2017 Grand Design Solitude

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 2017 Grand Design Solitude. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact became aware of a gap in the corner of the RV overhang, in the transition to the vehicle upper deck down to the lower deck. The contact became aware of movement underneath the fiberglass. Additionally, the contact stated that the bedroom doors were stuck, but upon setting the RV down on the jack stands, the doors became functional. There were several cracks in the aluminum frame and in the welds. The contact had contacted a welder, who performed welding on the defective areas. The RV was taken to the dealer, who sent more pictures of the failure to the manufacturer. The dealer replaced the front aluminum frame and the pilon underneath the fiber glass; however, the failure recurred. Additionally, the contact noticed that the bedroom flooring had become raised. The RV was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there were more fractures in the beams underneath the bedroom, and that the fractures were extensive. The dealer forwarded a claim to the manufacturer with pictures of the failure; however, the claim was denied. The RV was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE24029 (Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11706718

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Mileage

55,000 mi

The steel Frame of the 5th wheel trailer developed broken welds and cracked metal tubing. This information should be included in the following current investigation. ODI PE24029

NHTSA ID

11633748

Incident

Jan 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Grand Design Solitude RV. The contact stated that while driving, the rear axle suspension separated from vehicle. The contacted noticed that the rear axle shifted three inches towards the driver’s side. The vehicle was taken to a rest stop where an independent mechanic replaced the left and right leaf springs. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.

NHTSA ID

11434056

Incident

Sep 12, 2021

Mileage

8,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GRAND DESIGN SOLITUDE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE REAR WALL OF THE TRAILER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RATCHET STRAPPED THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR WALL ONTO THE SIDEWALL OF THE RV AND DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RV NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 940. INVALID VIN.

NHTSA ID

11415522

Incident

Apr 29, 2021

Mileage

940 mi

BOUGHT NEW, AFTER 6 MONTHS OF USE THE BRAKES FAILED. THE LIPPERT AXLES ON THE COACH HAD FAILURE ON THE SEALS AND COATED THE BRAKES WITH GREASE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON A 16,000 TRAILER WITH NO BRAKES. LIPPERT KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON ALL OF THE TRAILERS WITH THEIR AXLES. MOST OF THE GRAND DESIGN COACHES ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11071988

Incident

Nov 25, 2017

Mileage

5,000 mi

NOTICE - LATE EMAIL.... 11/13/17 GRAND DESIGN RV 11333 COUNTY ROAD 2 MIDDLEBURY, IN 46540 GREETINGS, THIS LETTER IS REGARDING OUR 2017 SOLITUDE 375RES, VIN #[XXX]. WE PURCHASED THE UNIT IN FEBRUARY OF 2017 FROM LAZY DAYS RV IN TUCSON, AZ. WHEN WE ARRIVED IN UTAH WE FOUND THAT WE A BROKEN LEAF SPRING ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXEL AND THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN DAMAGED. WE HAD THOSE REPLACED AT LES SCHWAB TIRES IN PROVO, UTAH AT OUR EXPENSE. THIS OCCURRED ON JUNE 14, 2017. I THEN CONTACTED THE FACTORY AND SPOKE WITH [XXX]. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE PROBLEMS AND HE SAID THAT GRAND DESIGN WOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR REASONABLE COSTS. THE FOLLOWING DAY WE LEFT UTAH AND WENT CALDWELL, ID. AFTER ARRIVING THERE WE FOUND THAT THE OTHER THREE LEAF SPRINGS HAD COLLAPSED. I CONTACTED THE FACTORY AGAIN AND SPOKE TO [XXX] WHO SAID THAT HE COULD UNDERSTAND HAVING ONE BAD SPRING BUT TO HAVE ALL FOUR GO BAD WAS UNLIKELY AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IT WEIGHED. I AGREED. IN THE MEAN TIME I HAD THE WORK DONE AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE AND I THEN PARKED THE UNIT UNTIL WE COULD GET IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER WORK. ONCE THERE WE FOUND THAT YET ANOTHER SPRING HAD COLLAPSED. I HAD THE DEALER WEIGH THE UNIT AND IT WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN THE PUBLISHED WEIGHTS FOR THIS UNIT. AS OF THIS WRITING THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM GRAND DESIGN. SO IN CLOSING WHILE WE AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE, I CAN'T HELP BUT TO CONSIDER THE BIGGER PICTURE AND THAT IS, ARE THESE AXEL/SPRINGS UNDERSIZED FOR THIS SIZE RV AND IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THE HIGHWAYS? [XXX] CELL- [XXX] CC:FILE NHTSA GRAND DESIGN FORUM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11066830

Incident

Jun 14, 2017

OVER SERVICED WHEEL BEARING HUBS AT FACTORY BY LCI CAUSED FAILURE OF REAR BEARING GREASE SEALS ON ALL 4 WHEELS CONTAMINATING BRAKE PADS RENDERING BRAKING INEFFECTIVE WHEN IN MOTION MAKING IT UNABLE TO STOP QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY.

NHTSA ID

11011343

Incident

Apr 7, 2017

Mileage

100 mi

OUR TRAILER HAS A LIPPERT SUSPENSION ORIGINALLY WITH 7,000# AXLES THAT HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO 8,000# AXLES JUST 4,200 MILES AGO. ONE OF THE FOUR SPRING PACKS CAME APART ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING THE AXLE TO BECOME MISALIGNED AND NEARLY CAUSING US TO DRIVE OVER THE EDGE OF A GUARDRAIL ON A NARROW BRIDGE WITH TWO LANES AT 50MPH. THIS IS THE 3RD LIPPERT SPRING FAILURE WE HAVE HAD, BUT THE 6TH SUSPENSION FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION WE ALSO HAVE DISCOVERED THAT EACH TIME THE BRONZE BUSHINGS ARE PREMATURELY, COMPLETELY, WORN THROUGH SO THAT THERE IS NO ANTI-FRICTION SURFACE REMAINING. PICTURES ATTACHED.

NHTSA ID

11005291

Incident

Jul 13, 2017

Mileage

4,200 mi

Lippert Components and Grand Design RV are launching a Customer Satisfaction Campaign to address frame web cracks appearing above the spring hangers on some Solitude 310GK & Reflection 303RLS models. The units affected were produced between June 2013 and May 2021.

Lippert Components and Grand Design RV are launching a Customer Satisfaction Campaign to address frame web cracks appearing above the spring hangers on some Solitude 310GK & Reflection 303RLS models. The units affected were produced between June 2013 and May 2021.

Lippert Components and Grand Design RV are launching a Customer Satisfaction Campaign to address frame web cracks appearing above the spring hangers on some Solitude 310GK & Reflection 303RLS models. The units affected were produced between June 2013 and May 2021.

The rear upper deck on Solitude ST390RK models produced prior to June 6, 2022 may not be properly supported. As a result, the rear upper deck floor may sag slightly at the sidewalls. Remedy: The remedy includes the use of additional fasteners (961113 - Screw 14x1 Hex Waster Type a Zinc, 960736- #625 Tri-fold LG FLG Alum .39-.354 Grip Rivet) and support bracing. (512064 - 1x2 Stuffed AL Tube, 512065 - 2x3 Stuffed AL Tube)

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.

Flex-Guard strap under the dinette slide my be within the 4" tire clearance requirement with the room closed. Procedure is to convert from the Flex-Guard strap configuration to a spring configuration which assures a minumum clearance of 4".