RoadVitals

2018 Grand Design Imagine Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Latest Jul 24, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Grand Design Imagine, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Suspension440.0%
  • Other / unspecified330.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Tires & wheels110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE LEAF SPRING FLATTENING OUT, THE TIRES WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR BECAUSE THE TRAILER WAS NOT OVERLOADED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *DT

NHTSA ID 11271443 · filed Oct 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE 2600 RV. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S AXLES HAD LOST THEIR CAMBERS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS FOR THE AXLE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND AGREED TO COVER THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH THE AXLE AND SPRING SETS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE COST WAS COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE CONTACT TRAVELED ANOTHER 6,000 MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO WEAR SIGNIFICANTLY AND THERE WAS ADVANCED TIRE WEAR ON THE OTHER THREE TIRES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE TRAILER TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH AXLES WERE BENT AND HAD FAILED AGAIN. ALSO, ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE WHEELS ALIGNED AND ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE COST AND DISCOVERED THAT GRAND DESIGN MANUFACTURED VEHICLES WITH WHAT HE BELIEVED WERE LOW COST, POORLY DESIGNED SPRINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AGAIN AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

NHTSA ID 11257381 · filed Sep 23, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2018 Grand design Imagine. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V393000 (Equipment) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID 11428806 · filed Aug 12, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE TRAILER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PERFORMING A SAFETY INSPECTION OF THE TRAILER, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE BALD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO D AND G CUSTOM CONVERSIONS, INC. (383 BURGNERS ROAD, CARLISLE, PA 17015, 717-249-8875) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLES WERE FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE TRAILER REPAIR CENTER WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH THE REQUIRED APPROVAL FOR REPAIRS. WHEN THE REPAIR CENTER CALLED FOR APPROVAL, NO REMEDY WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID 11251828 · filed Aug 27, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I have stress/ flex cracks on both passenger and drivers side I beams near the suspension parts.07/2024. This is the first report, I have not contacted the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID 11675820 · filed Jul 24, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

IN DECEMBER 2017, I PURCHASED A GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE TRAVEL TRAILER, MODEL 2500RL. WHEN I TOWED THE TRAILER, I NOTICED THE TRAILERS BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE TRAILER EVEN WHEN I ADJUSTED THE BRAKE CONTROLLER GAIN TO MAXIMUM. THINKING THE TRAILER BRAKES JUST NEEDED ADJUSTMENT, ON MAY 21, 2018, I TOOK THE TRAILER TO THE SELLING DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT NEED ADJUSTMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE BRAKES ON THE FRONT AXLE OF THE DOUBLE AXLE TRAILER WERE NOT CONNECTED TO THE POWER SOURCE THAT OPERATES THE BRAKES. IN OTHER WORDS, THE BRAKES WERE ONLY 50% CONNECTED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WIRED CORRECTLY. I WAS TOWING A 7500 POUND TRAILER WITH IMPROPERLY CONNECTED BRAKES. THIS TRAILER SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT THE FACTORY WITH INOPERATIVE BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE EITHER NEVER CONNECTED OR THE CONNECTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. IN MY VIEW THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HOW MANY OTHER TRAVEL TRAILERS FROM GRAND DESIGN HAVE BEEN PLACED IN SERVICE WITH IMPROPERLY CONNECTED BRAKES. THE BRAKES ON MY TRAVEL TRAILER HAVE BEEN FIXED, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I NOTICED THE POOR BRAKING AND TOOK THE TRAILER TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. GRAND DESIGN SHOULD BE CALLED TO TASK ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE EITHER NEGLIGENT IN THEIR POST PRODUCTION INSPECTIONS OR THE PARTS USED TO CONNECT THE BRAKE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. *TT

NHTSA ID 11102916 · filed Jun 20, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GRAND DESIGN IMAGINE TRAVEL TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH LIONSHEAD WESTLAKE TIRES, SIZE: SP225/75/R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 64 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE MARKER LIGHTS ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. ALSO, THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ELECTRIC SLIDE WAS RIPPED APART DUE TO THE SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE TRAILER TO A PARKING LOT AND CALLED A ROADSIDE TIRE SERVICE TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. THE CONTACT FILED COMPLAINTS WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE. SHORTLY AFTER THE INITIAL BLOW OUT, THE TIRE BLEW OUT AGAIN ON THE SAME SIDE. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ID 11257504 · filed Sep 23, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .