Swift Caravan Panoramic Window

I nkew you would be more in touch by your Amen reply

I for one will never buy another Swift caravan, the build quality of my 2020 Elegance is almost laughable if it didn't cost nearly £30k.

An update.

Put off getting the cracked rear panel replaced until the front panoramic window could be replaced at the same time.

Swift have realised these windows are an issue and have a dedicated resource travelling the country to replace them. The 'van was booked in on 4 Jan to have the window done by the travellers first, then off for the rear panel.

Swift travellers turned up, no parts available, no date of when they will be available. Lens repair tape replaced with gorilla tape by dealer.

Rear panel replaced with application of new graphic, as image.

Dealer does a great job, let down by Swift on parts.

Just goes to show this caravanning lark is not plain sailing. Over time we've accepted the poor quality, but all the time the warranty is in place, invaluable to have a dealer that looks after us in that respect. Have decided to run this into the ground and claim against the warranty as required. On collection another owner mentioned they had traded their Sterling Continental 570 in due to faults and got a newer Swift caravan, that has even more faults. Best stay with the devil you know. No point pouring good money after bad.

Will await panoramic window, we can still have adventures as not on a timetable, it's not stopping us using it, fortunately.

Either that or that have sacked them all as a money saving scheme!

Possibly Wolfie, although judging by the amount of complaints the brand gets, change that to probably!

The OP wrote:

I have always owned Swift caravans and have generally only had minor problems but I will be looking for an alternative manufacturer when I next change my caravan.

No doubt all the new, shiny 2022 models will be available for the expectant customers at the forthcoming event at NEC, queuing up to hand over their hard earned for more of the same. Until customers ditch the brand, nothing will change.

It amazes me that so many caravan owners tow with German, Japanese or Korean vehicles, presumably for their quality and reliability and yet they’re happy to risk purchasing a UK built caravan. 

Hi, 

I have a 2015 Swift elegance 570 and yesterday the panoramic window developed a crack. Nothing hit the van we are on a Caravan club site and this crack just appeared. So early days. Has anybody actually had a successful warranty claim. My van has a 10year body warranty. I am of the same as one of the other reviews that this forms part of the body shell. Would be interested to hear updates from people who have had this problem. Thank you

As our 2 posts on this thread, we have had a successful warranty claim met for a cracked panoramic window.

Oddly the last of the 2 posts sort of states wot is below:

These are an acknowledged fault. Swift have a dedicated resource travelling countrywide to replace them. They haven't quite got the parts and the resource to arrive at the same time, yet.

Given you are in West Sussex, did you buy through Chichester Caravans? If so their Chi site service manager is adept at sorting a claim. Trust you have full service history.

We have a date for end of April for the job to be done. The dealer is storing our 'van until then to save the couple of hundred miles of wasted trips if again the parts and the resource don't tie up.

As our first post on this thread, Swift get there, unfortunately the pace is glacial.

Collected caravan with new panoramic window last Friday. Weekend on a great CL. All good.

Swift do the right thing, just takes time.

Happy campers 

Hiya all

Folowed this thread with great interest.

I have a Swift Challenger 480 SE (2013). While it was still under warranty I had a successful claim and Swift replaced the Panoramic in 2018, took a while, though. There was evidence of a previous 'bodge' which was remedied during the works by their own technician and the 'van looked like it had just come out of the factory, hooray.

Swing forward to now (July 2022) and the Panoramic is showing signs of becoming detached and the window has a very definite bow in it despite the 'van not being towed at any time during the Covid lockdowns. I have been in touch with Swift customer services and, of course, they are denying liability because the 'van is out of warranty. My argument is that it was Swift's own work, completed while in warranty, that is failing and the Panoramic fitted was not fit for purpose. I am still in conversation with Swift, but don't hold out much hope.

I have an independent quote from my excellent dealership, Caravan Tech in East Sussex, which shows that a replacement will cost £958 (inc VAT). I am afraid though that the window will need to be replaced again within the NEXT five years. Can't be right, can it?

Is there any hope that I could remove and replace the window myself, given that there is no warranty issue? What does anybody say?

I might keep it stuck in with black gaffer!!