GRAND DESIGN Complaints

While towing our travel trailer we experienced a tire blowout on the left side rear. The blow out tore up the black water valve and sewage cap dumping sewage on the side of the highway. The lack of protection to the valve is not present and the valve is directly behind the tire. With trailer tire blowouts prevalent this is bound to happen again.

While driving, the entire wheel detached from the front axle on the driver's side on 7/31/2024. I was unaware of the tire coming off until another motorist flagged me down. I pulled over to the next gas station where I found the entire wheel, hub, and tire including brakes had detached from the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle new and there has been no service done to the wheels and tires since purchased. Based on my contacts with the Grand Design dealership in my area as well as other mechanics I know, they suspect the castle nut must have come loose while driving which I have been told should not have failed. I was unable to locate the wheel after the incident as I was on an approximately 4 mile long bridge when the motorist flagged me down so I suspect it may have gone over the side of the bridge when I lost it. Attached repair invoice for repairs to get home, but additional cost is being incurred to replace the wheel and tire at this time.

The contact owns a 2021 Grand Design Recreational Momentum. The contact stated that while having maintenance work completed on the RV, the dealer removed the nose cap and noticed that the insulation and the mylar tarp near the rear of the RV was burned. The contact was informed that the wiring on the nose cap had been overheating and causing the burn. The dealer had reconnected the wiring but had not repaired the RV. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Grand Design Momentum RV. The contact stated that the exterior storage doors failed to close properly. The contact stated that the generator doors almost detached, and the front rubber trim hold was detaching. The RV was towed to the dealer, where several repairs were performed; however, the frame continued to fracture. The dealer advised the contact to park the RV. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

Our brakes have not worked right since purchasing this unit in June 23, when we took our Solitude for inspection in March 24 the brakes need replaced, they were so bad with less than 3000 miles(1000 from transport, 2000 from us) on it, we did not take this in earlier due to our dealership closing so we were unable to get warranty work done on it. My husband has changed the control number to 5, 6,7,8,9,10 and the trailer never stops moving we did this test 7/19/24 before taking out to grand design. we asked if they could replace the brakes to 8k, was told no. I just found out this issue is a concern and to report it.

I was made aware of Grand Design’s Technical Service Bulletin 24-001 concerning issues with undersized and/or missing lag screws possibly be on some models of their fifth wheel campers. I was able to determine that our Momentum 381MS had the undersized 3/8” lag screws used in the construction of our camper. I made an appointment with Campers Inn in Jeffersonville, IN and took it in. I was notified by them on 8-5-24 that there were also 4 missing lag screws. They also told me there were broken welds on the frame. I went there on 8-6-24 and took pictures of the frame and a lag screws. In addition to this, on the only trip we have made with the camper we had issues of both walk through entrance doors coming open while traveling. The entrance door into the garage door came open twice and the door into the main area came open once. I was made aware of this by other motorists.

A spring hangar on the driver side broke. Luckily it did not cause an accident, nor damage.

Excess frame flex. Contacted Grand Design, they scheduled an inspection and then preformed followup repairs. New bracing and support were added by Grand Design.

Axles were supposedly installed backwards. Suspension is not installed square under the frame and rv bounces violently behind truck. Storage doors have come open while in transit.

Frame is cracked. Both sides frame rails have horizontal cracks forming near the leaf spring mount brackets. The structural integrity of our camper is now compromised. If a frame rail were to fail during travel, the loss of control to the tow vehicle would follow, most likely on public roadways. The crack will be present no matter who inspects it. The failure was noticed when I inspected the frame after being made aware of how common frame rail failures are with Grand Design products. Will be following through with attempting to have the manufacturer cover this defect under warranty.