GRAND DESIGN Complaints

Frame and structure issues Entrance door opens during transit Propane compartment opens during transit Large slide difficult to extent

While towing this 5th wheel camper we observed vertical motion between the truck and camper body. We had a mobile service technician expose the front frame and inspect, he found 3 frame cracks. We have an appointment with Grand Design on June 9, 2025 for their inspection & repair.

This is a 5th wheel trailer by Grand Design ("GD"). We had significant frame movement due to improper construction and broken welds, resulting in: 1) Screws shearing off at the top of the nose cap, causing the roof to bubble and tear during transit. Roof and screws were replaced under warranty. 2) Entry door was misaligned and required adjustment to close properly (likely due to shifting of frame/body). Strike plate and lock adjusted. 3) Side door to propane tank compartment popped open during transit on the interstate. 4) Rubber strip covering siding/body screws under nose cap flew off during transit on the interstate. Rubber strip replaced. 5) Screws shearing off near hitch, causing siding under nose cap to sag. We were unable to reattach it ourselves with screws as recommended by GD because the frame no longer aligned properly. Front end taken apart and rebuilt, additional metal added by GD under warranty (refused to provide written details or to update weight). 6) Broken weld under front closets in front of nose cap (front bedroom model). GD initially denied welds were broken. Front end taken apart and rebuilt, additional metal added (refused to provide written details or to update weight) by GD under warranty. 7) Frame movement caused rear frame wall to detach and screws to pop out in interior (causing recliners to detach and move during transit). "Dimples" appeared on exterior lower siding ~4" up from rear on both sides. Unclear on specific damage, because GD will not fully explain in writing. GD added one ~4" piece of metal between the siding and rear wall framing on each side (picture attached) and replaced screws, under warranty. 8) Extreme wear on leaf springs, axels, and tires, caused by excessive movement due to broken/poorly engineered frame, requiring replacement. GD replaced parts, partially under warranty. GD stated the unit was not road worthy, but told us to haul it to them. They refused to send pictures of damage or repair other than the one.

We have extensive frame failure on the front cap of our RV. We are unsure of anything rear of the RV. We had broken welds, missing bolts, and flex while towing. It was inspected by the manufacturer and was outside of their frame flex limits and was deemed unsafe to drive until repaired. We have had it fixed and an ibeam installed as well as welds fixed and other beams installed on the side for support. Grand design has been involved all reports and did come for inspection at the service facility. Warning signs prior to failure: movement of interior furniture against wall, doors coming open enroute, doors not closing correctly, trim coming off enroute, screws coming loose, floor of front of camper creaking.

Bish’s RV in Boise has confirmed that our unit is experiencing frame flex again. Our RV is under warranty and we have been waiting for over a month to hear back from Grand Design. This began in January 2023, we took the unit to a service center for repairs, which took over a month. However, after towing just 45 miles, the issue reoccurred. We were then sent to McClain’s in Sanger, Texas, where SRT Chris found that lag bolts had been left out during manufacturing. He replaced the seal plates with thicker steel and made necessary adjustments. Now that this issue has happened a third time, I’m concerned that the breaking seal plates are a symptom of a larger structural problem. We've also had a cargo door open during transport, along with a broken leaf spring and suspension. At this point, I have little confidence that a proper repair is even possible.

2021 Grand Design Reflection 268bh Slide out opens about 1" - 2" during transport Rear wall separating from back main frame (1"-2") Wall pulling away from roof at the front of RV Outriggers bent in the back of RV (2)

Resubmitting from 2/3/2025 as the first form was not received. Attn: [XXX] I am the original owner of this unit and there is approximately only 1,500 miles on my trailer. This Grand Design is a swap from the original 2019 Grand Design that I already had. When I am able to camp, when my trailer is not in the shop, we only camp about an hour away from home as I don't feel safe. We have been experiencing frame issues. There is excessive pin box movement (this is the OEM), cargo, main doors, as well as the kitchen slide out coming out during transport, separation of roof and nose cap (and other roof issues), axels have been replaced, multiple replacements of suspension components, wrinkling in my walls, saw dust and metals shavings found throughout the unit. l I have been in contact with Grand Design many times, but not much help. I have the feeling they are trying to delay any kind of repairs for their manufacture defects. These have been an ongoing issue since the day I brought this trailer home. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Excessive movement of 5th wheel pin box as a result of cracked frame supporting it. This is the only point of attachment between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Complete failure could lead to uncontrolled detachment of trailer resulting in serious damage, injury or death. Grand Design inspected range of motion of the rear of the pin box on Feb 9, 2025 and deemed it not an issue. However, the front attachment point has a complete crack through the supporting beam which they will not address.

I am experiencing upper deck frame flex which our manufacturer has unsuccessfully attempted to repair twice (Nov 2021 and Oct 2024). The manufacturer refuses to accept responsibility for our safety concerns and has ceased all remaining repair attempts which was communicated to us through emails. This excessive flex causes my cargo doors to open while traveling, damage to the supporting frame structures (frame cracks throughout), and the attaching king pin that no longer supports the weight of our RV as evidenced by the 1 inch drop when hooking our RV up to the tow vehicle. Multiple repair attempts have been made by the manufacture at the manufacturer's facilities however, each attempt has failed and is simply weakening the already weakened frame. The manufacturer has extended the warranty to its consumer base however, my contention is this is merely "optics" given their refusal to apply a "permanent" fix to our RV that IS currently under their extended warranty.

We started noticing issues on our RV and reported it to Grand Design. Those issues included bolts holding front philon breaking and loosening, wallpaper at base near floor shifting, excessive new noises on slide movement, lippert legs stopping due to being off balance on level ground, stress cracks in front cap, sawdust in pantry cabinet, loose lag bolts upon further inspection and dresser panel repeatedly popping off on travel days. Based on the issues, we took it to a a GD dealer (La Mesa in Sanford FL) for inspection. After measurements I was told by Grand Design that it was excessive frame flex. The philon was removed by the dealer and in that small section no obvious cracks were noted. They replaced lag bolts from the inside. We asked if they would remeasure and they said that Grand Design didn't require that, but they would. We were told that the measurements did not change after the lag bolts were replaced. They did not fill out the official form since Grand Design didn't require it. They repaired the stress cracks in the paint, but the dealer told me that the wallpaper shifting and sawdust was normal. We took the vehicle and then the caulking all cracked where the philon attached (the same places that bolts broke and were loose prior to. I am concerned that there was not further inspection, so I called Grand Design. They said the measurements are in spec and always have been, so he's not sure why anything was done. From my research and from looking at the forms, 1/2 inch is out of spec and nothing has changed on my rv.