2006 Heartland Bighorn

Defect. HEARTLAND RV IS RECALLING 6,002 MY 2005-2008 BIG COUNTRY, LANDMARK, BIG HORN, CYCLONE, RAZOR, SUNDANCE, AND TRAIL RUNNER FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.

Risk. IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. HEARTLAND RV IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR HEARTLAND RV AT 1-574-262-8030.

I OWN A 2006 HEARTLAND BIGHORN 5TH WHEEL 3400RL WITH TANDEM AXLES. (TWO AXLES, 4 TIRES) VIN: [XXX] IT HAS AN ESTIMATED 20,000 MILES ON IT. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF THE UNIT JUST TURNED 5 YEARS OLD. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. BOUGHT USED IN 2008, PULLED LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. UPON ARRIVING HOME LAST TRIP, (400 MILES ROUND TRIP), I FOUND MY LEAF SPRING SHACKLE LINKS, WHICH HOLD THE LEAF SPRING AND IN TURN HOLD THE AXLE IN PLACE HAD RIPPED LOOSE ON BOTH SIDES OF MY SUSPENSION. IN ESSENCE, THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE AXLE IN PLACE WAS THE REAR LEAF SPRING BOLTS. THE FRONT PART OF THE LEAF SPRING WHICH WAS NOW LOOSE JUST SO HAPPENED TO REST AGAINST THE TRAILER FRAME PREVENTING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, (WRECK!) I CALLED THE RV MANUFACTURER, (HEARTLAND RV), AND THE SUSPENSION MANUFACTURER, (AL-KO KOBER), AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH BOTH. THEY PUT ME OFF BY STATING THEY ONLY GIVE A 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE UNIT. I HAVE DRIVEN AUTOMOBILES WITH LEAF SPRINGS FOR 200,000 MILES ACROSS EVERY KIND OF ROAD WITH NO REAR LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION INCIDENT. AM I TO EXPECT AXLE, LEAF SPRING FRACTURES EVERY 4-5 YEARS? THE LEAF SPRING BUSHINGS ARE DAMAGED OR ENTIRELY GONE. THE BOLTS ARE WORN BAD AS WELL. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 5 YEARS AND CERTAINLY MORE THAN THE ESTIMATED 20,000 MILES. COMMON SENSE STATES THAT THE AXLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RATED AT LEAST 7, 000 LB RATING. YOU CAN SEE THE DANGER OF PULLING THIS DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVING AN AXLE FALL OUT. THERE IS NO REASON FOR

I OWN A 2006 HEARTLAND BIGHORN 3055RL 5TH WHEEL. WHEN THE UNIT IS CONNECTED TO MY TOW VEHICLE, POPPING NOISES CAN BE HEARD AND THE PIN BOX MOVES UP INDICATING A FRAME DEFECT. WHEN DISCONNECTED, THE PIN BOX MOVES BACK DOWN. THIS HAS NOT YET CAUSED ANY DAMAGE PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURY, HOWEVER I FEAR IT MIGHT IN THE FUTURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HEARTLAND BIGHORN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, MODEL 3655. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WHEEL CRACKED AND BLEW OUT THE AMERICANA TIRES. THE WHEELS PERFORM POORLY ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE WHEELS WERE UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY COULD BLOW OUT AT ANY TIME. A NEAR CRASH OCCURRED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGES WERE NOT APPLICABLE.