HEARTLAND Complaints

TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP FOR SMELL OF PROPANE, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED DAMAGES TO THE FRAME OF THE UNIT NOT UNCOMMON FROM THIS MFG WITH FRAME FAILURES, INSURANCE HAS DENIED MY CLAIM. I'M SEEING A PATTERN OF DAMAGE WITH OTHER UNITS AND MFG USING LIPPERT COMPONETS FRAMES. THE FRAME HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS AND HAS SHIFTED 2.5 INCHES THIS SAME SHOP HAS SEEN MORE OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER UNITS USING LIPPERT FRAMES. IN JANUARY OF 2007 HEARTLAND ISSUED A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN VIA LETTER TO OWNERS OF AFFECTED LANDMARKS. A CROSS SUPPORT NEEDED TO BE ADDED. ON RVNET WEBSITE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF FAILURES HAVE BEEN NOTED AS WELL. THIS IS A MODEL NAMED GOLDEN GATE FLOOR PLAN. THE RV INDUSTRY SEEMS TO BE EXEMPT FROM THESE TYPE OF RECALL ISSUES? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HEARTLAND NORTH TRAIL TRAILER WITH GREENBALL TOW MASTER TIRES, LINE SIZE 225/75/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE BLEW, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SPLIT AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

HEALTH HAZARD IN RV FRESH WATER TANK I PURCHASED A 2012 PROWLER 26P BH TRAVEL TRAILER. THIS TRAILER IS MANUFACTURED BY HEARTLAND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, LLC. THIS RV IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HEARTLAND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, LLC, (HEARTLAND RV) IS PUTTING DEFECTIVE FRESH WATER TANKS INTO THEIR RVS. THE TANKS SAG IN THE MIDDLE LEAVING OVER 15 GALLONS OF WATER IN THEM WHICH CANNOT BE DRAINED OR USED. THE TANKS HAVE A CAPACITY OF 49 GALLONS. THAT LEAVES APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE WATER LEFT IN THE TANK AFTER DRAINING THE TANK WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED DRAIN. THERE IS A FITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE TANK THAT HAS THE DUAL PURPOSE OF BEING USED FOR THE DRAIN AND THE PICKUP FOR THE WATER PUMP. THE FITTING IS NOT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK AS IT SHOULD BE AND THE EXCESSIVE SAGGING OF THE TANK TRAPS THE WATER. THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD AS THIS WATER IS INTENDED TO BE POTABLE WATER THAT IS USED FOR COOKING AND DRINKING. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PROPERLY SANITIZE AND FLUSH THE TANK WITH THIS MUCH WATER LEFT IN IT AFTER DRAINING. THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE IS TO SANITIZE WITH CHLORINE BLEACH AND THEN THOROUGHLY DRAIN AND FLUSH OUT THE TANK. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PROPERLY FLUSH THIS TANK BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER TRAPPED IN THE TANK. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION WHICH WARRANTS A FACTORY RECALL. HEARTLAND RV CONTACT INFORMATION: HEARTLAND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, LLC 1001 ALL-PRO DRIVE ELKHART, IN 46514 PHONE: 574.262.5992 *TR

TIRES BLEW OUT ON 5TH WHEEL AND DESTROYED BOTH SIDES IN THE TIRE AREA, TRIM, FENDERS AND SHEET METAL. ONCE ON OCTOBER 21ST AND ONE ON NOVEMBER 25, 2012. WE HAD DEFECTIVE TIRES. THEY ARE TOMAX TIRES MADE BY DYNAMIC TIRES IN CANADA. ... UPDATED 04/11/13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HEARTLAND BIGHORN TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER HEATHER TANK EXPLODED AND FLOODED THE KITCHEN AREA, DAMAGING THE FURNACE IN THE PROCESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE TRAILER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TRAILER ALSO DID NOT GENERATE MILEAGE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HEARTLAND SUNDANCE RV, EQUIPPED WITH GREENBALL TOW MASTER TIRES, LINE SIZE: ST225/75R15 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES FAILED DUE TO CRACKS ALONG THE TREAD. THE CONTACT ALSO STARTED THAT THE BENDER WALLS, WIRES, PLUMBING AND THE FLOORBOARD WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HEARTLAND ROAD WARRIOR RV EQUIPPED WITH POWER KING TOWMAX TIRES, SIZE: 235/80R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND TOWING THE RV, THERE WAS A THUD HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE STEEL CHORDS HAD BECOME VISIBLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED ALL OF THE TIRES AND FOUND THAT THE REMAINING TIRES EXHIBITED TREAD SEPARATION AND BULGES. THE FAILED TIRE WAS REMOVED AND THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THERE WERE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SKIRT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO SEND IN THE FAILED TIRES FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE FOR BOTH THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS 800. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF UPDATED 2/4/2013 *JS

