2018 GRAND DESIGN REFLECTION — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2018 Grand Design Recreational Reflection RV. The contact stated that there were structural cracks and frame separation on the RV, causing the rear interior walls to separate from the floor of the RV. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed of a Customer Satisfaction Campaign related to the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

A thin rubber grommet is used to protect the electric brake wires passing through the axel tube. These grommets wear through during normal towing. This, in turn, causes the wire to short to ground leading to total failure of the trailer brakes. I did not experience an accident but came very close as I was approaching a stopped vehicle and realized I needed MUCH more braking force on my truck brakes to stop my forward movement. All 4 grommets on the 2 axels on my trailer have failed as shown in the attached pictures but only one has resulted in the wire being rubbed through causing the brake failure. A picture of the axel ID is also included. This appears to be a serious design flaw that should be corrected. A quick Internet or YouTube search will show there are many occurences of this!

The contact owns a 2018 Grand Design Reflection RV. The contact stated stated after starting the RV, he noticed that there was fire coming out of the refrigerator compartment. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with 3 fire extinguishers, fire hoses, and with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. A police report was filed, but the police report information was not available. The contact sustained a scraped left knee while exiting the RV, but did not seek medical assistance. The RV was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V038000 (Equipment). Additionally, the manufacturer sent a field technician to the contact's residence, where the RV was inspected but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

Own 2018 Grand Design (GD) RV with a broken Lippert (LCI) spring hanger that holds the axle in place, not discovered until maintenance. Photos available. Research reveals longevity, LCI knowledge, fix, number of & lack of notification. Contacted dealer, GD & LCI about safety defect told “Out Of warranty.” Not warranty, safety. The GD RV requirement or LCI frame equipment component issue is the spring/axle hanger. Other RV manufactures utilize Lippert frames with the same component/condition. LCI RV frames experience a higher rate of spring/axle hanger failures than RV manufactures Northwoods or Outdoor RV that design and construct their own RV frames. Info GD Forum. Attached #1, 2, 3, 4. There are more. 7/2014 NHTSA Recall # 14V-288 Starcraft. #5 10/7/2016 Keystone Rv RECALL: 14V-146 Safety Advisory: 14-205. #6 4/ 23/2021 LGS Industries Inc, #7 Recalls based on quality. Current cause unknown, “may fail during travel leading to an increased risk of loss of control and vehicle crash” remains the same. March 6, 2022, post describes in detail the broken spring hanger issue, includes a mechanical drawing dated 2003 of Lippert designed V modification fix. #8 LCI Publication LIP-0135 revA, AXLE RETRO PROCEDURE developed for 2009 Open Range RV. Page 2, information/drawings how to modify spring hanger, with V mod. #9 On 12/2020, a post “This is what the spring hanger looks like with the V reinforcements factory installed on my ’21 31G.” Is Lippert now installing the V mod on new frames? #10 Educating RV owners, the importance of inspection & available V mod of potential hanger failure, would result in safer roads for owners & public. GD & LCI’s current absence of responsibility & involvement is unfair.

The contact owns a 2018 Grand Design Reflection. The contact stated that as he retracted the RV's main slide out, the actuator used to retract the slide out snapped. Due to the failure, the slide out remained loose and was no longer secured to the RV. A technician was called to inspect the RV but informed the contact that there was too much damage and that extensive repairs would be needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the RV was no longer under warranty. The RV was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.