2016 Grand Design Reflection

Routine

Owners filed 19 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes14
000
Electrical System2
020
Wheels1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer1
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Appliance › Refrigerator22V038000
Filed Jan 28, 202243,421 vehiclesGrand Design Rv, Llc

Defect. Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain 2013-2021 Momentum, Solitude, and Reflection recreational vehicles. A 110-volt wire in the refrigerator cabinet may be improperly secured, which could result in the wire contacting the refrigerator cooling unit, causing an electrical arc.

Risk. An electrical arc increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace any damaged wiring, and properly secure the wires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 21, 2022. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910026.

Electrical System › Wiring20V362000
Filed Jun 19, 202022,797 vehiclesGrand Design Rv, Llc

Defect. Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Reflection trailers. A wiring connector in the vehicle underbody may not be properly secured, allowing water intrusion into the wiring connector, possibly resulting in an electrical short circuit.

Risk. If water enters the wiring connector, it can cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Grand Design will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring connectors up to prevent water intrusion, free of charge. This recall began June 29, 2020. Owners may contact Grand Design's customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910020.

Equipment › Other › Labels16V717000
Filed Oct 7, 2016480 vehiclesGrand Design Rv, Llc

Defect. Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Reflection recreational trailers, model 357BHS and 367BHS, manufactured November 12, 2014, to September 22, 2016. The affected vehicles have an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on the Federal Certification Label, stating a GAWR of 7,000 lbs when the actual GAWR is 6,400 lbs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Risk. If the operator loads the vehicle to the GAWR on the label, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Grand Design will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected Federal Certification Label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to replace the Certification Label themselves, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910007.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer › Lpg Systems › Lines and Fittings16V355000
Filed May 25, 20161,300 vehiclesGrand Design Rv, Llc

Defect. Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Imagine and Reflection recreational trailers manufactured January 15, 2016 to May 4, 2016. The MB Sturgis LP regulator on these vehicles may allow propane gas to leak into the regulator sight glass causing it to degrade and potentially crack.

Risk. If the indicator sight glass cracks, propane gas may leak out, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Grand Design will notify owners, and dealers will replace the LP regulator kit, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2016. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910006.

Equipment › Other › Labels15V518000
Filed Aug 14, 20151,721 vehiclesGrand Design Rv, Llc

Defect. Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Reflection fifth-wheel trailers manufactured September 5, 2013, to June 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with axles rated to 5200 lbs. instead of 6000 lbs. as designed and as listed on the Certification Label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Risk. The inaccurate label may result in users overloading their trailer, resulting in axle or tire failure and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Grand Design will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the trailers and will replace any axle that is only rated to 5200 lbs. with an axle rated to 6000 lbs., free of charge. The recall began on September 10, 2015. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-8000 ext. 2015. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910004.

Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered Axle Assembly15V212000
Filed Apr 10, 2015148 vehiclesGrand Design Rv, Llc

Defect. Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Reflection 303RLS, 308BHTS and 313RLTS, model 2016 Solitude 375RE trailers manufactured March 12, 2015, to April 6, 2015. In the affected trailers, the studs that are used to attach the wheels to the axle hubs may break.

Risk. If the wheel studs break, the wheel could detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Grand Design has notified owners, and dealers will replace any affected wheel hub, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910003.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Mar 21, 20199,000 milesCO

