RoadVitals

2013 Heartland Sundance

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 Sep 2, 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.
3
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 2013 Heartland Sundance, 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
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
13V186000

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

May 9, 2013
55 units potentially affected
The defect: Heartland Recreational Vehicles (Heartland) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Sundance travel trailers, model 322RES, manufactured September 13, 2012, through April 30, 2013. The axles are mounted too far forward on the frame which may cause improper trailer balance while towing.
The risk: Improper trailer balance may lead to uncontrollable trailer sway, increasing the risk of a crash, property damage, and/or personal injury.
The remedy: Heartland will notify owners and the trailers will be returned to the factory where axles will be moved rearward, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact Heartland Recreational Trailers' Warranty/Service Department by email at "[email protected]," or by phone at 1-877-262-8032. Heartland's recall campaign number is 99-01-12.
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLCManufacturer number 99-01-12View 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 Sep 2, 2014

TIRE FAILURE ON THREE POWER KING TOW MAX STR 235/80/R16 IN ONE DAY. TOWING 2013 HEARTLAND 3000 CK SUNDANCE @ LOVELOCK NEVADA, ONE TIRE BLEW AND DAMAGED SIDE PANEL DRIVERS SIDE, OTHER DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A BUBBLE STARTING AND THIRD HAD BUBBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10630012
Incident
Aug 31, 2014
Mileage
6,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 12, 2014

WITH ONLY 7000 MILES ON TOW MAX TRAILER TIRES, ST235/80R-16/10 HIGHWAY BW, RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON FRONT AXLE SEPARATED WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE REMAINING TREAD GONE. NEW TIRE PUT ON - WE PAID $100 - REBATED $70 FROM TIRE COMPANY. ON 1/23/14, ONLY 3000 MILES LATER, NOTICED LEFT FRONT TIRE, SAME AXLE, SEPARATING. DROVE TO QUALIFIED TIRE STORE AND EXPECTED TO HAVE THAT TIRE REPLACED, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FIRST TIRE REPLACED, THE REMAINING 3 TIRES WERE ALL SEPARATING AND VERY CLOSE TO BLOWING OUT. HAVE GONE ON OUR OWNERS FORUM AND READ ABOUT SO MANY OTHER RV OWNERS HAVING DANGEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS BRAND. HAVE CONTACTED THE RV MANUFACTURER AND THEY SEEM TO THINK GETTING 7000 MILES ON A TIRE IS GOOD. REALLY??? WE WANTED THEM TO AT LEAST GIVE US A FEW DOLLARS BACK ON THESE TIRES SINCE WE WANTED TO BE SAFE AND UPGRADED TO A TIRE THAT CAN HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF OUR RV. BY THE WAY, WE HAD OUR TRAILER AND TRUCK PROFESSIONALLY WEIGHED AT A RALLY HOSTED BY OUR RV MANUFACTURER AND WERE TOLD WE WERE UNDERWEIGHT!!! WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU INVESTIGATE THESE TIRES AND PERHAPS READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS. IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION PUTTING INADEQUATE TIRES ON AN RV. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564042
Incident
Sep 2, 2013
Mileage
7,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 23, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HEARTLAND SUNDANCE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH POWER KING TOWMAX TIRES, SIZE: 235/80/16 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED WITH THE STEEL VISIBLY SHOWING. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE AND ONE NEWLY PURCHASED TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRAILER DID NOT GENERATE MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID
10536875
Incident
Aug 22, 2013

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Heartland Sundance by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024010—
2023020—
2022140—
2021010—
2020010—
2019230—
2018020—
2017030—
2016010—
2015210—
2014330—
2013Viewing330—
2012010—
2011230—
2010110—
2009100—
2008310—
2007110—
2006010—

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.