2019 Grand Design Momentum

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.

The contact owns a 2019 Grand Design Momentum 49M hitched to a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while the RV was parked, the driver’s side bedroom slide-out failed to extend as intended. The RV was taken to a dealer, where the failure was linked to frame flex. The contact was informed that there were four cracks in the frame of the RV. The RV was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11698500

Incident

May 31, 2025

Mileage

30,000 mi

Excessive Frame Flex/Failure& Structure I am reporting multiple serious structural and safety issues with my Grand Design RV that appear consistent with excessive frame flex and failure, as outlined in NHTSA Investigation PE24029. These include: Significant movement of front bedroom cabinets during travel, indicating internal structural instability of the walls. Large gaps in both the interior and rear toy hauler doors, which compromise insulation and safety concerns. Cracked and misaligned front entry door, even after manufacturer replacement. Generator compartment door fails to lock properly, likely due to excessive frame flex/frame misalignment. Screws popping out of the front cap and a visible crack in the front cap corner. Bedroom slide failure due to internal twisting. Main slide floor detaching from the bottom. Persistent latching issues with the main entry door, even when the RV is perfectly level. These issues not only affect the usability of the RV but also pose serious safety risks while in transit. The structural instability could lead to doors opening unexpectedly, slideouts extending, or components detaching on the road—endangering both occupants and other drivers. I urge the NHTSA to include this case in its ongoing investigation and to consider a recall or mandatory corrective action for affected Grand Design RVs.

NHTSA ID

11667314

Incident

May 10, 2025

frame failure and structural issues

NHTSA ID

11666574

Incident

May 1, 2023

2019 Grand Design Momentum 397ms (VIN: [XXX] ) I am having to file this NHTSA (potential frame failure) complaint with assistance from Pete West, who is acting as my RV consumer advocate due to the fact that my husband, who was unarmed snd violently shot and killed on [XXX], by an off-duty Ft. Lauderdale police officer, right in front of me in our RV park over an RV park management dispute. I have reached out to Pete West ([email protected]) for his assistance with this. Our/my RV was purchased “used” from General RV in June 2024. There are a wide variety of other non-related issues to this complaint that will be addressed with the dealership and Grand Design directly. Front main door comes open during transport Cargo doors have also come open during transport and had to resecure them. Slide-outs do partially come out during transport Upon hitching truck up to the pin box noticing pin box movement up into the upper deck (unclear about amount of pin box movement). We have also noticed electrical outlets (kitchen island and bedroom) got burned out for no foreseeable reason (inoperative) and concerned about potential fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11645842

Incident

Mar 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Grand Design RV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RV the front and rear doors inadvertently opened. The RV was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed; however, the dealer informed the contact that the doors had been repaired. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear tires blew out. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over the RV and noticed that the rear axle had fractured. The dealer was contacted. The RV was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11628648

Incident

Dec 3, 2024

Frame failure on fifth wheel deck. Noticed when hooking RV to tow vehicle that the pin box would move upward roughly 1 inch. Also when hitched to tow vehicle would notice that all cabinets in front bedroom would move to the point of damaging walls and causing the doors to bind and hit the ceiling. Once I learned of many other Grand Design RV owners having this same problem, I removed the front skin to expose the frame of the rv and found that welds had completely broken, steel angle gussets sheared, along with finding the upper fifth wheel deck welds completely broke free of the upright supports on the passenger side of the rv. With the broken steel and broken welds, the only way the camper stayed together while towing was by way of the fiberglass skin of the walls. Also found that the steel deck plates designed to bolt to the rv walls had less than half the bolts (due to more than half the available holes not have a bolt installed), out of the existing bolts they were either sheared or severely bent. I contacted Grand Design and provided the pictures to show the damage and they requested that I tow the RV to an approved repair shop. Due to safety concerns I explained that I would not tow the RV anywhere in this condition. Problem was confirmed by Owen Bailey with Grand Design through the pictures supplied by me. No warning was given other than the interior damage from the frame flexing.

NHTSA ID

11627546

Incident

Sep 27, 2024

Welds on the frame where the fifth wheel overhang attaches to the main frame have broke allowing the kingpin to raise up off of the front upright. This means that the kingpin overhang is only attached at the rear upright making the RV unsafe to tow.

NHTSA ID

11624497

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

my suspension failed with the leaf springs breaking and the shackles and bushings failed then the frame is breaking( flexing). all fasteners were loose and some missing the body came loose from the frame... this is a issue with many other grand design 5th wheels ... hopefully the parts that fell off on the freeway did not hurt anyone... ( leaf springs)

NHTSA ID

11579614

Incident

Feb 14, 2024

Customer Satisfaction Program released to have a protective heat shield installed behind convection microwave on units identified below to address concerns with excessive heat buildup.

On certain Momentum Travel Trailer models ( 25G, 28G & 29G) the EMS power shed for the bedroom AC and Water Heater is wired incorrectly. The hot wire is not routed through the current sensor. As a result, the system will not shed appliances as intended.

The air conditioner (AC) unit may be wired incorrectly at the control module preventing the cooling pump from activating.

The air conditioner (AC) unit may be wired incorrectly at the control module preventing the cooling pump from activating.

The fuel gauges may be wired incorrectly. As a result, the interior fuel gauge does not function properly.

The fuel gauges may be wired incorrectly. As a result, the interior fuel gauge does not function properly.