Heartland Recreational Vehicles is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Big Country

May 07, 2013 — Recall Campaign #13V181000

Heartland Recreational Vehicles is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Big Country, Bighorn, Elk Ridge, Elk Ridge Express, Landmark, Prowler, Sundance, Sundance XLT, and Silverado fith wheel and travel trailers manufactured February 13, 2013, through April 16, 2013. If the awning installation sequence was not completely followed, the awning motor may unknowingly become damaged.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 890 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

13V181000

Manufacturer:	Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC
Recall date:	May 07, 2013
NHTSA Campaign #:	13V181000
Units affected:	890

Description:: Heartland Recreational Vehicles is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Big Country, Bighorn, Elk Ridge, Elk Ridge Express, Landmark, Prowler, Sundance, Sundance XLT, and Silverado fith wheel and travel trailers manufactured February 13, 2013, through April 16, 2013. If the awning installation sequence was not completely followed, the awning motor may unknowingly become damaged.
Consequeces:: If motor damage has occurred, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the trailer is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
Corrective action:: Heartland will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with a design that is not subject to an out-of-sequence installation error. The recall began on May 20, 2013. A notification schedule has not yet been provided. Owners may contact Heartland Recreational Trailers at 1-888-262-5992 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed. Heartland's recall campaign number is 99-01-11.
Notes:: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Affects the following:

2014 HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY Complaints
WE PURCHASED A 2014 BRAND NEW HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY FIFTH WHEEL IN NOVEMBER 2014. WE TOOK IT ON OUR FIRST LONG TRIP BEGINNING JUNE 2015. WITH LESS THAN 3500 MILES ON THE POWER KING TRAILER TIRES WE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 60 MILES AN HOUR. THE TIRE SHREDDED AND IN THE PROCESS RIPPED THE BUMPER FROM THE CAMPER, ALONG WITH TV LINES RESULTING IN OVER $4000.00 IN DAMAGE. WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AT A TIRE STORE AND CONTINUED OUR TRIP. APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES LATER THE 2ND TIRE BLEW (ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE FIRST BUT THE REAR TIRE BLEW THIS TIME) ONCE AGAIN WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED, AND FOCUSSED ON GETTING HOME AT THAT POINT. THE TRAILER WAS REPAIRED UPON OUR RETURN AND WE ALSO PURCHASED A TIRE MONITOR. LAST WEEK WE LOADED THE CAMPER AND HEADED OUT FOR A WEEK IN THE CAROLINAS. WITHIN 75 MILES THE FRONT TRAILER PASSENGER TIRE BLEW. THIS TIME THE BRAKE LINES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAMPER WERE RIPPED OFF FROM PIECES OF THE SHREDDED TIRE. FORTUNATELY A STATE FARM ROAD RANGER ASSISTED US, CHANGED THE TIRE, AND TOLD US THE OTHER TIRE LOOKED UNUSUALLY SHAPED AND RECOMMENDED WE EXIT ASAP TO CHECK IT. A FLORIDA STATE TROOPER OBSERVED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A TIRE STORE, SELLING THE SAME POWER KING TIRES. THEY HAD NO OTHER, SO WE PUT TWO MORE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, TURNED AROUND, DROVE THE CAMPER BACK TO CAMPING WORLD AND HAVE JUST SPENT $2000.00 PUTTING NEW GOODYEAR TIRES ON THE ENTIRE CAMPER. WE WERE TOLD WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL NO ONE WAS HURT, AS THE POWER KING TOW MASTER TIRES PUT ON THESE NEW RIGS ARE NOT SAFE, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE WERE NOT INFORMED AT ALL REGARDING THIS BY HEARTLAND OR CAMPING WORLD. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE THERE ARE MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. IT'S SHAMEFUL "MADE IN AMERICA" RV DEALERS ARE GETTING AWAY WITH THIS.;
2014 HEARTLAND BIGHORN Complaints
I have videos of my immaculate 2014 3570Fifth Wheel. Went to wire a set of stabilizer jacks and this is what I found. It is not the only truss under my RV that has welding on the cross braces or web that has failed. vin number [XXX]. My welder said the bad welds started to fail and cascade along the truss. This is a disaster! We need to continue removing the under covering and inspect the rest of the frame. This should never have happened! It appears the truss was tack welded and left in an area where moisture collected on the welding and started the corrosion process prior to assembly of the RV. The 1st video shows Two broken, rusted welds on the diagonal braces. The adjacent braces are now buckling. The next step would be the fracturing of the braces at the buckle. The second video shows the aftermath of the failure process. This failure of the trusses destabilizes the frame, removes support for the floor. The damage is hidden by the protective under carriage covering and was discovered XXX Symptoms we have noticed are sinking floor, sponge floor and metal to metal squeaks when leaving or entering the RV and going over speed bumps at slow speeds. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6);