RoadVitals

2011 Heartland Big Country

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Aug 20, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Nov 22, 2017
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Heartland Big Country, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and other / unspecified categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels266.7%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
17V750000

EQUIPMENT

Nov 22, 2017
19,615 units potentially affected
The defect: Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Elkridge, North Country, North Trail FW, 2011 Big Country, Bighorn, Caliber, Country Ridge, Cyclone, Edge, Focus, Graystone, Landmark, MPG, North Trail TT, Road Warrior, Sundance, Sundance TT, Sundance XLT FW, Sundance XLT TT, Trail Runner, 2018 Fuel TT, 2016-2018 Sundance XLT TT, and Torque TT recreational vehicles, equipped with certain Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
The risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Heartland will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2018. Owners may contact Heartland customer service at 1-877-262-8032, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information.
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
15V482000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jul 30, 2015
1,680 units potentially affected
The defect: Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is recalling certain trailers of various models and model years. Click on "All Products Associated With This Recall" for a complete list. The tire certification labels applied to the vehicles may contain inaccurate tire sizing and/or inflation information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
The risk: An owner or operator could rely on the inaccurate information in inflating the tires which could cause under or over inflation which, in turn, could lead to a tire failure or crash.
The remedy: Heartland will notify owners, and dealers will send a replacement label with the correct information, free of charge. The recall began on September 29, 2015. Owners may contact Heartland customer service at 1-574-266-3988.
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLCManufacturer number 99-01-23View on NHTSA.gov
10V461000

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

Oct 8, 2010
48 units potentially affected
The defect: HEARTLAND IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER AXLES. ON SOME AXLES, CRACKS COULD APPEAR IN THE SPINDLE WELD.
The risk: THESE CRACKS CAN PROPAGATE AND CAUSE THE SPINDLE TO DETACH FROM THE AXLE TUBE, RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL END FROM THE VEHICLE, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD THAT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH TO OTHER VEHICLES, AND COMPROMISES THE DRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: HEARTLAND IS WORKING WITH DEXTER AXLE AND WILL INSPECT THE AXLE SERIAL NUMBER AND REPLACE IT IF IT FALLS WITHIN THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE. REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HEARTLAND WARRANTY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-877-262-8032 OR DEXTER AXLE AT 1-800-400-2164.
HEARTLAND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, LLCManufacturer number 99-01-03View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2013

WITHIN ONE HOUR OF LEAVING HOME HAD THREE SEPARATE TIRE BLOWOUTS ON RV. TIRES DID NOT APPEAR WORN, INFLATED PROPERLY, LOAD APPROPRIATE, AND STORED UNDER COVER. LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON THESE 2 YEAR OLD ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY RV. OCCURRED ON I-35 DALLAS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO RV, AND RESULTING IN PURCHASE ON THE SPOT OF 4 NEW TIRES. TIRES APPEARED TOTALLY SEPERATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536365
Incident
Jul 18, 2013
Mileage
6,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 3, 2012
Crash reported

THE AFFECTED PARTS SECTION ABOVE WOULD NOT KEEP MY AFFECTED PARTS LISTED, SO THEY WERE THE DELAMINATED TIRE, FENDER SKIRTING AND SOME WIRING. WHILE TOWING MY 2011 3250 TS BIG COUNTRY FIFTH WHEEL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD ON THE CAMPER DELAMINATED. THE CAMPER WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE TREAD OF THE TOWMAX STR ST235/80R16 HAD DELAMINATED HALFWAY OFF OF THE TIRE CORE. AFTER CALMING DOWN AND GETTING ROADSIDE SERVICE TO PLACE THE SPARE ON THE CAMPER I CONTINUED SLOWLY TO THE NEARBY CAMPSITE. NOTE: WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE ROADSIDE SERVICE TO ARRIVE, ANOTHER FELLOW CAMPER STOPPED BY TO ASSIST IF HE COULD. WHILE THERE HE TOLD ME THAT THIS DELAMINATION PROBLEM WITH THESE TOWMAX TIRES HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. I FOUND HIS STATEMENT THIS TO BE VERY TRUE AND DISTURBING. AFTER COMPLETING RESEARCH ON VARIOUS/MANY RV FORUMS WHERE I READ SIMILAR STORIES AND SAW PICTURES OF SIMILAR/WORSE DAMAGES AS MY OWN I AM AMAZED AND SHOCKED THAT THESE TIRES ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED ON RV'S. AND THIS DELAMINATION PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, AS NOTED BY THE RV FORUM REPORT DATES. AT A MINIMUM, THERE HAS BEEN PROPERTY DAMAGED. THANK GOODNESS IN OUR CASE WE HAD JUST LEFT A RED LIGHT AND WERE ONLY GOING 35-40 MPH. THIS IS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!!! I AM NOW SEARCHING FOR 4 NEW TIRES TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND GET SOME PEACE OF MIND BACK BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO FL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING SOME POSITIVE RESULTS IN THE CASE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10483242
Incident
Nov 1, 2012
Mileage
6,500 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 29, 2012

TREAD CAME OFF TIRE WILL TRAVELING ON I-515 IN HENDERSON NV. TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED AS WE HAD LEFT THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP JUST 30 MINUTES PRIOR. THIS BRAND OF TIRE SEEMS TO HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE IF THE COMPLAINTS ON THE HEARTLAND OWNERS FORUM ARE ANY INDICATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10477468
Incident
Sep 10, 2012
Mileage
3,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Heartland Big Country by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024010—
2023020—
2022010—
2016120—
2015220—
2014120—
2013420—
2012310—
2011Viewing330—
2010010—
2009100—
2008010—
2007010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.