2018 Grand Design Reflection Problems

Own 2018 Grand Design (GD) RV with a broken Lippert (LCI) spring hanger that holds the axle in place, not discovered until maintenance. Photos available. Research reveals longevity, LCI knowledge, fix, number of & lack of notification. Contacted dealer, GD & LCI about safety defect told “Out Of warranty.” Not warranty, safety. The GD RV requirement or LCI frame equipment component issue is the spring/axle hanger. Other RV manufactures utilize Lippert frames with the same component/condition. LCI RV frames experience a higher rate of spring/axle hanger failures than RV manufactures Northwoods or Outdoor RV that design and construct their own RV frames. Info GD Forum. Attached #1, 2, 3, 4. There are more. 7/2014 NHTSA Recall # 14V-288 Starcraft. #5 10/7/2016 Keystone Rv RECALL: 14V-146 Safety Advisory: 14-205. #6 4/ 23/2021 LGS Industries Inc, #7 Recalls based on quality. Current cause unknown, “may fail during travel leading to an increased risk of loss of control and vehicle crash” remains the same. March 6, 2022, post describes in detail the broken spring hanger issue, includes a mechanical drawing dated 2003 of Lippert designed V modification fix. #8 LCI Publication LIP-0135 revA, AXLE RETRO PROCEDURE developed for 2009 Open Range RV. Page 2, information/drawings how to modify spring hanger, with V mod. #9 On 12/2020, a post “This is what the spring hanger looks like with the V reinforcements factory installed on my ’21 31G.” Is Lippert now installing the V mod on new frames? #10 Educating RV owners, the importance of inspection & available V mod of potential hanger failure, would result in safer roads for owners & public. GD & LCI’s current absence of responsibility & involvement is unfair.

The contact owns a 2018 Grand Design Reflection. The contact stated that during maintenance of the vehicle, he noticed that the driver’s side rear upper shackle pin on the Dexter trailer axle was not drilled to allow lubricant grease to enter, causing the pin and spring to dry out. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000. Consumer contacted the RV manufacturer, Grand Design, who suggested he follow up with axle manufacturer, Dexter.

A thin rubber grommet is used to protect the electric brake wires passing through the axel tube. These grommets wear through during normal towing. This, in turn, causes the wire to short to ground leading to total failure of the trailer brakes. I did not experience an accident but came very close as I was approaching a stopped vehicle and realized I needed MUCH more braking force on my truck brakes to stop my forward movement. All 4 grommets on the 2 axels on my trailer have failed as shown in the attached pictures but only one has resulted in the wire being rubbed through causing the brake failure. A picture of the axel ID is also included. This appears to be a serious design flaw that should be corrected. A quick Internet or YouTube search will show there are many occurences of this!

FOUND SEVERAL PROBLEMS ONLINE INDICATING THAT GREASE LEAKS PAST THE AXLE SEALS AND CONTAMINATES THE BRAKES. MY WHEELS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF GREASE AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE BRAKES LOSE EFFECTIVENESS. PROBLEM IS THAT THE CONDITION WILL GET PROGRESSIVELY WORST AND THE USER MAY NOT NOTICE THE LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.

The contact owns a 2018 Grand Design Recreational Reflection RV. The contact stated that there were structural cracks and frame separation on the RV, causing the rear interior walls to separate from the floor of the RV. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed of a Customer Satisfaction Campaign related to the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2018 Grand Design Reflection. The contact stated that as he retracted the RV's main slide out, the actuator used to retract the slide out snapped. Due to the failure, the slide out remained loose and was no longer secured to the RV. A technician was called to inspect the RV but informed the contact that there was too much damage and that extensive repairs would be needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the RV was no longer under warranty. The RV was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2018 Grand Design Reflection RV. The contact stated stated after starting the RV, he noticed that there was fire coming out of the refrigerator compartment. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with 3 fire extinguishers, fire hoses, and with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. A police report was filed, but the police report information was not available. The contact sustained a scraped left knee while exiting the RV, but did not seek medical assistance. The RV was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V038000 (Equipment). Additionally, the manufacturer sent a field technician to the contact's residence, where the RV was inspected but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION OPTIONS ASSEMBLED AT MANUFACTURER OR DEALER ARE NOT INCLUDED ARE NOT INCLUDED IN 9556# UVW OR SUBTRACTED FROM CCC LABEL OF 1379# AS REQUIRED BY AMENDED FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NOS. 110 AND 120 TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF MOTOR HOME AND RECREATION VEHICLE TRAILER OVERLOADING. THE FINAL RULE TOOK EFFECT ON JUNE 2, 2008. IF OPTIONS INSTALLED BY MANUFACTURER OR DEALER AT TIME OF SALE WHEN OPTIONS EXCEED 165# WHICH IS 1.5% OF 10,995 LBS GVWR THE CCC TAG NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED OR REPLACED. MANUFACTURER SHIPPED OPTIONS DINETTE WITH 4 CHAIRS, 2ND A/C, 2ND AWNING. DEALER ADDED 2 SLIDE TOPPERS, AUTOMATIC LIFT SYSTEM THE SUM OF EACH ITEM EXCEEDS 165# THRESHOLD, THUS PLACING OWNER AT RISK OF EXCEEDING 10,995# THUS OVERLOADING AXLE AND SPRINGS. GRAND DESIGN REQUIRES OWNER TO WEIGH TRAILER BEFORE WARRANTYING BENT AXLES OR SPRINGS AND DENY'S CLAIM IF IN EXCESS OF 10,995# BLAMING CUSTOMER FOR EXCEEDING THE CARGO WEIGHT. IN OUR CASE OUR TRAILER WAS OVER BY 280# WHICH RESULTED IN INSIDE TIRE WEAR, 2 BENT AXLES AND SPRINGS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 11,500 TRAILER MILES ACROSS US AND ALASKA BETWEEN 12/27/2017 THROUGH 8/20/2018. PURCHASE 2018 GRAND DESIGN 315RLTS ON 12/27/2017 THUS UNDER 1 YEAR WARRANTY. GRAND DESIGN CLAIMS ROADS IN ALASKA ARE DAMAGING TO RV WITH EXCESSIVE WEIGHT DUE TO PERMAFROST THUS DENYING THE CLAIM. CHALLENGING THE AMENDED STANDARD WAS NOT FOLLOWED AND WEIGHT ARE NOT PROVIDED ANYWHERE ON GRAND DESIGN WEBSITE OR DOCUMENTATION CUSTOMERS ARE UNAWARE TO SUBTRACT OPTIONS FROM CARGO WEIGHT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. GRAND DESIGN OFFERED HEAVIER SPRINGS, BUT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR LABOR AND AXLES. GRAND DESIGN HAS NOT PROVIDED WEIGHT OF OPTIONS OR ORIGINAL WEIGHT CERTIFICATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INCLUDED IN ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION. REPAIRED ON 8/20/2018 AT OWNERS EXPENSE. TIRE MANUFACTURER DID ACCEPT WARRENTY