GRAND DESIGN Complaints

Cargo Bay doors open while driving. The skirting screws along the wheel wells have become loose and started flapping while driving. refrigerator doors opened spilling contents while driving. The table lock failed and the table came loose while driving. water leaks in the undercarriage. front jacks and brackets are bent or broken. Have found sawdust on the counters and floor after driving.

After my refrigerator stopped working, I pulled the refrigerator out to investigate and check fuses (a common issue) I observed the wiring connected very poorly, and was melted together. additionally, there was a burn mark 2 inches or more in diameter on the wall where these wires were touching. so there was a fire due to this wiring

Purchased brand new 2024 Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE on Feb 8, 2025. Have taken trailer out twice for three days in the local area to perform operational testing of the travel trailer before traveling outside of the area. Dust caps on bearing axle came loose so took trailer in for inspection. Repair shop found that all hubs were empty of grease and castle nuts were loose, hubs have extensive heat discoloration as well as bearing play, travel trailer will need new bearings, hugs and bearing races. This is a brand-new trailer, and this could have ended in catastrophic consequences causing a serious or fatal accident. When purchasing a new travel trailer the assumption is made that the axles should be quality inspected and good to operate. I have now read on group forums that this has happened to others. This needs looked into asap.

Our 2022 395ms is being taken back to the factory in Elkhart Indiana due to unsafe frame flex/failure

Frame issues with the gooseneck area of the RV. We've got lots of movement with the RV in these areas where it connects with the towing vehicle. We have had lots of movement in the front nose area of the RV causing substantial movement evidenced by interior and exterior cracks and noises when pulling. We have taken the RV to a repair facility and the manufacturer has denied making repairs to make the RV safe.

Trailer is equipped with the Lippert ABS brake system. During final review of issues covered by warranty at the Dealer (General RV in Birch Run MI) the dealer recommended a wheel bearing re grease which I agreed to. During this procedure the left rear brakes were noted as totally worn out and the brake drum had a significant crack due to excessive heat from the dragging brake. This trailer has approx. 8000 mi of towing. As of now root cause has not been determined but if I had not opted for the wheel bearing grease service the problem would not have been discovered. Failure of the cracked drum could have caused wheel lockup and led to a loss of control. There was no indication of a problem when driving

We purchased the coach fall 2022. First major trip was in summer 2023. The main slide out failed (stopped working halfway out and would not extend or retract) the second night of camping. There was not a local repair facility available. A mobile repair person was able to get the slide out retracted. He informed us there was only one screw holding the main slide out frame in place. We wrapped a ratchet strap around the coach to hold the slide out in so we could at least continue our trip. A remote repairman at out next stop reported this is a common occurrence on this coach and it would need to be completely rebuilt. We noted that during transport there was sawdust on the cabinets and floors which we have been informed is evidence of excessive frame flexing. We took the coach back to the dealer from which we purchased the unit. The slide out had to be completely rebuilt (new rails, new slide blocks, new motors). We have little confidence that the slide out will not fail again. We noted that the rear tires were wearing at a rate of more than 4 times faster than the front tires. The excessive wear was accompanied with concern that we would blow a tire on the road and cause an accident and/or injury. A Lippert representative was consulted who advised that the front axle was defective and had to be replaced. Our extended warranty did not cover the cost of the axle. The next major trip was in summer 2024. The main slide out failed again. A repairman noted that the motors and rails needed to be replaced again and that the frame was at the limit of being within specs and may have contributed to the problem. During that repair the repairman noted cracking in the roof seams at the major junction at the front of the camper and around AC units and vents. Each of those areas had been resealed just 5 months earlier. We were informed that this was also evidence of excessive frame flexing. The repair facility diagnostician reported that the roof needed to be scraped and resealed.

