Escape Trailer Industries-Escape 21 RV Exposed: Leaks, Service Delays & Towing Safety Risks

(Serious Concern)

Arrange a third-party inspection before taking possession—whether buying new or used. Many owners across brands report dealers deprioritize warranty fixes after they’ve been paid, resulting in months-long service delays and cancelled trips. A pre-delivery inspection (PDI) by an independent RV inspector documents defects and gives you leverage to require fixes before signing.

• Find an inspector: Use a local search like RV Inspectors near me. Book early—especially in spring and summer.
• Scope items to test: water intrusion (hose soak test), brake function, tire date codes and alignment wear, electrical charging and 12V/120V circuits, propane pressure/CO detection, furnace/AC cycling, appliance performance, roof seals/penetrations, and undercarriage welds/bolts.
• Document everything: Photo/video every punch-list line item and include it with your purchase agreement.

Consider adding contingencies that allow you to walk away if major safety defects appear. If you own an Escape 21 already, could you tell us whether you used an independent inspector and how it went?

(Moderate Concern)

Escape’s direct-to-consumer model often means U.S. owners must coordinate service with the Canadian factory or with local shops willing to perform warranty work. Reports indicate slow scheduling, parts shipping delays across the border, and the administrative overhead of securing pre-authorization. This can strand a trailer at a shop for weeks during peak season.

• How it shows up: Owners describe long lead times for parts, limited local shops willing to handle third-party warranty billing, and travel burden to reach the factory in British Columbia.
• Where to verify:
  Google: warranty problems,
  BBB search,
  Reddit r/rvs service threads.
• Mitigation: Before purchase, identify two local shops that will perform warranty work and confirm labor rates and lead times in writing.

To understand how pervasive this is across the RV sector, see investigations on Liz Amazing’s channel about service backlogs.

(Serious Concern)

While the one-piece fiberglass shell eliminates many roof seam leak points, owners still report water intrusion through windows, roof vents, AC gaskets, and other penetrations. Additionally, condensation in cold or damp climates can accumulate behind cushions and under mattresses—leading to mildew.

• Leak points commonly cited: window seals, front window (if equipped), roof fans, AC gasket compression over time, and improperly sealed accessories.
• Condensation hotspots: around aluminum window frames, under bed platforms with limited airflow, and on cold-weather camping trips.
• Costs and consequences: soft goods replacement, wood substrate swelling, and hidden mold if leaks/condensation go unaddressed.
• Evidence sources:
  YouTube: water leaks,
  Google: water damage,
  Good Sam: leaks threads.

Owner tip: Add HyperVent or slatted platforms under mattresses, run a dehumidifier when hooked up, and re-torque AC and window fasteners after the first few months. If you’ve experienced leaks or condensation with an Escape 21, can you describe the cause and fix?

(Serious Concern)

Premature inside/outside tire wear and alignment concerns are recurring themes across light towables, including molded-fiberglass trailers. Owners report torsion axle misalignment, under-spec tires or improper tire pressure, and brake adjustment issues causing uneven braking.

• Symptoms: feathered tire edges within a few thousand miles, trailer pulling/jerking under braking, heated hubs after towing, or squeal and lock-up under low-speed stops.
• Risks: blowouts, loss of control during emergency maneuvers, and expensive tire/axle replacement.
• Verification:
  Reddit: tire wear problems,
  Google: axle problems,
  RVInsider: owner reports.
• What to do: get a baseline alignment/tire wear check within the first 500–1000 miles; confirm brake wiring and breakaway function; consider upgrading to higher-load rated tires within spec.

Search for axle/brake owner videos; Liz Amazing has covered safety-critical towable issues across brands—search her channel for hitching, braking, and tire safety: RV towing safety deep dives.

(Moderate Concern)

Electrical complaints include miswired charge lines from the tow vehicle, battery cutoff switches that don’t isolate all parasitic draws, noisy or failing converters, and solar controllers configured poorly for lithium upgrades. As with most RVs, many issues trace back to supplier components and installation variances.

• Typical symptoms: batteries not charging while towing, house batteries draining in storage even when “shut off,” inverter tripping under modest loads, and erroneous tank/battery monitor readings.
• Where to check:
  YouTube: electrical problems,
  Google: electrical issues,
  r/RVLiving: electrical threads.
• Mitigation: ask for a wiring diagram; have an inspector test the 7-pin charge line voltage at the battery while towing; confirm the solar controller profile matches your battery chemistry.

(Moderate Concern)

Owners report PEX fitting drips after towing, noisy water pumps, and tank monitors that read inaccurately shortly after purchase. These are common across brands, but they still cost time and money to correct if discovered post-delivery.

• Look for: wet cabinet bottoms near sinks, water heater fittings, and the pump; staining around low-point drains; and gray/black sensors reading partially full when empty.
• Verification:
  Good Sam: plumbing problems,
  Google: tank sensor issues.
• Prevention: torque check fittings at PDI; add an accumulator to quiet pump hammering; plan to clean tank sensors with appropriate treatments.

(Moderate Concern)

While molded fiberglass shells often feel more solid than stick-and-tin trailers, owners still cite issues: cabinet latches loosening, drawer slides backing out, trim separation after towing on rough roads, and occasional gelcoat stress cracks around penetrations or mounting points.

• What owners notice: rattles and squeaks developing quickly, screws without threadlocker backing out, and doors going out of alignment.
• Evidence threads:
  Google: quality issues,
  r/GoRVing: fit and finish,
  RVForums.com (search for “Escape 21”).
• Mitigation: ask the builder/dealer to apply threadlocker on high-vibration cabinet hardware; carry spare latches; inspect fiberglass around mounted accessories during PDI.

