RoadVitals

2012 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 Jul 29, 2014
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.
1
Latest Jul 30, 2015
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Heartland Big Country, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has 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%
  • Body & structure133.3%

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

1 campaign 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
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

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 29, 2014

BEFORE WE LEFT FOROUR TRIP WE WERE CHECKING THE TIRES AND NOTICE THAT ON OF THE TIRES WERE COMING APART. WE HAD THAT TIRE REPLACED. THEN ON OUR WAY HOME PULLING OUR HEARTLAND CAMPER ON 301 GOING 55MPH ANOTHER TIRE BLOW CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE CAMPER. RIP THE WIRING HARNESS OUT OF CAMPER. *JS

NHTSA ID
10617416
Incident
Jul 28, 2014
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 15, 2014

DRIVING HOME FROM TEXAS IN OUR 2008 DODGE RAM 3500 PULLING A 2012 HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY 3690SLR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ON THE 5TH WHEEL BLEW OFF. WE DOING ABOUT 60-65 MPH ON I81 IN PA. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL IT JUST BLEW OFF THE RIM. THE TIRE WAS A POWER KING TOWMAX 235 80R 16. IT DID DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF THE SLIDE AND PULLED THE WIRES FROM THE OUTLET AND THE LIGHTS IN THE SLIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610857
Incident
Apr 23, 2014
Mileage
5,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 12, 2013

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW FIFTH WHEEL IN 2012 TO AVOID ISSUES WITH USED EQUIPMENT, AROUND APRIL 2013 I NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH THE MOLDING IN THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER SEPARATING WHEN THE LOAD OF THE TRAILER WAS LOWERED ON THE PIN BOX WITH THE LANDING GEAR UP. AFTER TAKING PICTURES OF THIS AND FORWARDING THEM TO HEARTLAND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THE TRAILER WOULD NEED TO COME BACK TO INDIANA FROM THE WEST COAST FOR REPAIRS AT THE FACTORY.THEY INFORMED ME THAT LIPPERT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FRAMES HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH FRAMES BENDING AND BREAKING.THEY ASSURED ME THAT THE TRAILER WAS SAFE TO USE AND PULL CROSS COUNTRY UNTIL THEY COULD FIX IT FALL 2013.AFTER GOOGLING LIPPERT FRAME PROBLEMS I QUICKLY FOUND OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES SOME MUCH WORSE.THEY OFFERED THE REPAIR AT NO COST BUT FUEL AND LODGING WILL BE AT LEAST $4-5K AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10524515
Incident
Apr 2, 2013
Mileage
4,000 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—
2012Viewing310—
2011330—
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.