NHTSA Complaint #11322178 — 2019 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION

OUR 2019 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION 290BH HAS A TURNING POINT HITCH. THE TURNING POINT HITCH IS DESIGNED SO THAT YOU CAN TOW THE 5TH WHEEL BEHIND A SHORT BED TRUCK WITHOUT A SLIDER HITCH. WHILE TOWING OUR TRAILER AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A CURVE THE UNIVERSAL WEDGE CAME LOOSE IN OUR HITCH WHICH MADE THE HITCH TURN AT BOTH POINTS. THIS CAUSED OUR TRAILER TO HIT OUR HIT OUR TRUCK. LUCKILY WE TOW THIS 1/2 TON RATED TRAILER WITH A 1 TON TRUCK AND WE WERE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE HIT. WE WERE NOT THROWN OFF THE ROAD AND WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF SAFELY. AFTER DOING OUR RESEARCH THE DEALER HAD INSTALLED OUR HITCH CORRECTLY ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL RELEASED 05/18/2017 WHICH WAS INCLUDED WITH OUR TRAILER. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. LIPPERT HAS UPDATED THE MANUAL AS OF 8/16/19 AND IT NOW LISTS SPECIFIC WEDGES FOR SPECIFIC HITCHES. WHEN THE DEALER CONTACTED LIPPERT THEY DENIED EVER REVISING THEIR MANUAL. BOTH LIPPERT AND GRAND DESIGN ARE DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY.*DT *JB