfer switch failures (pitted contacts, heat damage) can knock out power entirely. These issues often tie back to poor ventilation, loose connections, or undersized wiring and can damage appliances if not corrected.

• Inspect transfer switch for heat discoloration and proper torque on connections.
• Confirm generator service history, including fuel filter, air filter, and carb cleaning.
• Perform a full-load test with microwave, water heater on electric, and both A/C units.

Owner diagnostics and case studies: YouTube: Pursuit Generator Problems, Good Sam: Electrical Problems, and Google: Transfer Switch Problems on Coachmen Pursuit.

Plumbing Leaks, Fittings, and Tank Sensor Errors

Fresh, gray, and black tank problems include false readings, stuck sensors, and leaks from PEX fittings, cheap plastic elbows, or pump connections. Water heater bypass and winterization ports sometimes drip. Left unattended, even minor leaks damage floors and cabinets.

• Look for PEX crimps that rotate, hand-tightened fittings, and loose clamps behind hard-to-reach panels.
• Demand a pressure test during your inspection; run both sinks, shower, and flush toilet while inspecting cabinets and basement bays for drips.

Review owner threads and videos: YouTube: Pursuit Plumbing Problems and RVInsider: Plumbing Problem Reports.

Weight, Payload, and Towing Expectations

On some units, advertised cargo carry capacity shrinks once options are installed. Owners report disappointment when they discover limited payload for passengers, water, and gear. Towing while loaded can push the chassis near or over limits, with braking and heat issues.

• Demand a current weight slip for the exact coach on the lot, with full fuel and typical fluids.
• Calculate real payload and tongue weight, not brochure numbers.
• Cross-check hitch rating versus GCWR minus actual loaded weight.

Owner calculations and cautionary tales: Google: Coachmen Pursuit Payload Problems, discussions on RVForums.com (use site search), and Good Sam: Pursuit Towing.

Warranty and Service: Repeated Delays and Dealer Bottlenecks

Across many brands in this price segment, owners report long waits for authorization and parts. Coachmen Pursuit owners describe months-long delays, particularly when a dealer didn’t make the original sale. A common complaint: “We lost a season while the coach sat at the dealer.” Read for yourself on the BBB (Coachmen Pursuit), explore owner threads via Google: Pursuit Warranty Problems, and review video testimonials on YouTube: Pursuit Warranty Issues. Also browse complaint aggregators (manual search for “Coachmen” and “Pursuit”) on PissedConsumer.

• Frequent “dealer ping-pong” between chassis and house warranty coverage.
• Limited service bay availability, especially during peak season.
• Repairs that don’t fix root causes, prompting repeat visits.

To prepare, watch consumer advocacy content like RV industry exposés by Liz Amazing and come armed with documentation. If you faced warranty roadblocks, what problems did you face?

Recall History and Safety Notices

Recalls vary by model year and exact components installed. Use the official database and your VIN for precise information: NHTSA Recalls for Coachmen Pursuit. Historically, owners and service centers have flagged items including:

• Chassis-related recalls on the Ford F-53 platform (steering, braking, or powertrain components) that impact many Class A gas coaches, including certain Pursuit units within affected VIN ranges.
• LP gas component recalls (e.g., regulator batches used across multiple brands/years in the industry) — verify whether your Pursuit’s equipment is covered.
• Electrical compliance issues (wiring or fuse protection) and seatbelt/occupant restraint labels or mounts in certain model years.

Confirm active or completed recalls by VIN on NHTSA, and search for field reports and owner narratives: Google: Coachmen Pursuit Recall, Reddit: Pursuit Recall, and video summaries: YouTube: Pursuit Recall.

Product and Safety Impact Analysis

Based on consumer reports and recall categories, here’s how these issues translate into real-world risk:

• Handling and steering (Serious): Wandering and sway increase driver fatigue, elevate crash risk in crosswinds or evasive maneuvers, and can lead to tire overheating if alignment and pressures are off. Handling upgrades are often required for comfortable control on highways.
• Water intrusion (Serious): Causes structural rot, mold exposure, electrical shorts, and devaluation. Repairing delamination and rot is expensive and sometimes exceeds resale value on older units.
• Slide/leveling failures (Serious): A jammed slide can trap gear or occupants, compromise seals (inviting water), and necessitate mobile service to retract for towing. Failed jacks can render the coach unusable.
• Electrical faults (Moderate to Serious): Transfer switch overheating and loose connections can create fire hazards. Miswired circuits and failed GFCIs increase shock risk during wet-weather camping.
• Warranty delays (Financial Risk): Downtime destroys trip plans and may require out-of-pocket repairs if the dealer cannot schedule promptly.