I'VE HAD 2 WHEEL BEARING FAILURES ON THE SAME WHEEL. I'M WONDERING IF THE UNIT IS OVER WEIGHT FOR THESE BEARINGS. GVWR 9995 LB, 2 AXLES RATED 4400 LB EACH, 1536 LB HITCH WEIGHT. UNIT GVWR OF 9995 LB MINUS HITCH WEIGHT OF 1536 LB PUTS 8459 LB ON THE AXLES. TWO 4400 LB AXLES MEANS 8800 LB TOTAL AXLE STRENGTH MINUS 8459 LB TRAILER WEIGHT MEANS AXLES SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT. EXCEPT THAT IT RUNS ON RVD-H 65535 HUBS. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT "65535" TRANSLATES TO: 6 BOLT, 5.5 INCHES BETWEEN BOLTS AND THE 35 MEANS 3500 LB BEARINGS. IF THE STRENGTH OF AN AXLE IS LIMITED BY ITS WEAKEST COMPONENT THEN IT SEEMS THAT THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF THE AXLE SHOULD BE 3500 LB INSTEAD OF 4400 LB, AND IF THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF THE AXLES IS ACTUALLY 3500 LB INSTEAD OF 4400 LB THEN THE AXLES WOULD BE OVERLOADED BY 1459 LB, I.E. 8459 LB MINUS 7000 LB = 1459 LB WHEN THE WHEEL BEARING FAILED THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED WITH A 3500 LB. BEARING. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER. MAYBE THE COMPONENTS ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE JOB. I KNOW THAT COMPONENTS ARE USUALLY RATED WELL BELOW WHAT THEY CAN TOLERATE BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE MANUFACTURER IS USING SUB PAR COMPONENTS TO SAVE A LITTLE MONEY THEN MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE "ENCOURAGED" TO SAVE THE MONEY ON LESS STRATEGIC COMPONENTS. THESE BREAKDOWNS HAVE ALREADY COST ME OVER $1500. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT MILE MARKER 400 ON I-25 IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. TRAVELING STRAIGHT, WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON DASH STATING THAT THE TRAILER BR

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 23, 201815,000 milesAZ

SUSPECTED DIMINISHED BRAKING ACTION WHILE TOWING MY 2016 GRAND DESIGN 313 RLTS 37 FOOT RV. WE TOWED FROM THE NORTHEAST TO THE SOUTHWEST THIS LAST SEPTEMBER. ONCE ARRIVING AT OUR DESTINATION AND PLACING THE RV IN STORAGE I BEGAN RESEARCHING THE BRAKE SET UP. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AXLES LIPPERT COMPONENTS, INC HAD PUT OUT A NOTICE THAT AFFECTED MY RV. THE NOTICE DESCRIBED AN ANOMALY DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS WHERE TOO MUCH WHEEL BEARING GREASE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY. THIS CAUSED THE SEALS TO FAIL ALLOWING THE GREASE TO CONTAMINATE THE CRITICAL BRAKE COMPONENTS. MORE SPECIFICALLY THE BRAKE LININGS, ACTIVATION MAGNETS AND THE CORRESPONDING SURFACES OF THE BRAKE DRUM THE COME IN CONTACT WITH. THIS DIMINISHES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRAKING ACTION SEVERELY. UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD PROVE DISASTROUS. EVEN FATAL TO NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE TOW VEHICLE BUT ANY OTHER PEOPLE TRAVELING ON THE SAME HIGHWAY WITH THE RV IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. LIPPERT ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM WITH ME AND SENT REPLACEMENT BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLIES AND SEALS FOR ALL (4) WHEELS. NOT INCLUDING THE BRAKE DRUM, OR BEARING ASSEMBLIES. OR LABOR TO INSTALL THE NEW COMPONENTS. THE WHEEL ASSEMBLIES HAVE NEVER BEEN REMOVED FROM THE RV SINCE NEW. UNTIL THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW COMPONENTS BEGAN I HAD NEVER SEEN THE EXTENT OF EXCESS GREASE CONTAMINATION I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH. PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED PHOTOS. THIS MAY VERY WELL BE AN UNRESOLVED ISSUE ON OTHER RVS O

