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Grand Design · NHTSA safety record

2017 Grand Design Momentum

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

Owners have filed 13 safety complaints about the 2017 Grand Design Momentum with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering equipment.

The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 7 complaints, 54% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 3,000 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers October 2016 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

13 complaints on file

13

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
SERVICE BRAKES 7 · 54%
STRUCTURE 3 · 23%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 · 15%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 · 8%
EQUIPMENT 1 · 8%
SUSPENSION 1 · 8%
TIRES 1 · 8%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 13.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 4.

8 6 4 2
16 17 18 19 20 22 24 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2017 Grand Design Momentum. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

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:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS

21V393000 · May 26, 2021

The defect
Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Imagine, Transcend, and Momentum travel trailers. The LP regulator that controls the LP gas pressure may fail, allowing excessive gas pressure that causes the appliance flame to increase.
The risk
Excessive gas pressure and a larger than intended appliance flame can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the LP regulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2021. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910023.

Grand Design RV, LLC · up to 55,508 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Frame Flex on Grand Design Fifth Wheel Recreational Trailers

PE24029

Still open preliminary evaluation · opened October 9, 2024

the body structure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received twenty-three complaints alleging excessive frame flex on model year 2017-2023 Grand Design fifth wheel recreational trailers, models Momentum and Solitude. Twenty-two of the complaints allege that excessive frame flex resulted in a cargo or entry door opening while in transit, some with objects lost on roadways, while six complaints also state that slideouts extended out partially. ODI has been in contact with both Grand Design and Lippert, the frame manufacturer. Grand Design believes that some frame flex, generally considered to be vertical movement in the upper deck area of the fifth wheel, is normal. However, Grand Design has developed a technical service bulletin (TSB), to evaluate concerns of excessive frame flex, defined as vertical movement greater than 3/8 inch. Per Grand Design, the frame flex is only occurring in the upper deck area of the fifth wheel and is resulting in cosmetic defects such as moving sidewalls, damage to cabinets, binding doors, etc. However, Lippert believes that the effects of frame flex may also extend back to the front axle of the trailer.While Lippert provides frames for multiple trailer manufacturers, the majority of complaints are for these Grand Design products. Cargo and entry doors that open and slideouts that extend while in transit increase the risk of injury or a crash. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to evaluate the severity of the potential problem and to determine whether an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety exists. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In early 2024 we noticed a binding on the bedroom slide, we took it in for service at Happy Daze in Ripon and the repair shop fixed the slide issue. After our next camping trip a month or so after the repair, we noticed a crack on the outside driver side of the front of the trailer above and below the bedroom slide. We had noticed a gap in the front bedroom cabinets in which we had attributed to normal wear and tear and had reinforced with screws and wood trim previously. In contacting Happy Daze again we brought it in for the new issue and realized that we were experiencing frame flex/failure. Happy Daze connected with Grand Design who sent a team out and did a goodwill repair of the

NHTSA complaint 11761380, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Based on internet craze of and symptoms of Frame Flex | Frame Failure on Grand Design Momentum 5th wheels I had my unit measured for Fram Flex by Grand Design at the GD East Coast Rally. According to their measurements at that time I was 1/16 inch away from needing to be concerned regarding frame flex. After the fact in reading Lippert Components Incorporated (LCI) measuring instructions Grand Design did NOT measure my unit per LCI's instructions. After much thought and continued symptoms of frame flex we decided to incur personal expenses and took our unit to Affinity RV group of Goshen Indiana to have an independent frame inspection completed. Affinity RV measured our unit following

NHTSA complaint 11630779, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2017 Grand Design Momentum RV. The contact stated that the exterior storage doors failed to close properly. The contact stated that the generator doors almost detached, and the front rubber trim hold was detaching. The RV was towed to the dealer, where several repairs were performed; however, the frame continued to fracture. The dealer advised the contact to park the RV. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11608008. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
This is a 43 foot fifth wheel RV. The frame near the front of the RV is showing signs of "frame-flex," or frame cracking. The attached pictures illustrate where the walls are shifting and creating wear marks; this is consistent with other RV owners experiences the same problem. This issue could contribute in further frame cracking that may result in significant property damage or even death. I plan to report this issue today to the manufacturer, Grand Design.

NHTSA complaint 11591491. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EQUIPMENT
The contact owns a 2017 Grand Design Momentum RV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V038000 (Equipment). The local dealer was contacted but declined to service the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but provided no additional assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO DEALER IN THE STATE ABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL AS A SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED.

NHTSA complaint 11464073. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES

3,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GRAND DESIGN MOMENTUM RV EQUIPPED WITH FTS TIRES, TIRE LINE: WESTLAKE, TIRE SIZE: ST235/80/R16 N/A, DOT NUMBER: JUMR2CT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS 3,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE FOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,200.

NHTSA complaint 11355172. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Grand Design Momentum

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 11 6 —
2023 25 9 —
2022 33 8 —
2021 57 4 —
2020 29 2 —
2019 15 2 —
2016 10 4 —

Other 2017 Grand Design models

Reflection 25 Solitude 10

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Grand Design on this site — 24 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst