2025 Grand Design Momentum

In early November 2025, while towing our 2024 Grand Design Momentum 344M M-Class fifth wheel toy hauler to a family Thanksgiving gathering, the rearmost driver-side leaf spring fractured and failed during travel. The trailer was towed by a 2024 Ram 3500 dually, properly rated for this unit, operated within all load ratings, and driven at normal cautious speeds at the time of failure. The failure rendered the trailer immobile and unsafe to move. It has remained in storage since the incident because the damaged suspension cannot support safe relocation. A leaf spring is a primary suspension component that is not customer-serviceable and not owner-maintained. The remaining leaf springs on the unit were inspected and are in good condition, indicating the failure was isolated to the defective spring rather than a result of abnormal use, overloading, or environmental exposure affecting the suspension system as a whole. This points to a manufacturing defect in the failed component. The trailer was purchased new from an authorized dealer (Blue Compass RV) in October 2024. The spring failed only weeks after the one-year factory warranty expired, at an extremely low service age for a primary structural suspension component. Safety concern: This failure happened at low speed, allowing a controlled stop without incident. Had it occurred at highway speed, likely consequences include sudden loss of trailer stability, axle and tire damage from the collapsed corner, trailer sway or jackknife, tire blowout, and potential loss of control of the tow vehicle. A loaded fifth wheel toy hauler of this size presents a severe hazard to occupants and surrounding motorists if suspension fails at speed. I am filing this report so NHTSA can track potential defect trends on Grand Design Momentum fifth wheels. Other owners of this model and model year may be at similar risk. Photographs, VIN, purchase documentation, and manufacturer correspondence available on request.

NHTSA ID

11731685

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

Sudden loss of trailer brakes nearly caused me to rear end vehicle in front of me. The more concerning part is when I went to an RV dealer to disgnose, they pulled the break away emergency brake to test if brakes applied. They did not apply, however about 1 minute after the breakway was pulled the switch began to melt, then almost immediately there was smoke coming from inside the battery compartment and a fire was started by the power wires melting due to a short. The fire then damaged a hydralic line and hydralic fluid was leaking right next to the flame. Luckily we had a fire extinguisher handy and quickly disconnected the battery. Grand Design had an investigator come on site to survey the damage and interview the dealer and myself. I was told that pulling the breakaway cable will cause the wires to overheat and could start a fire. I might agree if it was left for a long period of time, but not in 1 munute. If this would have been an actual emergency situation where the traler disconnected while driving, the brakes would not have applied and I am sure would have burned completely as it would have taken more time to get access to the fire location. Being told that this is expected behavior makes me very nervous to continue to use this trailier as I beleive it could happen again. A letter was sent to Grand Design and I have yet to get a response and having difficulty getting them to approve the repair and send parts

NHTSA ID

11671014

Incident

Jun 5, 2025

Momentum Travel Trailer bed lift bracket may be installed upside down preventing the bed from lowering from the transit position to the bed position.