I purchased a 2021 Grand Design Reflection 28BH fifth wheel in December 2024. Within the first year, I faced multiple warranty issues, including a $5,000 slide-out repair I had to cover out of pocket. Last summer, Grand Design’s CEO, Don Clark, stated in an email that the frame warranty had been extended to five years. However, my RV soon developed serious structural issues. The pin box and surrounding areas creaked and popped when hitching and unhitching. Stress cracks formed on the fiberglass front cap and above the main slide-out. The upper deck floor became spongy and creaky. The shower made excessive noise when walking near it. Cabinet doors in the bedroom opened while driving, and lag screws in the upper deck stripped out of the wall. Concerned for my safety, I took my RV to Busted Knuckle RV & Trailer Repair, a certified repair center, and filed a warranty claim with Grand Design. Their inspection revealed severe damage, including missing and stripped lag screws, a broken pin box, failing sill plates, broken floor supports, and multiple cracked or missing welds. The repair shop filed a claim, expecting coverage under the five-year frame warranty. To my disappointment, Grand Design denied the claim, stating the issues were “within spec.” They only covered six hours of labor for the inspection and refused repairs. Grand Design issued TSB 24-001 for Solitude and Momentum models but won’t acknowledge the same defects in Reflection models. With my RV unsafe to tow, I had no choice but to pay $5,400 out of pocket for partial repairs. Completing the remaining work is estimated at over $17,000. Despite their claimed five-year frame warranty, Grand Design refuses to cover these failures. Others face similar denials, making this a pattern of neglect. I am extremely disappointed in Grand Design’s failure to honor its commitments. I urge them to take responsibility, stand behind their product, and do the right thing.

1. Complete Trailer brake system failure due to incorrect wire gauge used during assembly at Grand Design. 2. Frame failure at axle shackle weld on Lippert frame due to over-penetration. While towing the trailer there was a message on the tow vehicle information center "trailer Brakes disconnected". All trailer breaking was lost while going down the Siskiyous. At that time the trailer began to sway and was difficult to maintain control due to the loss of trailer brakes. During assembly Grand Design used 18-gauge wire to connect the 14-gauge wire from the brake magnets and axle tube to the wire running through the trailer underbelly up to the Vehicle plug. Lippert brake installation manuals for 4 brake systems state to use at least 14-gauge wiring. These manuals are readily available on the Lippert website. The photos we have provided clearly show 18 gauge was used and its insulation had melted exposing the center conductor. Repair documentation from the dealership to fix the brakes indicated that the right rear magnet was intermittently bad drawing high current which would draw all the braking system current to that one assembly. This maximum current to one set of wiring caused the smaller 18-gauge wire to melt off its insulation which resulted in a hard short that prevented all braking at a very inopportune time. Had 14 gauge been used we would not have lost all braking to the trailer. During the brake wire repair at the dealership the frame around the RR axle shackle failed when the trailer was jacked up. It appears that the shackle attachment weld over-penetrated the frame ultimately causing a weak joint and lead to the frame failure. The frame failing around the shackle weld happening at the dealership instead of on the road is beyond lucky and avoided another very unsafe incident on the road. These two items happening at the same time almost resulted in a multi vehicle crash on I-5 southbound.

Complaint Against Grand Design RV – Urgent Safety Concerns In our 2024 Grand Design Solitude 380FL, we have experienced two fires, a brake explosion, severe flooding, and multiple structural failures. These critical safety defects put us and others at serious risk. The attached document details: •Brake explosion and fire on a California highway (August 2024) – A mechanic confirmed we were seconds from losing wheels and the axle. •Refrigerator fire (January 2025) – Melted components and destroyed food. •Flooding from failed slide seal – Caused structural damage. •Entry door failure – Preventing safe exit. Multiple dealers and independent mechanics confirmed these defects, yet Grand Design refused repairs. We have filed complaints with the BBB, Missouri Attorney General, and FTC. Cases are open. Please review the attached document for full details. We urge an NHTSA investigation before more owners are put at risk.