Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

i bought my 2013 A20 at the very end of october last year. since then it has been in the shop for half the time i have owned it (no exaggeration). almost sank once and had to be towed in twice. malibu and the dealer haven't been much help. here is a list of some of the problems, but i am sure i am forgetting some because there have been so many.

-flush valve leaking and almost sinking the boat, bildge pump failed then valve went.
-standard bow melted seat covers
-rear swim pads have been replace twice
-stereo died
-alternator died (barley made it back to the dock)
-engine has began to missfire, stall and eventually not start twice, had to be towed in (boat is in the shop right now for this issue, the second time was just this past weekend)
-stiching coming apart on both cover and binimi
-center bildge drain was seized and broke off when the boat was delivered (minor issue, but still on the list)
-heavy vibration noise coming from steering column when pulling up someone
-gauge console cracked and gauges pop out

I am at the point where i don't trust the boat to go anywhere. tried to get the dealer to buy the boat back and they straight up said they don't want it. offered to sell me a epic wakeboat at cost, but i still owe $50k on the $60K boat i bought less than a year ago so i know i will probably loss my ass over this. they said they would try to find a wholesaler to buy it, but their customer service is so god awful i don't believe that will happen and i don't even want to do any business with them because they have been so piss poor. I am basically looking for any advise i can get as to what to do next, i am at my wits end, i was hoping it would just burn down and let insurance take care of it last weekend but that didn't happen, lol.

Most of your issues sound pretty minor but your dealer needs to fix them. If they don't, take it elsewhere. Money talks and be vocal about your dealer issues. You will be surprised how much more you know about your boat by reading this forum than your dealer knows about boats in general. Take some pictures and show us your problems, we are a wealth of free knowledge.

I am having major mechanical issues that have left me stranded or almost sunk me. I am actually an automotive technician and had to diag some of the issues myself before I let the dealer take it. The bigger issue that I shouldn't have these issues on a brand new $60k boat. Half the time I have owned it, it has been in the shop. So I am making payments on something I can't even use.

Unfortunately QC issues are common with Malibu boats of this era. I draw the line at component failures and engine problems though. What month was your boat built? Last four digits of serial number will tell you. J213 would be 10th month of 2012 and designated as a 2013 model. A313 would be 1st month of 13 and a 2013 model. My boat had a few problems and was built in the second half of 2012. I repaired them all myself rather than going through the dealer. Wonder if we had the same sh!tazz assembly guy.

I will have to look when it comes back from the dealer.

Still seems like these issues could be solved by a dealer under your factory warranty. A majority of these issues should be a pretty easy fix for your dealer.

flush valve leaking and almost sinking the boat, bildge pump failed then valve went.
standard bow melted seat covers
rear swim pads have been replace twice
stereo died
alternator died (barley made it back to the dock)
stiching coming apart on both cover and binimi
center bildge drain was seized and broke off when the boat was delivered (minor issue, but still on the list)
heavy vibration noise coming from steering column when pulling up someone
gauge console cracked and gauges pop out

Engine diag might take them a little longer but a few lake tests should resolve the issue. I have had a brand new boat(not Malibu) in the past need to have 2 engines replaced before the 20 hour mark before they got the boat issues resolved.

Not sure I would put that boat in the lemon category just yet but maybe lean on the dealer to get some issues resolved.

Been leaning on the dealer hard, but they are just God awful. I even have Malibu contacting them and that isn't even helping.

Then I would contact Malibu again and let them know that nothing has gotten resolved. I have seen repair orders with more problems listed that what you have and seen the boat fixed and rolled in a few weeks. Is your dealer a Malibu/Axis dealer or just Axis? Do they move a number of Axis boats per season?

The we're a Malibu and Axis dealer but not anymore. Not quite sure who dropped who though.

Bryan,

Are you in Phoenix?