2017 Grand Design Reflection

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.

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.

Defect. Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Reflection and Imagine travel trailers equipped with a Smart-Jack model power tongue jack. The laminated plastic touch pad on the jack may crack or separate allowing water to enter, potentially causing the jack to operate unintentionally.

Risk. If the tongue jack retracts or extends unexpectedly, there could be an increased risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy. Grand Design will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power tongue jack, free of charge. The recall began on December 29, 2017. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 900012.

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.

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.

Noticed the left side of the 5th wheel seemed lower, the smell of burning rubber was highly present. Upon further investigation noticed the front axle leaf spring had broken. Noticed the new tire was hot and rubbed up on and caused damage to the metal of the chassis and ruined the new tire.

INTERMITTENT BRAKES (LOST BRAKES) ON FIFTH WHEEL DUE TO THE USE OF UNDERSIZE WIRE AND OVERUSE OF SCOTCHLOK GUILLOTINE CONNECTORS. EACH BRAKE HAS A MAXIMUM CURRENT DRAW OF 4AMPS. 4X4 = 16 AMP POSSIBLE DRAW ON 14 AWG WIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 60+ FOOT LOOP ROUND TRIP FROM PIN BOX TO BRAKES BACK TO PIN BOX. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE BRAKE WIRING IS SUBSTANDARD IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY. SHOULD BE AT LEAST CONNECTED 10AWG USING CRIMPED BUTT SPLICES AND CIRCLE CONNECTORS. IT WOULD ALSO HELP TO HAVE A GROUND BOND AT THE AXLE TO REDUCE THE LOOP BY 50%. SOMEDAY SOMEONE WILL DIE (PROBABLY HAVE ALREADY) BECAUSE OF CHEAP UNDERSIZED WIRE WITH CHEAP GUILLOTINE CONNECTORS EVERYWHERE. FOR LIGHTS OK FOR BRAKES? NEVER!*DT*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH WESTLAKE SUPER ST TIRES, SIZE: ST225/75/R15, DOT NUMBER: JULT1CM4016. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE UPON INSPECTION AT A REST STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE WHEEL WITH THE SPARE TIRE ON THE TRAILER AND DROVE TO A TIRE SHOP. HE WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE BLOWOUT WAS CAUSED BY INTERNAL TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT PLACED THE SPARE TIRE ON THE TRAILER AND PURCHASED NEW SET OF TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO SUBMIT A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.*DT*JB

I WAS DRIVING IN ARKANSAS IN OCTOBER 11TH 2019 WHEN I NOTICED THE RV DID NOT APPEAR TO BE TRACKING STRAIGHT BEHIND THE TRUCK. I PACKED UP AND LEFT THE CAMPGROUND ABOUT 2 HOURS EARLIER. THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE AXLES AT THAT TIME. THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL ROAD HAZARDS OR SHOCKS TO THE FRAME DURING THAT PERIOD PRIOR TO WHEN I NOTICED THE ISSUE. I STOPPED AT A REST AREA IN HELENA ARKANSAS AND FOUND THE RIGHT REAR AXLE SPRING HANGER HAD BROKEN FROM THE FRAME. THE SPRING AND REAR AXLE WAS SHIFTED TO THE LEFT AND LODGED PRECARIOUSLY UP INSIDE THE FRAME. IT WAS LATE ON A FRIDAY EVENING. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A TRUCK/TRAILER SHOP OPEN IN BATESVILLE, MISSISSIPPI. I DROVE THERE FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS. THEY JUDGED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO POOR WELDS. I'VE DONE SOME WELDING AND IT WAS EASY TO RECOGNIZE POOR PENETRATION. THE TRUCK SHOP WELDED THE HANGERS AND PULLED THE REAR AXLE AS CLOSE TO PROPER ALIGNMENT AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER THE AXLE HAD SHIFTED SLIGHTLY IN THE U-BOLTS. THE U-BOLTS NEEDED TO BE CUT OFF, THE AXLE PROPERLY ALIGNED AND NEW U-BOLTS INSTALLED. THEY DID NOT STOCK THE BOLTS BUT THE TRAILER WAS SAFE TO TOW HOME. UPON RETURNING FROM THAT TRIP, I PUT THE TRAILER IN MY WAREHOUSE AND INSPECTED THE FRAME AND AXLES. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THE FRAME AT THE RIGHT REAR CORNER DIRECTLY BEHIND THE FAILED REAR AXLE SPRING HANGER HAD SEPARATED. THE EXTERIOR SHEET METAL IS WARPED AND THERE IS A VISIBLE GAP. THE FACTORY HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE AXLE REALIGNMENT OR RIGHT REAR FRAME SEPARATION UNDE

THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING HANGER FOR THE REAR AXLE BROKE OFF FROM THE TRAILER FRAME, THIS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. NOTICED REAR AXLE OUT OF PLACE WHEN WE WERE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THAT IS WHEN WE NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR HANGER BROKEN COMPLETELY OUT OF FRAME AND THE LEFT REAR HANGER CRACKED.

TWO SEPARATE ISSUES: 1. LIPPERT WHEEL BEARINGS LEAKED GREASE ALL OVER THE DRUM BRAKES WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES. LIPPERT REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE YEAR. 2. WITH BRAND NEW BRAKES PROPERLY ADJUSTED, BRAKES ARE STILL VERY WEAK. APPLYING 12 VOLTS FROM BRAKE CONTROLLER RESULTS IN MINIMAL BRAKING. SUSPECT UNDERSIZED FINAL WIRING TO BRAKES (20 GAUGE). BRAKES HAVE BEEN UNDERPERFORMING SINCE DAY 1. *DT*JB*DT*JB

DURING MOSTLY HIGHWAY TRAVEL WITH OUR CAMPER THE AXLE GREASE SEALS FAILED WHICH ALLOWED GREASE TO CONTAMINATE THE BRAKE SHOES AND BRAKE DRUMS AFFECTING BRAKING PERFORMANCE. REVIEWING OTHER POSTS ON-LINE A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS OF THESE CAMPERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE.

MY COMPLAINT IS FOR WHEEL BEARINGS. I'VE CONTACTED BOTH SELLER BYOUNG RV IN PORTLAND OREGON (XXXX) AND MANUFACTURE GRAND DESIGN RV (XXXX). MY TRAILER HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH EXCESSIVE RESIDUE BUILD UP ON WHEELS. ANOTHER REFLECTION OWNER TOLD ME HIS TRAILER WAS DOING SAME THING. THE DEALER WHERE HE PURCHASED TRAILER (BLUE DOG RV IN REDMOND OREGON) TOLD HIM REFLECTIONS WITH THIS PROBLEM IS BECAUSE THE WRONG SIZE BEARINGS WERE USED. MY TRAILER NOW HAS 5800 MILES. I'VE SENT ON PICTURES TO BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURE. MARK ARPIN TOLD ME NO ISSUES OF IMPROPER BEARING EXISTS. IF SO WHY WOULD BLUE DOG SAY DIFFERENT? COULD THIS TURN INTO A HAZARD OR SAFETY CONCERN? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

THE BRAKES, SEALS AND BEARINGS ON MY 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME DUE TO THE SEALS LEAKING GREASE ONTO THE BRAKES. ALL FOUR BACKING PLATES, THE FRONT TWO HUBS AND ALL FOUR GREASE SEALS AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED ON OUR FIRST TRIP AFTER TAKING POSSESSION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL IN MAY 2017. THIS WAS DONE AT A CAMPING WORLD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH CAROLINA AND RESULTED IN BEING WITHOUT THE USE OF OUR TRAILER FROM MAY 18 ' 23. ON OUR SECOND TRIP, STARTING ON JULY 9, 2017, THE BRAKES AGAIN BEGAN PERFORMING POORLY. RAY DUFFY, OF GRAND DESIGN, ARRANGED TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED IN WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA ON JULY 14, 2017 AT JAKE'S AUTOMOTIVE. HE PRE-SHIPPED REPLACEMENT PARTS IN ANTICIPATION OF BAD SEALS. THE TECHNICIAN AT JAKE'S AUTOMOTIVE FOUND GREASE CONTAMINATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT, RIGHT REAR AND LEFT REAR BRAKES. HE ALSO FOUND THAT THOSE SEALS AND BEARINGS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE HUBS AND REMAINED ON THE SPINDLE WHEN THE HUBS WERE REMOVED. THE RECEIPT STATES, 'HAD TO REPLACE 3 OF FOUR BACKING PLATES AND HARDWARE DUE TO WHEEL SEALS BLOWING OUT.' THE FOURTH WHEEL, THE LEFT FRONT, WAS NOT REMOVED OR INSPECTED BY THE REPAIR FACILITY SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT REMOVAL OF THE WHEEL COULD DAMAGE THE GREASE SEAL. I REMOVED ALL FOUR HUBS TODAY. THE INTERIORS OF THE TWO LEFT HUBS WERE COMPLETELY COATED WITH GREASE. THE LEFT FRONT WAS WORSE THAN THE LEFT REAR. THE TWO RIGHT HUBS DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH GREASE

BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING VERY WELL, WITH THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GAIN IN MY TRUCK SET AT 10.0 (FULL ON). PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY LEAKING AXLE SEALS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN THE BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS BEING COATED WITH AXLE GREASE. ALL FOUR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AND AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY.

3 OF 4 WHEELS HAD GREASE LEAKING FROM THE INNER HUB SEAL ONTO THE BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS, WITH LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. ALL BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED.

THE AXLES/BRAKE ASSEMBLIES HAD DEFECTIVE INTERIOR SEALS. THE SEALS FAILED AND CONTAMINATED THREE OUT OF FOUR BRAKES WITH GREASE. THIS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO UNABLE TO STOP THE TRAILER TO AVOID VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO RUN OFF ROAD TO AVOID ACCIDENT. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH LIPPERT COMPONENTS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TRY TO DENY. I ATTACHED TWO PHOTOS OF WHAT I FOUND IN THREE OUT OF FOUR BRAKE HUBS UPON INSPECTION.

WHEEL BEARING GREASE TOO THIN AND LEAKS PAST SEALS CONTAMINATING BRAKE MAGNETS AND BRAKES. MANY CUSTOMERS IMPACTED BASED ON FACEBOOK GROUP POSTS.

TRAILER HAS LEAKING GREASE SEALS WHICH CONTAMINATED THE BRAKE SHOES. THIS IS A NEW TRAILER AND ARRIVED FROM DEALER IN THIS CONDITION. THIS IS A 2 AXLE TRAILER.

AXLE SEAL LEAKED CAUSING GREASE TO LEAK ONTO BRAKE FRICTION SURFACE, GREATLY REDUCING BRAKING ABILITY. PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING OWNERS SELF INSPECTION. THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION FROM THE GRAND DESIGN OWNERS FORUM. "HTTP://WWW.GRANDDESIGNOWNERS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/8531-POLL-HOW-MANY-OF-YOU-HAVE-HAD-YOUR-GREASE-SEALS-FAIL "

WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES, THE WHEEL GREASE SEALS HAVE LEAKED CONTAMINATING THE TRAILER BRAKES. RESULTED IN REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM REDUCING TRAILER BRAKES EFFECTIVE STOPPING POWER.

WE WERE ON A TRIP FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS AND THE GREASE SEALS ON ALL 4 WHEELS FAILED AND CONTAMINATED THE BRAKES. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH AND IT HAD LESS THAN 1,200 MILES ON IT.

WHEEL GREASE SEALS ARE LEAKING ON THE NEW TRAILER (2 OF 4 SEALS). THIS IS A NEW TRAILER AND I HAVE ONLY PUT ON ABOUT 50 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE WITH GRAND DESIGN TRAILERS.

LEAKING GREASE SEALS ON BOTH PASSENGER SIDE AXLES CONTAMINATING BRAKE SHOES. I HAD DEALER PULL THE BRAKE DRUMS PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF OUR NEW TRAILER AND WE FOUND GREASE CONTAMINATION. THE TRAILER ONLY HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED FROM INDIANA TO FLORIDA DEALER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL PROPANE FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE RV. THE RV WAS INSPECTED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE SHOWED EVIDENCE THAT A RODENT CHEWED THROUGH THE PROPANE FUEL LINE, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RV WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60.