HEARTLAND Complaints

-The 30 AMP MPPT solar controller located in the front storage compartment of a Heartland 5th wheel suddenly caught fire filling the RV with acrid smoke and scorching other critical components. The propane tanks are on both sides of the solar controller. The smoke sensors did not alarm and 3 people were in the RV at the time of the incident. -The fire could have burned (seriously or fatally) the occupants, caused smoke inhalation injuries/death, caused the propane tanks to explode, injured other campers, as well as damaged other property. -The problem has been reported to the manufacturer on July 13, 2021; however, it has not been acknowledged as reproduced or confirmed. -We have attempted to arrange for an inspection; however, the manufacturer has not been able to locate a dealer or servicing agent to do so. To date................NO INSPECTION OR SCHEDULED INSPECTION!!! We are still in contact with Heartland. So far, we are told August or September? Really> -There were no warning alarms, lamps, lights or signals.

Upon removing the most rear tire on the driver side of my RV fifth wheel trailer, I discovered the 12-inch I-beam was cracked near the hanger bracket. The crack is 5.5 inches long. If the crack continues to lengthen without repair, there is the potential for catastrophic I-beam failure on the highway. This problem is noted by the manufacture, Lippert Components, before 2016. I contacted a Lippert representative, Paul Klskowski, on November 9, 2016. Lippert offered it to be repaired at a local shop and provided a detailed repair procedure. Lippert denied the repair because the quote was too high. I had no warning of any kind that the crack had occurred.

The right rear leaf spring hanger started to crack. If the spring hanger would have broken off the tires could have came together creating a potential hazard. Lippert Components is the manufacture of this suspension system. Lippert marketed this system called Correct Track and installed it across several brands of RV. I did a little research and found multiple failures. I notified Lippert of the failure and they open a case for me. I had a welder complete all repairs and Lippert has agreed to reimburse me for that cost.

When we got the trailer we started going through tires. We replaced 4 or 5 tires. The RV ran out of the one year warranty. We took the vehicle to an RV dealer and found out the axles were bent. I contacted CampingWorld and they told me to pound sand. IT was not there problem. We had the axles replaced with the manufacturer’s specified axles. We then broke a leaf spring. We took the camper in again, and the axles are BOWED which means there is too much weight on the axles. We had the camper weighed. It weighs 6800 pounds. The axles are rated for 3500 EACH or 7000 pounds. The brochure that comes with the camper says that it weighs 6175. I do not believe that. We do not have a lot in the camper. The camper is rated at 6900 pounds per the manufacturer. WE now have to pay for bigger axles, leaf springs, tires,brakes, etc. This is the second time we have had to do this. Now imagine if you put your clothes in, plus some pots and pans, then load up the fresh water tank which is 41 gallons and have water in the grey and black tanks which are 35 gallons each. You would be way OVER the 7000 pounds on the axles. The 6800 pounds that we weigh is with all the tanks EMPTY. That is a static load. They are putting on axles that are too small for the RV.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 HEARTLAND PIONEER RV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE RV WAS STATIONARY, AN ELECTRICAL WIRE SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE RV TO FAIL TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE RV WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

KEPT TAKING TIRES BACK BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T HOLD AIR. THEY FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE WHEEL. HAD IT WELDED PER DEALER SUGGESTION. WAS TRAVELING TO TX TO WINTER. HAD BRAND NEW TIRES ON RV. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE WHEEL AND LUG NUTS JUST ROLLED OFF. WE HAD TO BE ESCORTED TO CAMPGROUND AND HAD TO WAIT 3 DAYS FOR PARTS. WAS CHARGED $1239.00I WAS TOLD THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE HUB, THE BRAKES, LUG BOLTS AND NUTS AND ARE USING THE SPARE.

WE HAD NOTICED A CRACK IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE FIBER GLASS IN THE RV, ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WELDINGS INSIDE THE WALL WHERE FAULTY AND CAME UNWELDED, I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THESE WELDS RE-DONE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AFTER COMPLAINING OF THE ISSUE, IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE RV THE REAR HANGER HAD COME UNWELDED FROM THE FRAME, IT WAS RE-WELDED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE ALSO WITHOUT MANUFACTURER ASSISTANCE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE TRAVELING ALONG DIFFERENT ROUTES IN THE US BUT THE ISSUE WAS DURING MOVEMENT OF THE CHOACH.

ONE OF THE SPRING SHACKLES HAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. IN FACT, THE FRAME TORE, THE WELD IS INTACT. I AM ATTEMPTING TO INCLUDE PHOTOS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*DT*JB

THE DEXTER AXLE AND BEARING CAME APART. IN 2018 SEVERAL RECALLS WERE MADE FOR SIMILAR AXLES WITH A DEFECT IN THE BEARING AND HUB CAUSING OVERHEATING AND FAILURE. OUR APPROXIMATELY 5.1-5.2K LBS TRAILER AXLE FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER BUT WASN'T LISTED AND DEXTER IS DENYING A PROBLEM IN THEIR MANUFACTURE / ACTIVE RECALL. PLEASE INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION. OUR WHEEL CAME OFF WHEN DRIVING AND WE RECENTLY HAD IT INSPECTED AND TIRES REPLACED ETC.*DT*JB

2019 HEARTLAND MALLARD M280 VIN [XXX] - BOUGHT JUNE 12, 2018 FROM CAMPING WORLD IN MONTICELLO, MN. ONLY USED ON 10 LOCAL CAMPING TRIPS. LOUD SQUEAKING FROM WHEELS - BROUGHT TO HILLTOP RV IN ROCHESTER, MN ON MONDAY SEPT 16, 2019. SERVICE REMOVED THE TIRE AND THE BRAKE DRUM FELL OFF. LUCKY THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED SEVERE ACCIDENT OR DEATH. MIGHT WANT TO INCLUDE MORE UNITS IN YOUR RECALL AS MINE WOULD BE CONSIDERED OUT OF THIS TIME FRAME - HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/RVS/HEARTLAND/MALLARD/RECALLS/000091506003664723000000058/RECALL.ASPX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR