2007 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.

Defect. ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS, THE HUB WELD IS INSUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE SPINDLE TO THE AXLE TUBE.

Risk. SPINDLE SEPARATION FROM THE AXLE TUBE CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. HEARTLAND IS WORKING WITH LIPPERT TO REPLACE THE AXLES ON THE AFFECTED TRAILERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HEARTLAND AT 1-574-262-5992.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HEARTLAND BIG HORN TRAILER, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DEFLATED AND WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. ONE YEAR LATER, ALL OF THE OTHER TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND WERE REPLACED. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE FAILURES WERE CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

DROVE TO AZ ANF BACK HOME TO ALBERTA. LOOKED UNDER 5H WHEEL - 3W SHACKLES BROKEN. THESE ARE FROM LIPPERT MANUFACTURING. WE REPLACED AND INSTALLED 3 SHACKLES AY OUR EXPENSE. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2007 BIGHORN 04/25/2007, NEW FROM A LOCAL RV SHOP. WE USED IT VERY LITTLE THE FIRST YEAR, I WAS WORKING, NOW SINCE I RETIRED WE STARTED TRAVELING WITH OUR BIGHORN. ON 07/08/08 NOTICED A BALL ON ONE OF THE TIRES. THE TIRES CAME WITH THE 5TH WHEEL ARE A KARRIER LOADSTAR ST235/80 R16 DOT 7YHJ ANC. TIRE REPLACED WITH LES SCHWAB. ON 09/24/2008 WE WERE TRAVELING, AND NEAR DILLON, MT. I NOTICED A BALL ON A DIFFERENT LOADSTAR , WENT TO DILLON AND REPLACED THAT TIRE, HAD THE OTHER TIRES CHECK AND WAS GOOD TO GO. LESS THAN 30 MINUTES FROM DILLON A LOADSTAR BLEW AND CAUSE CONSIDER AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO OUR BIGHORN. I HAD THE DILLON LES SCHWAB COME AND REPLACED THE ONE THAT BLEW AND THE LAST LOADSTAR ON THE 5TH WHEEL. I CONTACTED KENDA MAKERS ON KARRIER LOADSTAR. ALSO I SEEN ON DIFFERENT BLOGS AND WEBSITE THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. THAT THERE EVEN COULD BE A SILENT RECALL ON THE LOADSTARS, IF NOTHING AT LEAST PUT OUT A LOOK AT TIRE NOTICES. I FEEL THAT MY WIFE AND I WERE IN DANDER USING THE TIRES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HEARTLAND BIGHORN. THE VEHICLE HAS KENDA KARRIER TIRES, SIZE ST235/85/R16. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND RIGHT REAR TIRES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE TWO DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,500. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/15/08 .*JB

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2005 FIFTH WHEEL, MANUFACTURED BY HEARTLAND, ELKHART, IN IN JULY OF 05. WE DROVE IT APPROX. 3,000 MILES BACK TO TUCSON AND PLACED IT IN COVERED STORAGE UPON OUR ARRIVAL IN TUCSON. IT SAT COVERED UNTIL MAY 15TH OF 2007 DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS. WE LEFT JUNE 8TH FOR A SUMMER TRIP NORTH. OUR TRIP THIS SUMMER TOOK US APPROX 6,500 MILES. THE FIFTH WHEEL IS A TRIPLE AXLE AND WHILE DRIVING SOUTH THROUGH ILLINOIS ON HWY 70 NEAR GREENVILLE THE REAR AXLE TIRE LITERALLY EXPLODED AND THEN WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON NEW MEXICO #54 APPROX 90 MILES NORTH OF LAS CRUCES THE FRONT AXLE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TWO BLOW OUTS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FIFTH WHEELS BODY AND TRIM. BOTH TIRES WERE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FIFTH WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY AT THIS TIME. THE TIRE NAME IS KENDA WHICH IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR SITE AND THE SIZE LT235/85R16. MADE IN CHINA. I HAVE CALLED KENDA'S OFFICE IN OHIO BUT THEY DISCLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND STATE THAT THERE IS "NO WARRANTY" BUT ADVISED ME TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES ON THE FIFTH WHEEL. THESE TIRES HAVE TRAVELED LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. HEARTLAND RV'S ARE THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER THE CORRECT DATE AND MODEL PER YOUR LIST BUT IT WAS MFG IN 2005, IS A LANDMARK BRAND AND MONTICELLO MODEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HEARTLAND BIGHORN 5TH WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS WINLAND BCT J43, SIZE 235/85R16 TIRES (NA). WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND DISCOVERED THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. THE TIRE THEN BLEW OUT AND FLATTENED. THE TIRE PRESSURE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 110 LBS. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, HE NOTICED THAT THE STEEL BELT WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE AXLE WAS BENT. DURING THE SECOND FAILURE, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. BOTH FAILURES WERE REPAIRED BY GOODSAM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF BOTH TIRES. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,500. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,000. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

TRAILER BRAKE SEALS PRONE TO LEAKAGE RESULT IN GREASE GETTING INTO TRAILER BRAKES AND BRAKES NOT EFFECTIVE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER'S FRONT AND REAR AXLES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN A BUMP WAS FELT, AND THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS OBSERVED TO BE DETACHED FROM THE FRONT AXLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE FRONT AXLE WAS OBSERVED TO BE DAMAGED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WHICH OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON 06/26/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW FRONT AXLE WHICH WAS OFFERED AT NO CHARGE. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE COMPANY HIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BROUGHT THE NEW AXLE ON 06/29/06 AND REPLACED THE FRONT AXLE. ON 07/21/06, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS OBSERVED TO BE DETACH FROM THE REAR AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON 07/21/06 WHO SENT A REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY ON 07/22/06. THE VEHICLE IS A 2007 HEARTLAND BIG HORN 3055 RL.*AK UPDATED 8/16/2006 - *NM