CSR

Grand Design · NHTSA safety record

2015 Grand Design Reflection

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Grand Design Reflection have filed 16 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2015 and September 2018. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 10 of them (63%). The typical failure was reported at 2,500 miles, the median across the 14 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:REFRIGERATOR

22V038000 · January 28, 2022

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

Grand Design RV, LLC · up to 43,421 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

16V717000 · October 7, 2016

The 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."
The 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.
The 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.

Grand Design RV, LLC · up to 480 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

15V518000 · August 14, 2015

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

Grand Design RV, LLC · up to 1,721 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

15V212000 · April 10, 2015

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

Grand Design RV, LLC · up to 148 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 16.

SERVICE BRAKES 10 63%
SUSPENSION 3 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 13%
TIRES 1 6%
WHEELS 1 6%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 6.

2015 2018
2015 to 2018

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

fire

THE 5TH WHEEL WAS 2 1/2 MONTHS OLD. AFTER RETURNING FROM A 250 MILE TRIP WE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE BEDROOM SLIDE AND IT WOULDN'T OPEN. I PLUGGED IN THE ELECTRICAL PLUG AND OPENED THE SLIDE IN ORDER TO UNLOAD THE REMAINING CLOTHES, THEN I CLOSED THE SLIDE. THIS WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00PM. AT 10:45PM MY GIRLFRIEND HEARD THREE LOUD EXPLOSIONS AND WE RAN OUTSIDE TO FIND THE 5TH WHEEL TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I BELIEVE NOW THE EXPLOSIONS WERE THE TIRES ON THE 5TH WHEEL. THE FRAMES (BOTH OF THEM) THAT RUN THE LENGTH OF THE 5TH WHEEL WERE BENT APPROXIMATELY 18" TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRAILER. IN ADDITION BOTH AXLES ARE BEND DOWNWARD. I DON'T IF THIS A RESULT OF THE HEAT OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint 10761146. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

12,000 miles

I PURCHASED THIS RV NEW. I LOST A WHEEL BEARING BECAUSE OF A BAD WHEEL HUB. I WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE AXLE ENOUGH TO STILL USE. IN 2017 ON MY WAY TO ARIZONA I LOST THIS SAME WHEEL BEARING AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT ONCE AGAIN TO CONTINUE MY TRIP. AFTER RETURNING HOME LAST SPRING I DECIDED TO REPLACE THIS AXLE. UPON REMOVING THE AXLE I DISCOVERED THAT THE AXLES ON THIS RV ARE 4400# AXLES. MY PAPERWORK ON THIS RV SHOWS THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE 5200# AXLES. WONDERING WHY THIS IS SO.

NHTSA complaint 11128407. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS

12,000 miles

GRAAND DESIGN USES LIONSHEAD ALUMINUM 5 SPOKE WHEELS ON REFLECTION MODELS. THE WHEELS CRACK. I KNOW OF 3 CASES BESIDES MINE WHERE THE WHEELS HAVE CRACKED, AT SOME POINT SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOSE A WHEEL AND KILL SOMEONE. SEE HERE.

NHTSA complaint 11110034. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE ELECTRICAL LINE AND THE PROPANE LINE UNDER THE KITCHEN SIDE OUT BROKE AND THE PROPANE LINE RUBBED ON THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE CAUSING THE LINE TO CUT IN HALF AND PROPANE LEAKED OUT.

NHTSA complaint 11022362. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

6,400 miles

ALL 4 ELECTRIC DRUM BRAKES ON THE REFLECTION FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER TRAILER WERE CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE FROM THE AXLES. AFTER CHECKING BRAKES BECAUSE OF POOR TRAILER BRAKING WHILE TOWING THE FIFTH WHEEL TRAIL, I FOUND THAT ALL 4 BRAKE'S SHOES WERE BARELY WORN AFTER 2 YEARS OF USE. THE BRAKE SHOES HAD GREASE ON THEM AS WELL AS THE ELECTRIC MAGNET THAT ACTIVATES THE BRAKES. THE GREASE CONTAMINATION CAUSED FAULTY OPERATION OF THE BRAKES. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER LIPPERT HAS SUPPOSEDLY AFTER SEVERAL YEARS MADE SOME CHANGES, BUT STILL BRAND NEW CAMPER TRAILER ARE BEING FOUND WITH BRAKE GREASE CONTAMINATION.

NHTSA complaint 11003193. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

2,000 miles

BRAKES WERE CONTAMINATED WITH WHEEL BEARING GREASE, EITHER DAMAGED/FAULTY REAR WHEEL BEARING SEAL OR/AND SUBSTANDARD GREASE THAT LIQUEFIES. THE CAVITY IN THE HUB IS FILLED TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY WITH GREASE WHICH IS UNNECESSARY WHICH IS ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR AT LEAST 6 YEARS. SUSPENSION ITEMS ARE PROVIDED BY LIPPERT (LCI). MY 2011 HEARTLAND SUNDANCE 5TH WHEEL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. GREASE ON THESE BRAKES MAKES IT NEARLY NON FUNCTIONING AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint 10955358. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1,000 miles

GREASE SEALS FAILING CAUSING AXLE GREASE TO COVER WHEELS AND BRAKE PADS. DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH SETS OF SEALS ON BOTH SIDES OF BOTH TANDEM AXLES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. ONE SIDE WAS REPLACED IN JAN 2016, THE OTHER SIDE WAS REPLACED IN SEPT 2016.

NHTSA complaint 10920564. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Grand Design Reflection

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 26 4
2021 21 1
2019 9 5
2018 11 5
2017 25 5
2016 19 6

Every Grand Design on this site — 24 vehicles, 60 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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