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 8, 20182,000 milesFL

IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, I PURCHASED A 2016 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION 313RLTS TRAVEL TRAILER (USED) FROM A GRAND DESIGN DEALER (PALM BEACH RV, WEST PALM BEACH, FL). VIN: [XXX]. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS TRAILER APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT THE TRAILER WASN'T BRAKING AS GOOD AS IT SHOULD BE, SO I TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL RV REPAIR SHOP (RVTECH, FT. MYERS, FL) TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. UPON INSPECTION, THEY DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY GREASE SEALS HAVE FAILED, AND THAT THE BACKING PLATES AND BRAKES WERE SPLATTERED WITH GREASE, THE DRUM ASSEMBLIES WERE SCORED, THE BRAKE PADS WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPAIR. HE ALSO SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE MAGNETS WERE ACTUALLY DIGGING INTO THE METAL, CREATING FURTHER SCORING. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT THEIR EXPLANATION OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE WAS THAT IT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE GREASE SEALS FAILING. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS INDEED A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM - THE GRAND DESIGN OWNER'S FORUM HAS 92 PAGES ON A SINGLE THREAD ABOUT IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING A 10,000 LB TRAILER WITH BASICALLY NO BRAKES. WHY DIDN'T GRAND DESIGN NOTIFY THEIR DEALERS OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE THE DEALERS CHECK TO SEE IF ANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAD THIS PROBLEM? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 29, 20171,500 milesCO

OVER PACKED WHEEL BEARINGS FROM FACTORY CAUSING GREASE TO BE FORCED PAST REAR WHEEL BEARING SEALS AND CONTAMINATING ELECTRIC BRAKES. BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS SEVERELY COMPROMISED CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND BY SELLING DEALERSHIP DURING IT'S FIRST WARRANTY INSPECTION BUT WAS IGNORED OR OVERLOOKED. (TOM STINNETT'S CAMPERS INN RV IN LOUISVILLE KY) FIRST CONTACT WITH COMPANY, DEALERSHIP DENIED WORKING ON THE RV AT ALL, THEN LATER SAID THEY DID IN APRIL OF 2017. THEN CLAIMED THAT THEY ONLY LOOKED AT ONE WHEEL. THAT WHEEL AND THE OTHER THREE WERE BADLY CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE. WE TRUST THAT FACTORY TRAINED SERVICE TECHS WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO AND PROTECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM SAFETY ISSUES BUT IN THIS CASE THEY IGNORED THE BLATANTLY OBVIOUS PROBLEM. HEAVY GREASE ACCUMULATION ON THE WHEEL RIMS IS A DEAD GIVE AWAY OF THE PROBLEM AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY EFFORT TO INSPECT, YET NOTHING WAS DONE. (FIRST DETECTED DURING TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP TO ME ON 8/16/2017)

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 13, 2017200 milesID

AFTER LESS THAN 200 MILES OF TOTAL TRAVEL, WE ARE INFORMED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND "BACKING PLATES" NEED TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $1,000. MY BRAKES ARE GETTING GREASE ON THEM. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET - THE WEB IS FULL OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THE MANUFACTURER, SO FAR, IS AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY WITH A LIST OF BS EXCUSES ABOUT OWNERS DOING THEIR OWN MAINTENANCE ETC. BRAKES, BEARINGS, AXLES, BACKING PLATES, SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE ON A NEARLY NEW TRAILER WITH LOW MILES AND JUST NOW GETTING IT'S FIRST MAINTENANCE. IN THE WORDS OF MY SERVICE MANAGER "THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE". SO WHY IS LIPPERT OR GRAND DESIGN NOT DOING THE RESPONSIBLE THING??

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 7, 2017500 milesNV

LIPPERT BREAK COMPONENTS. THE GREASE SEALS FAILED ON THE DRUM BREAKS ON MY DOUBLE AXLE TRAILER. THE TRAILER WAS MANUFACTURED 4/2015 AND I NOTICED THE FAILURE BY 7/2017. ALL FOUR BREAK ASSEMBLIES HAD GREASE ON THE DRUM, PADS AND OTHER PARTS. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED AT ALL FOUR WHEELS.