Legal and Regulatory Warnings

Owners frustrated by repeat defects should know their rights and escalation paths:

• Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (Federal): Requires clear warranty terms and prohibits deceptive warranties. If the manufacturer or authorized dealer fails to repair defects within a reasonable number of attempts or time, you may have remedies including attorney’s fees. Document every visit, invoice, and communication.
• State Lemon Laws: Many states apply lemon protections to motor vehicles, including motorhomes (sometimes only the chassis; check your state). If substantial defects persist within the initial ownership window, you may qualify for buyback or replacement. Consult a lemon-law attorney early.
• Uniform Commercial Code (UCC): Implied warranties of merchantability and fitness may apply. Dealers and manufacturers can be liable for selling products that are not fit for ordinary use.
• NHTSA Defect Reports: Safety-related defects should be reported. If patterns emerge, NHTSA may open investigations or expand recalls: NHTSA: Coachmen Pursuit.
• FTC and State AG Complaints: If you experience deceptive marketing or warranty runarounds, file complaints with the FTC and your State Attorney General. This can pressure better behavior from dealers and manufacturers.

Keep a paper trail: photos, videos, moisture readings, diagnostic reports, and written timelines. These documents are essential if you need to seek legal remedies.

What to Inspect on a Pursuit (New or Used)

If you proceed, make your inspector’s checklist forensic and specific to known Pursuit trouble spots. Consider a second expert opinion if major defects appear.

• Roof and Seams: Probe all cap seams, roof penetrations, and ladder mounts. Use moisture meter/IR camera. Inspect under slide toppers and along slide roof edges.
• Slides: Extend/retract each slide multiple times. Listen for grinding. Check synchronization marks, corner seals, rollers, and underbelly protection.
• Leveling System: Cycle fully; check for hydraulic leaks, bent feet, and controller errors.
• Electrical: Remove transfer switch cover (if safe) to examine contacts. Check inverter/charger settings. Load-test shore and generator power with both A/Cs, microwave, and water heater.
• Plumbing: Pressurize at 60–65 PSI and inspect every PEX joint and pump fitting. Operate water heater and bypass valves. Verify no leaks at city water inlet.
• Chassis and Tires: Demand alignment printout, tire date codes (DOT), weighed axle by axle, and correct PSI. Long test drive at highway speed to evaluate wander and braking.
• Interior Fit/Finish: Tug on all cabinetry, examine trim, test every latch and window, and verify proper emergency egress operation.
• Documentation: Confirm recall status, warranty coverage, and an itemized punch list the dealer agrees to complete before you pay.

Don’t skip a professional evaluation: find an RV inspector near you and instruct them to prioritize water intrusion, slide alignment, and electrical thermal scanning.

Serviceability and Ownership Costs

Beyond the purchase price, many Pursuit owners budget for handling upgrades (often $1,500–$4,000), slide/jack repairs, and water mitigation supplies (sealants, inspection gear). Add the potential cost of downtime if repairs require factory parts or a backlogged service center. Depreciation accelerates on units with water damage or persistent electrical issues — even if repaired.

Any Signs of Improvement?

Some owners report satisfactory experiences after thorough pre-delivery inspection and immediate corrections. Recalls are typically resolved by dealers once parts and instructions are available. Incremental improvements in component sourcing and QC can occur year to year. Still, the variability in build quality and the frequency of serious complaints warrant an aggressive due-diligence stance for prospective buyers.

As you research, leverage watchdog voices that spotlight real owner realities, such as Liz Amazing’s channel. Search her videos for the Coachmen model and year you’re evaluating.

Owner Evidence and Research Links (Use These to Verify)

• YouTube Search: Coachmen Pursuit Problems
• Google Search: Coachmen Pursuit Problems
• BBB: Coachmen Pursuit
• Reddit r/RVLiving: Coachmen Pursuit Problems
• Reddit r/GoRVing: Coachmen Pursuit Problems
• Reddit r/rvs: Coachmen Pursuit Problems
• NHTSA Recalls: Coachmen Pursuit
• RVInsider: Coachmen Pursuit Problems
• Good Sam Community: Coachmen Pursuit Problems
• YouTube: Coachmen Pursuit Issues

Summary: Is the Coachmen Pursuit Right for You?

The Coachmen Pursuit offers big-coach layouts at accessible prices, but consumer reports consistently highlight weaknesses: water intrusion risk, slide and leveling failures, electrical issues, challenging handling on the F-53, and prolonged warranty/service delays. You can stack the odds in your favor with a rigorous third-party inspection, persistent pre-delivery punch-list enforcement, and a budget for chassis upgrades and repairs.

Based on the breadth and severity of documented complaints, we do not recommend the Coachmen Pursuit for shoppers seeking a low-hassle, first RV ownership experience. Consider higher-quality alternatives or shop used units with fully documented repairs, proven dry inspections, and verified chassis upgrades.

Have you owned a Coachmen Pursuit? Share your experience below to help others make informed decisions.

Comments and Owner Reports

What did you encounter with your Coachmen Pursuit — good or bad? Your real-world details on leaks, slides, electrical, handling, warranty, and dealer support will help future buyers. Thank you for contributing to a more transparent RV marketplace.