Jayco, Australia’s biggest RV manufacturer is under fire for allegedly misleading buyers about just how off-road their ‘off-road’ vans really are.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched Federal Court proceedings against Jayco, claiming the brand misled consumers by advertising several of its caravans, specifically the Outback, All Terrain and CrossTrak models, as being designed for serious off-road use. According to the ACCC, that simply wasn’t the case.
Looks Tough, But Don’t Take It Off the Tarmac?
The core of the ACCC’s case is that Jayco used terms like “purpose-built off-road hybrid RV”, “our toughest off-roader”, and “can tackle just about any terrain” across its brochures, social media, websites, and even trade show displays. The imagery often showed these models being towed through sandy tracks, rocky trails, water crossings, and rutted bush roads, locations that would be familiar (and inviting) to any 4X4er looking to hit the tracks with a camper in tow.
But here’s the kicker: according to Jayco’s own warranty terms, those exact conditions, 4WD-only tracks, ruts, heavy impacts, and undulating terrain are not covered. In fact, the ACCC alleges these vans weren’t even designed for those environments.
“We allege Jayco misled consumers by advertising the RVs in terrain in which they were not designed to be used and were not covered by its warranty,” said ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh.
Buyers Left High and Dry
The concern isn’t just that the vans may not be as tough as advertised. It’s that unsuspecting buyers could have paid a premium (upwards of $113,000) for an RV based on the assumption it was capable of doing exactly what the marketing showed. Worse still, some customers may have found themselves without warranty support if things broke out on the tracks.
That’s a serious issue in the 4X4 and touring space, where equipment is often bought based on trust, brand reputation, and the promise of reliability off the beaten path.
Not Jayco’s First Rodeo
This isn’t the first time Jayco’s been in the ACCC’s sights. Back in 2021, they copped a $75,000 fine for making misleading claims about consumer rights. And in 2022, the ACCC released a scathing report into caravan retailing, highlighting widespread consumer dissatisfaction.
What Happens Now?
The ACCC is seeking penalties, declarations, injunctions and orders against Jayco, and this case could set an important precedent for how off-road products are marketed across the industry. If successful, it may force manufacturers to clean up their act, and their advertising.
A Word to the Wise
If you’re in the market for an “off-road” caravan or hybrid camper, read the fine print. Marketing photos of vans knee-deep in the bush might look great on Instagram, but if the warranty doesn’t cover it and the chassis cracks halfway down the Gibb River Road, you could be in for a very expensive reality check.
4 comments
Jayco, or Breako as they should be called, have always been junk. Seeing the number of them around now is staggering, not a day goes past in the top end tourist season that we don’t see them on the back of a tilt truck. Fools and there money are easily parted.
Having just completed a 4,000k round trip involving Broken Hill via mutwingi and mungo national parks on 600k of rutted, sandy, rocky dirt roads and numerous cattle grids, I am pleased with my jayco outback van. Yes some breakages occurred including the pantry door falling off but it was the roughest trip I’ve undertaken in it. I am sure I will find more to repair and will never succeed in removing all the dust. But there was nothing that meant I didn’t have a comfortable place to eat, sleep and live in for the duration.
Hopefully this will flow on to the other manufacturers that miss represent their products, at best they should be called off highway. If you want a true off-road caravan look at a BRUDER.
I own a Jayco Journey Outback and do use it on back roads, but with reduced tyre pressures, 25psi, and slower speeds.
We have a 2022 Jayco Journey Outback. Have only had a few long weekends away. I am less than impressed by the build quality. Cupboards not aligned properly, plastic retic clamps used underneath with some loose when we got it. A cheap open ended joiner on some solar panel wires with rust visible. We purchased it from the original owners before they even received it. When I tried to register the warranty Jayco would not accept the licensing papers and the copy of the change of ownership was too faint to read. The original was with sellers who had moved house. Because my wife was fighting esophageal cancer I could not be bothered with Jayco. We don’t mind the faults because we got it new at a price well under replacement but if we were to buy again then would be looking at something with a better build and better customer service.