THE AFFECTED PARTS SECTION ABOVE WOULD NOT KEEP MY AFFECTED PARTS LISTED, SO THEY WERE THE DELAMINATED TIRE, FENDER SKIRTING AND SOME WIRING. WHILE TOWING MY 2011 3250 TS BIG COUNTRY FIFTH WHEEL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD ON THE CAMPER DELAMINATED. THE CAMPER WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE TREAD OF THE TOWMAX STR ST235/80R16 HAD DELAMINATED HALFWAY OFF OF THE TIRE CORE. AFTER CALMING DOWN AND GETTING ROADSIDE SERVICE TO PLACE THE SPARE ON THE CAMPER I CONTINUED SLOWLY TO THE NEARBY CAMPSITE. NOTE: WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE ROADSIDE SERVICE TO ARRIVE, ANOTHER FELLOW CAMPER STOPPED BY TO ASSIST IF HE COULD. WHILE THERE HE TOLD ME THAT THIS DELAMINATION PROBLEM WITH THESE TOWMAX TIRES HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. I FOUND HIS STATEMENT THIS TO BE VERY TRUE AND DISTURBING. AFTER COMPLETING RESEARCH ON VARIOUS/MANY RV FORUMS WHERE I READ SIMILAR STORIES AND SAW PICTURES OF SIMILAR/WORSE DAMAGES AS MY OWN I AM AMAZED AND SHOCKED THAT THESE TIRES ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED ON RV'S. AND THIS DELAMINATION PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, AS NOTED BY THE RV FORUM REPORT DATES. AT A MINIMUM, THERE HAS BEEN PROPERTY DAMAGED. THANK GOODNESS IN OUR CASE WE HAD JUST LEFT A RED LIGHT AND WERE ONLY GOING 35-40 MPH. THIS IS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!!! I AM NOW SEARCHING FOR 4 NEW TIRES TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND GET SOME PEACE OF MIND BACK BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO FL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING SOME POSITIVE RESULTS IN THE CASE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING NORTH FROM SAN ANTONIO, TX TO LANCASTER, PA WITH OUR 2011 HEARTLAND CYCLONE 3950 WE HAD A SEVERE BLOWOUT ON THE DOOR SIDE OF THE FIFTH WHEEL(PASSENGER SIDE OF TRUCK). THIS BLOWOUT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE REAR SIDE OF THE CYCLONE. THIS FIFTH WHEEL ONLY HAD 200 MILES OF TRAVEL TIME PRIOR TO LEAVING SAN ANTONIO. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 20, 2012 ABOUT 16 MILES FROM EMPORIA, VA. THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT WERE MOUNTED ON THE FIFTH WHEEL AT PURCHASE TIME. WE WERE DELAYED FOR AT LEAST 5 DAYS IN EMPORIA AND HAD TO HAVE A MOBILE REPAIRMAN COME OUT TO REMOVE SOME OF THE SHEET METAL SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE ON OUR TRIP NORTH. WE ALSO HAD ALL SIX TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE OF OUR UNTRUST OF THE POWER KING TOWMASTER TIRES. DURING OUR TRIP NORTH WE STOPPED EVERY 4 HOURS AND AT THAT TIME I CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE. THE TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 80 PSI SINCE THIS IS A VERY HEAVY FIFTH WHEEL (18,000 LBS GVWR). THESE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE USED ON ANY TYPE OF FIFTH WHEEL. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS THAT WAS RUN OVER AND IT WAS A MODERATE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY (85 DEGREES). *TR

6000 MILES OF NORMAL TRAILER TOWING. NO IMPACT OR OTHER UNUSUAL ACTIVITY. DURING PARKING OF TRAILER, FOUND TIRE WITH BELT DEFORMATION AND RELATED ABNORMAL WEAR ("FLAT SPOT"). TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND. TIRE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, REPLACED ALL 6 TIRES DUE TO POSSIBLE/VISIBLE SIMILAR FAILURE. *TR