Equipment › Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
Filed May 16, 2017500 milesVA

LEAKING AXEL SEALS CAUSING GREASE TO COVER BRAKE SHOES, BRAKE MAGNETS AND DRUMS.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 6, 20171,000 milesMI

GREASE GETTING PAST THE SEALS FROM THE BEARINGS. THIS WAS PRESENT ON ALL OF THE WHEELS ON 5TH WHEEL AFFECTING THE BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION GREASE WAS PRESENT ON ALL THE BRAKES AFFECTING THE STOPPING EFFECTIVENESS. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE THIS COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT CORRECTED IT.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 1, 20171,100 milesKY

AXLE BEARING GREASE LEAKED PAST THE AXLE GREASE SEALS AND COATED THE BRAKE DRUMS AND BRAKE SHOES CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 28, 20172,000 milesOR

AT ABOUT 2000 MILES I NOTICED AN OILY SUBSTANCE LEAKING ONTO OUR WHEELS OF OUR TRAVEL TRAILER. AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN THE BREAKING ABILITY WHEN PULLING THE 5TH WHEEL. UPON INSPECTION OF THE WHEELS AND PULLING OFF THE BREAK DRUMS, THERE WAS LEAKING SEALS AND THE BREAKS WERE CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 18, 2016350 milesTX

MY RV IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD AND IT IS ON CITY POWER. LIGHTS WITH MOTION SENSING- THE LIGHT IN THE MOTION SENSING POSITION, STARTED TO SMOKE AND INDICATE FIRE WITHIN THE LIGHT ITSELF. MODEL #SD1510-PIR 12V DC, 4W SMD LED. ON GRAND DESIGNS WEB SITE IT INDICATES NOT TO USE THE LIGHT PICTURED AND TO USE A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER. THEY ARE NO LONGER WANTING TO INSTALL THE ORIGINAL PART FOR SOME REASON. THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AND A DEATH ARE HIGH IF WE DON'T REMEDY THIS ISSUE. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE PRESENT WHEN IT FAILED. I STILL HAVE 4 MORE OF THE SAME LIGHTS IN MY RV.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 2016200 milesCA

ALL FOUR AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING ON THE TRAILER. THE LEAKING GREASE WAS SPRAYED ON THE WHEELS AND ALSO TWO HAD COATED THE BRAKES. THIS APPEARED AFTER I HAD TOWED THE TRAILER FOR 200 MILES AFTER TAKING IT NEW OFF OF THE DEALER LOT.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 20161,500 milesWA

LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY WHILE TRAVELING, WHEN INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM FOUND GREASE ON ALL FOUR BRAKE SETS. AXLE AND BRAKES ARE LIPPERT BRAND

Wheels
Filed Sep 19, 20163,000 milesCA

MY 2016 357BHS HAS A STATED 7K GAWR. THE LCI AXLE IS 7K AND THE WESTLAKE TIRES ARE LISTED AT 3520 WHILE THE 6 LUG WHEELS ARE STAMPED WITH ONLY 3200 LBS WHICH GIVES ME 6400 GAWR AND NOT MEETING THE STATED 7K GAWR.

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 17, 20161,700 milesMI

ONLY 1700 MILES ON UNIT. FOUND AXLE GREASE SEALS BLOWN WITH GREASE ON BRAKES.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 20161,000 milesOR

THE WHEEL BEARING AXLE SEALS FAILED AFTER ABOUT 1,000 MILES OF TOWING WHICH CAUSED GREASE TO COVER THE BRAKE SHOES RESULTING IN AN ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH PARTS LIPPERT USES TO ASSEMBLE THE AXLES, WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLIES.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 13, 20163,500 milesMI

WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ALL FOUR OF THE WHEEL HUB SEALS LEAKED GREASE ALLOWING GREASE TO ESCAPE AND CONTAMINATE THE BREAKS DUE TO OVER FILLING AND POOR VISCOSITY GREASE. THIS ACCRUED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME TOWING THE TRAILER, THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS OF ONE OF THE HUBS ALL WERE THE SAME.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed May 19, 2016AL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION RV. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE FIRE MARSHALL THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 22, 2015400 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION 337. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES HESITATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AXLE GREASE SEAL FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

19 of 19 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2022
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260100Routine
20250100Routine
20247200Routine
20234200Routine
202227400Routine
202123100Routine
20205100Routine
20199510Routine
201811510Routine
201725510Routine
2016 — this page19620Routine
201516410Routine
20141200Routine
20130100Routine

Compare every Reflection year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 28, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.