If you’ve had cabinet or gelcoat issues on an Escape 21, what failed and how was it resolved?

(Serious Concern)

Consumers frequently misunderstand how options and cargo add real-world weight. Reports suggest tongue weights for similarly sized molded-fiberglass trailers can creep higher than buyers expect—particularly with front storage, batteries, and propane—raising the risk of exceeding hitch ratings or creating unsafe handling when under-hitched.

• Red flags: white-knuckle sway, rear suspension sag on the tow vehicle, or the need to crank a weight-distribution hitch aggressively to level the rig.
• Where to verify:
  YouTube: towing problems,
  Google: tongue weight,
  r/rvs: sway discussions.
• What to do: weigh the tongue with a scale before purchase; confirm payload capacity of your tow vehicle including passengers and cargo; and set up a properly rated weight-distribution hitch with integrated sway control.

(Moderate Concern)

Like most brands, Escape depends on third-party appliances (refrigerators, water heaters, furnaces, AC units). Owners report failures of control boards, igniters, and thermostats within the first season—followed by long waits for replacement parts and warranty authorization. These issues are not unique to the Escape 21, but they can sideline your camping plans.

• Where to look:
  Google: appliance problems,
  r/RVLiving: fridge/furnace threads,
  BBB: warranty complaints.
• Mitigation: demand in-writing appliance model numbers and warranty paths; stock spare fuses and a basic multimeter; learn to read appliance error codes.

(Moderate Concern)

Some buyers expect four-season performance from fiberglass shells. Owners report that single-pane windows, thermal bridging at frames, and limited insulation create condensation and chill in shoulder seasons. Furnaces may short-cycle in high winds, and ducting can be noisy in compact interiors.

• Reality check: “Four season” usually requires heavy retrofits: window insulating film, under-bed ventilation, and smart dehumidification practices.
• Where to verify:
  Good Sam: condensation posts,
  YouTube: winter camping experiences.
• Mitigation: Reflectix window inserts for cold nights, moisture absorbers, and a small 120V dehumidifier when on shore power.

(Moderate Concern)

Consumers report confusion over option pricing, long lead times, and occasional price movement between deposit and delivery in today’s volatile supply environment. Direct sales can reduce dealer markups, but it also puts the onus on buyers to scrutinize every line item and to manage expectations for delivery windows.

• Where to verify:
  Google: pricing complaints,
  Reddit: delivery delays,
  RVInsider: complaints.
• Mitigation: request a fixed-price purchase agreement, escalation contacts for delays, and a guaranteed PDI slot. If used: verify build sheet vs current option set.

For broader context on buying pitfalls and negotiation strategies in the RV industry, see Liz Amazing’s buyer beware guides.

(Moderate Concern)

Always check for recalls by VIN. Because Escape Trailer Industries is Canadian, some recall handling may involve Transport Canada while U.S.-market units appear in NHTSA. Search both, and confirm with the manufacturer:

• NHTSA database: NHTSA recalls for Escape 21
• General video evidence: YouTube: Escape 21 recall search

If a dealer or seller has not remedied an open safety recall, you can report it to NHTSA and request remedy. Keep written proof of recall completion. Have you encountered an open recall on an Escape 21 at sale? Tell us what happened.

(Serious Concern)

Consumers have rights under warranty and consumer protection laws. If defects are not repaired within a reasonable number of attempts or a reasonable time, you may have recourse:

• Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act (U.S.): Requires manufacturers to honor written warranties and prohibits deceptive warranty terms. Keep meticulous service records and communications.
• State Lemon Laws: Coverage for travel trailers varies by state. Some states exclude towables; others include them. Consult a local consumer attorney if repeated failures sideline your trailer.
• Uniform Commercial Code (UCC): Implied warranties of merchantability/fitness may apply if a trailer is not fit for ordinary use.
• FTC (U.S.) and provincial/territorial consumer protection (Canada): Misrepresentations of features or failure to disclose known defects may trigger enforcement.
• Safety reporting: Report safety defects to NHTSA and search for patterns with Google: safety complaints.

If a dealer or manufacturer fails to perform warranted repairs, send a certified demand letter citing Magnuson–Moss. When needed, escalate via BBB, your state’s consumer protection office, or small claims court (for eligible amounts).

(Serious Concern)

From a consumer risk standpoint, the most consequential issues are those that compromise towing safety and water management. Tire/axle/brake problems can escalate to blowouts or loss of control; water intrusion and chronic condensation can silently devalue the trailer through mold or hidden rot of substrates and furnishings. Electrical and appliance failures typically present as trip-ending inconveniences but become safety issues when they affect refrigeration of medications, heating in cold climates, or CO/propane detection.

• Towing safety: A misaligned axle or under-rated hitch setup combined with high tongue weight increases the risk of sway and stopping distance. This must be verified via scales and an inspector’s alignment/tire assessment.
• Water/condensation: Even with a molded shell, water that infiltrates via windows/penetrations—or persistent condensation—can lead to mildew, odors, and health risks for sensitive occupants.
• Service delays: Weeks-long waits for parts or authorization amplify the impact of even minor defects and can ruin seasonal plans. This is especially critical for owners who rely on the trailer for long trips or semi-full-time living.

Carry a punch list from delivery day and re-check systems after the first 500 miles. If you haven’t already, line up inspection support: search RV inspectors near you.