RoadVitals

2006 Heartland Big Horn

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 Apr 5, 2011
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 Aug 1, 2008
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 2006 Heartland Big Horn, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and suspension 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

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

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
08V380000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Aug 1, 2008
6,002 units potentially affected
The defect: HEARTLAND RV IS RECALLING 6,002 MY 2005-2008 BIG COUNTRY, LANDMARK, BIG HORN, CYCLONE, RAZOR, SUNDANCE, AND TRAIL RUNNER FIFTH WHEEL AND TRAVEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURED BY THE DOMETIC CORPORATION. THE REFRIGERATOR MAY HAVE A DEFECT IN THE BOILER TUBE. PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION COULD BE RELEASED INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
The risk: IF THIS SOLUTION IS EXPOSED TO AN IGNITION SOURCE UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: HEARTLAND RV IS WORKING WITH DOMETIC TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS (PLEASE SEE 08E032). DOMETIC WILL REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS BY INSTALLING A SECONDARY BURN HOUSING, A THERMAL FUSE, AND A MELT FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. DOMETIC HAS RETAINED STERICYCLE INC. TO MANAGE THIS CAMPAIGN. STERICYCLE WILL ASSIST THE OWNER IN LOCATING DEALERSHIPS OR SERVICE CENTERS AND WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC/STERICYCLE AT 1-888-446-5157 OR HEARTLAND RV AT 1-574-262-8030.
HEARTLAND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Apr 5, 2011

I OWN A 2006 HEARTLAND BIGHORN 5TH WHEEL 3400RL WITH TANDEM AXLES. (TWO AXLES, 4 TIRES) VIN: [XXX] IT HAS AN ESTIMATED 20,000 MILES ON IT. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF THE UNIT JUST TURNED 5 YEARS OLD. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. BOUGHT USED IN 2008, PULLED LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. UPON ARRIVING HOME LAST TRIP, (400 MILES ROUND TRIP), I FOUND MY LEAF SPRING SHACKLE LINKS, WHICH HOLD THE LEAF SPRING AND IN TURN HOLD THE AXLE IN PLACE HAD RIPPED LOOSE ON BOTH SIDES OF MY SUSPENSION. IN ESSENCE, THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE AXLE IN PLACE WAS THE REAR LEAF SPRING BOLTS. THE FRONT PART OF THE LEAF SPRING WHICH WAS NOW LOOSE JUST SO HAPPENED TO REST AGAINST THE TRAILER FRAME PREVENTING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, (WRECK!) I CALLED THE RV MANUFACTURER, (HEARTLAND RV), AND THE SUSPENSION MANUFACTURER, (AL-KO KOBER), AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH BOTH. THEY PUT ME OFF BY STATING THEY ONLY GIVE A 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE UNIT. I HAVE DRIVEN AUTOMOBILES WITH LEAF SPRINGS FOR 200,000 MILES ACROSS EVERY KIND OF ROAD WITH NO REAR LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION INCIDENT. AM I TO EXPECT AXLE, LEAF SPRING FRACTURES EVERY 4-5 YEARS? THE LEAF SPRING BUSHINGS ARE DAMAGED OR ENTIRELY GONE. THE BOLTS ARE WORN BAD AS WELL. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 5 YEARS AND CERTAINLY MORE THAN THE ESTIMATED 20,000 MILES. COMMON SENSE STATES THAT THE AXLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RATED AT LEAST 7, 000 LB RATING. YOU CAN SEE THE DANGER OF PULLING THIS DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVING AN AXLE FALL OUT. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO EVER HAPPEN! I CAN SEND PICTURES! JUST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO INJURIES, DOESN'T MEAN THIS SHOULD NOT BE ADDRESSED!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR UPDATED 11/15/11 UPDATED 1/18/2012 *LN

NHTSA ID
10394301
Incident
Mar 7, 2011
Mileage
20,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 24, 2010

I OWN A 2006 HEARTLAND BIGHORN 3055RL 5TH WHEEL. WHEN THE UNIT IS CONNECTED TO MY TOW VEHICLE, POPPING NOISES CAN BE HEARD AND THE PIN BOX MOVES UP INDICATING A FRAME DEFECT. WHEN DISCONNECTED, THE PIN BOX MOVES BACK DOWN. THIS HAS NOT YET CAUSED ANY DAMAGE PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURY, HOWEVER I FEAR IT MIGHT IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10362108
Incident
Oct 8, 2010
Mileage
8,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 13, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HEARTLAND BIGHORN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, MODEL 3655. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WHEEL CRACKED AND BLEW OUT THE AMERICANA TIRES. THE WHEELS PERFORM POORLY ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE WHEELS WERE UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY COULD BLOW OUT AT ANY TIME. A NEAR CRASH OCCURRED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGES WERE NOT APPLICABLE.

NHTSA ID
10265126
Incident
Apr 12, 2009

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Heartland Big Horn by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010—
2024010—
2023230—
2022020—
2021100—
2018100—
2017010—
2016220—
2015730—
2014430—
2013820—
2012010—
2011130—
2010310—
2009300—
2008110—
2007820—
2006Viewing310—
2005210—

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.