RoadVitals

2013 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.
4
Latest Aug 28, 2017
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.
2
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Heartland Big Country, most frequently naming the other / unspecified, tires & wheels and body & structure categories. 2 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

  • Other / unspecified233.3%
  • Tires & wheels233.3%
  • Body & structure116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%

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

2 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
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
13V181000

EQUIPMENT

May 7, 2013
890 units potentially affected
The defect: Heartland Recreational Vehicles is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Big Country, Bighorn, Elk Ridge, Elk Ridge Express, Landmark, Prowler, Sundance, Sundance XLT, and Silverado fith wheel and travel trailers manufactured February 13, 2013, through April 16, 2013. If the awning installation sequence was not completely followed, the awning motor may unknowingly become damaged.
The risk: If motor damage has occurred, it is possible that the awning can unfurl unexpectedly, either while the trailer is at rest or while in transit, increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
The remedy: Heartland will notify owners and Dometic staff will replace the affected motors with a design that is not subject to an out-of-sequence installation error. The recall began on May 20, 2013. A notification schedule has not yet been provided. Owners may contact Heartland Recreational Trailers at 1-888-262-5992 or Dometic at 1-888-447-0003 for more information. Owners are being instructed not to drive their vehicle until repairs can be performed. Heartland's recall campaign number is 99-01-11.
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLCManufacturer number 99-01-11View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH DYNAMIC TIRES, SIZE: 235/80P16. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT PART OF IT WAS DISINTEGRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE MILEAGE TO REPORT. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11020062
Incident
Aug 26, 2017
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 8, 2014

I WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT AT A CAMPGROUND AND UPON MAKING MY PRE-TRIP INSPECTION, NOTICED SEVERAL BUBBLES ON THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE RV TIRE. HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AND STARTED OUT LATER THAT AFTERNOON ON MY TRIP. ABOUT TWO HOURS IN, HAD A BLOWOUT ON ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES ON THE RV WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60 MPH. ROAD SERVICE PUT ON OUR SPARE AND WE WENT TO THE NEXT EXIT A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD THAT HAD A TIRE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SHOWED ME ON ONE OF THE TWO REMAINING ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE RV, THAT THE TREAD WAS PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY. I REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES INCLUDING THE SPARE THAT WAS ALSO A TOWMAX ROAD KING ST23580R16 LRE. ONE BAD TIRE, CHALK IT UP TO THAT'S LIFE, THREE BAD TIRES AND $1500 DAMAGE TO MY RV, NOT GONNA ROLL THE DICE WITH MY FAMILY'S SAFETY! HEARTLAND AND DYNAMIC TIRES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING AND INSTALLING THIS JUNK ON WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE AN EXPENSIVE ASSET. *JS

NHTSA ID
10608931
Incident
Jun 30, 2014
Mileage
15,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 5, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HIRED A ELECTRICIAN TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRICIAN STATED THERE WAS DEFECTIVE AND LOOSE WIRING UNDER THE CAMPER THAT WAS CAUSING SPARKING UNDERNEATH THE CAMPER. THE ELECTRICIAN ALSO STATED THE FAILURE WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE CAMPER COULD HAVE EXPLODED. ADDITIONALLY, THE SHOWER WAS LEAKING IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. THE CONTACT HIRED A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE SHOWER WAS NOT SEALED CORRECTLY AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE, INCLUDING A MOLD PROBLEM. THE TRAILER WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10567391
Incident
Feb 4, 2014
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Aug 14, 2013

WE WERE NORTH ON INTERSTATE 75 NEAR KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE TOWING OUR 2013 5 MONTH OLD HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY RV WITH OUR 2012 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY. A PASSING MOTORIST SIGNALED TO US THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF THE RV WAS FLAT. WE LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND FOUND A TRUCK AND TRAILER REPAIR FACILITY AT THE EXIT. CAUSE OF THE FLAT WAS THAT THE PLIES OF THE TIRE HAD COME APART AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE SO CLOSE TO FAILING (THE PLIES WERE COMING APART) THAT WE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR OF THEM. THEY WERE FACTORY INSTALLED POWER KING TOWMAX 235 80R 16 E. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE MANUFACTURER, THE DISTRIBUTOR AND TBC TIRE COMPANY IN PALM BEACH GARDENS FLORIDA. ALL THE HEARTLAND CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID WAS "UH HUH" WHEN I EXPLAINED. HE DIDN'T CARE. NONE OF THEM WOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. TBC SAID THEY ARE GOING TO SEND US A SMALL CHECK "AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL." I AM NOT WRITING TODAY TO ASK FOR HELP IN COLLECTING MONEY. I AM WRITING BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THESE TIRES HAD ONLY 6066 MILES ON THEM. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS CATASTROPHE HAD ONE OR MORE OF THE REMAINING TIRES ALSO GONE FLAT. TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 75 AT KNOXVILLE WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY AT THE TIME. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON HEARTLAND RV FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINS SIMILAR TO OUR ABOUT THESE TIRES FAILING, SOME AS SOON AS 2,000 MILES. THE REPRESENTATIVE AT TBC TIRES SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THESE ARE NOT THE CORRECT TIRES FOR AN RV THE SIZE OF A HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE WERE A HAIRS BREADTH FROM BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.. I HAVE ONE OF THE FAILED TIRES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A WHOLE CHAIN OF RESPONSIBILITY HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535375
Incident
Jul 24, 2013
Mileage
6,066 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—
2013Viewing420—
2012310—
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.