2020 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.

I'm submitting this report on our RV because we are discovering we very likely have an issue with the frame which is causing over flexing when it is being towed. This has caused damage inside the RV where the trim and cabinetry are damaging the walls due to more movement than should be occurring. We have notified the manufacturer, Grand Design, for guidance as we've read this could be caused by broken welds in the frame. They requested we send them photos which we have but are still waiting for information back from them. At this point we are concerned that the RV may not be safe to use until we can discuss in more detail the issues we are having and how they can't be fixed if possible. We are aware this is a known issue with this particular model RV. We were told about a TSB that suggested we check to see if the bolts were loose in the front of the unit where the wall and frame meet. We did this and they were loose so we had them replaced with the suggested larger size bolts listed in the TSB. After this was done we monitored the walls to see if we were still getting movement on the walls based on marks we made after the bolt were replaced and unfortunately we still did. Our understanding is the whole front panel of the RV has to be removed so the welds can be inspected and determined if any are broken or compromised and then determine if they can be repaired. Before doing this we want Grand Design to send us information on what to look for. Unfortunately our RV is over the 5 year extended frame warranty they provided so we don't think they will cover the costs although I think there should be compensation if it is determined the frame they used in manufacturing this RV was not strong enough to handle the weight.

NHTSA ID

11745588

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

Our camper has frame flex. We opened a claim in October 2025 with Grand Design. Received a letter stating they would cover any repairs. It's been in the shop now for over a month and they keep telling us the claim is "in review". Our upper deck frame is cracked/broken, our walls are separating, the door opens when we are traveling down the road. The roof is falling apart, bubbled and cracking. Side walls are cracked. We've sent pictures, the shop has sent pictures and we are getting no answers. The newest they are telling us is that it's now out of warranty. The camper isn't safe to tow and they aren't fixing it or providing the shop with details on how to fix it.

NHTSA ID

11731344

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

My Momentum 5th wheel is experiencing frame flex and wall separation . This condition is causing damage to the interior side wall adjacent to cabinets in the bedroom wall. Frame and or wall assembly is excessively moving in transport and during hooking and unhooking from the unit. Unit will be inspected in the near future by a Grand Design authorized service agents. The condition is further degrading the safety of the unit with each use in transit.

NHTSA ID

11731307

Incident

Oct 25, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Grand Design Momentum RV. The contact stated that while the RV was parked, the contact heard an abnormally loud popping sound coming from behind the sleeping cabinets at the camping ground. The contact performed an inspection and noticed that the 110-volt electrical wires in the RV had shifted during travel and were touching the subframe of the RV. The contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the RV, and the refrigerator circuit braker then tripped. No warning lights were illuminated. The RV was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed electrical wiring system and junction box. The contact was informed that the wiring system and the junction box needed to be replaced, and the wires needed to be re-routed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ID

11702463

Incident

Nov 4, 2025

Mileage

12,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Grand Design Momentum. The contact stated that upon hitching the trailer to the vehicle and driving, the entire frame of the trailer was flexing. The contact stated that the failure caused the laundry room door to fail to latch because the attached wall was damaged. The contact stated that the internal trim screws had become loosened, and the trims were detaching. The contact stated that the front side of the frame, underneath the fifth wheel, was cracked on both the passenger's and driver's sides and had significantly fractured and detached on one side. The RV was taken to Bailey's Towing & Auto Body, where it was determined that the frame was flexing excessively. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE24029 (Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ID

11697120

Incident

May 15, 2025

Mileage

10,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Grand Design Momentum RV. The contact stated that while in the process of lubricating the wet bolts of the RV, the contact noticed that the rear-most bolts were missing, and the springs were rubbing against the frame. The mobile technician performed a temporary repair at the residence. The RV was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed. The dealer determined that the spring brackets needed to be straightened and reinforced and needed to be welded inside the brackets. The wet bolts and axle U-bolts and attachments needed to be replaced, the passenger's side and driver's side rear-most tires needed to be replaced. The dealer filed a warranty claim with the manufacturer; however, the claim was denied because the suspension was not covered under the frame warranty coverage. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE24029 (Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ID

11696640

Incident

Aug 16, 2025

Mileage

10,000 mi

Issues with: - original drum breaks failed due to incorrect wiring, requiring 100% assembly replacement. - front wall separation - trim and cabinets moving and separating from walls - missing and broken lag bolts - front weather stripping separated from front cap - excessive sawdust under cabinets after any travel - wallpaper wear showing excessive movement of front bed overhead cabinets during travel - floor joists separating from upper floor - slides opening during travel - leaf spring hangers bending and twisting, and breaking off - spare tire mount failed during highway travel, and spare tire fell off on highway - contacted manufacturer to report in 2024 and they indicated we should self-replace the missing and damaged lag bolts with larger 1/2 inch ones. This was done, and they continue to back out on every trip whether 5 miles or 500 miles.

NHTSA ID

11665612

Incident

May 30, 2021

The frame of my trailer sustained damage due to flexing from poor design. I was lucky and noticed some loud noises when transitioning weight to the king pin on the truck. A lot of creaking and groaning. Because of all of these noises and what I had read online, I had the trailer inspected. The inspection found the frame moving within the structure when the weight transitions from the stabilizers to the king pin. Additional damage was a crack in the structure that holds the wall to the frame and many bent gussets that are designed to give the structure strength. This design is substandard. I understand the whole thing is designed to work as a whole to provide strength, but there are weak areas in this design. First is the use of lag bolts into a soft wood as a method of connecting the frame to the wall structure. This needs to be into metal or aluminum allowing the use of bolts and a thread locking compound to prevent loosening. Lag bolts into wood on a structure designed to withstand dynamic movement of towing is inadequate. This will always loosen over time transferring the load to other areas of the structure and the damage many are seeing. My trailer has been repaired, but I'm not sure if the new gussets and additional lag bolts will be enough because they are still using wood as a structural component. My trailer is a 2020 and the 5 year warranty will expire in September. I'm not sure where I will be after that when the next repair comes. I don't have a lot of pictures because I was out of town when they did the inspection. You can see the break in the wall support showing that the wall was moving after is separated from the frame. The pictures show how this bent the gussets that are designed to give the structure support. Like I said, I saw this problem online and asked for in inspection before I had real problems. If I had waited, the damage would've been much worse.

NHTSA ID

11663007

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

Grand Design is addressing concerns of excessive frame flex or wall securement in the front upper deck area of a limited number of fifth-wheel units. This condition could potentially occur over time due to a combination of manufacturing variations, an overload condition, or hitch modifications. Wall securement or excessive frame flex does not compromise vehicle safety or structural integrity of the coach as verified by third-party experts. This service campaign covers 2020-2023 Grand Design Solitude and Momentum fifth wheel products that are 18,000lbs GVWR and over.

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 the roll-over sofa, the sofa back stop bolt may be missing. As a result, when the sofa back is rolled over to make a bed it may not lay flat.

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.