36 of the
244 complaints filed about the Grand Design Solitude
are about the suspension —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2022.
I am filing a complaint regarding the frame manufactured by Lippert Components on my 2021 Grand Design Solitude 380FL (VIN [XXX] ). Lippert is the OEM supplier of the frame and has been directly involved in inspection and repair of ongoing structural failures. The unit has experienced repeated structural failures, including frame flex, broken welds, cracking of the main I-beam rails above both axles, torn steel upper sill plates and suspension failures. These issues began within the manufacturer’s warranty period and required extensive factory repairs from December 2024 to February 2025, including reinforcement of the upper deck, weld repairs, sill plate replacement, and added gussets. Despite these repairs, new failures developed shortly after. In September 2025, a Lippert technician (dispatched at Grand Design’s request) identified new frame cracks above both axles, a bent outrigger support, and repeated suspension failure. These were not pre-existing conditions but occurred after factory structural repairs. In December 2025, Lippert performed additional field repairs, including welding the cracked frame, adding fishplates, reinforcing outriggers, and installing cross-members. These repairs were performed under engineering direction, and Lippert confirmed no standard TSB applied to this condition. Despite multiple repair attempts, the unit continues to exhibit structural-related issues, including cargo doors opening during transit and recurring suspension failures. These conditions indicate ongoing and unsafe frame deflection and instability. Grand Design has now stated their repairs are done per a customer satisfaction campaign, and attributed responsibility for any ongoing frame issues to Lippert, and has abandoned any further assistance with cargo doors opening during transit. This represents a systemic structural defect affecting safety, including risk of debris or components entering roadways and loss of structural integrity during travel. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
NHTSA complaint #11726338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2022 Grand Design Solitude 346FLS fifth wheel trailer. The trailer has been at the dealership for over nine months after structural frame cracks and weld separations were discovered during inspection. The cracks appear in structural frame components and welded areas supporting the chassis. This raises concerns about the integrity of the trailer frame during towing and braking. In addition to the frame defects, all four leaf springs in the suspension system have failed or lost structural integrity. This suspension failure presents a safety risk because it affects axle alignment, load support, and trailer stability while towing. The trailer manufacturer (Grand Design) and dealer have been notified, but the unit has remained out of service for an extended period while the manufacturer decides how to address the problem. Structural frame cracking combined with suspension failure represents a serious safety concern for a towable RV traveling at highway speeds. I am submitting this complaint so the issue can be investigated for potential defects affecting other trailers of this model or similar models.
NHTSA complaint #11723587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2022 Grand Design Solitude 346FLS fifth wheel trailer. The trailer has been at the dealership for over nine months after structural frame cracks and weld separations were discovered during inspection. The cracks appear in structural frame components and welded areas supporting the chassis. This raises concerns about the integrity of the trailer frame during towing and braking. In addition to the frame defects, all four leaf springs in the suspension system have failed or lost structural integrity. This suspension failure presents a safety risk because it affects axle alignment, load support, and trailer stability while towing. The trailer manufacturer (Grand Design) and dealer have been notified, but the unit has remained out of service for an extended period while the manufacturer decides how to address the problem. Structural frame cracking combined with suspension failure represents a serious safety concern for a towable RV traveling at highway speeds. I am submitting this complaint so the issue can be investigated for potential defects affecting other trailers of this model or similar models.
NHTSA complaint #11723587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
October 2025 we had just left the highway and was on a heavily traveled back road going home from the mountains. My husband felt a jolt and thought we had blown a tire. But he checked the tire monitor and it was fine, then he checked the side view mirror and saw that the camper was off the road and almost hit a speed limit sign! Luckily we were near a less traveled side road and pulled off, still in the road as there were no shoulders. He discovered the right rear spring came apart and the rear axle slid back along the right rear landing gear. We were 6 miles from home so my husband stayed with the camper and I got a ride home to get our car. He was stuck there for 23 hours until the mobile tech got the camper well enough to make the 1 hr and 15 min trip to the nearest dealer. Once there, we were told that prior to us taking ownership, there was a recall on these axles and the "work was done and was satisfied". Per conversations with Grand Design, that issue is confidential between them and the dealer. We just received the camper January 12, 2026 after all repairs were done. Also, the Vin given to us on the build sheet was wrong and the camper year on the invoice should say 2024, not 2023. FYI.
NHTSA complaint #11711609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET
October 2025 we had just left the highway and was on a heavily traveled back road going home from the mountains. My husband felt a jolt and thought we had blown a tire. But he checked the tire monitor and it was fine, then he checked the side view mirror and saw that the camper was off the road and almost hit a speed limit sign! Luckily we were near a less traveled side road and pulled off, still in the road as there were no shoulders. He discovered the right rear spring came apart and the rear axle slid back along the right rear landing gear. We were 6 miles from home so my husband stayed with the camper and I got a ride home to get our car. He was stuck there for 23 hours until the mobile tech got the camper well enough to make the 1 hr and 15 min trip to the nearest dealer. Once there, we were told that prior to us taking ownership, there was a recall on these axles and the "work was done and was satisfied". Per conversations with Grand Design, that issue is confidential between them and the dealer. We just received the camper January 12, 2026 after all repairs were done. Also, the Vin given to us on the build sheet was wrong and the camper year on the invoice should say 2024, not 2023. FYI.
NHTSA complaint #11711609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Grand Design Solitude RV. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH and hauling the RV, the rear passenger's side tire of the RV experienced a blowout. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact replaced the tire with a regular-size spare tire; however, the rear passenger's side tire experienced a second blowout while driving on the same day. The contact stated that the tire failures caused damage to the RV. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with frame flex, frame steel fracture, and missing screws around the hitch, and unparalleled axles. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a Grand Design technician confirmed that the RV was experiencing excessive frame flex, which the contact related to the tire failure. The manufacturer recommended towing the RV to one of their locations for frame repairs, but the contact was advised that the repair of the axle damage caused by the tire failures, prior to towing the vehicle, would be paid for out-of-pocket. The RV was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #11687601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Grand Design Solitude. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the doors unlatched and opened. The contact stated that the bolts were missing, the furniture moved, and the walls shifted. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the RV failed to drive in a straight line. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with fractured slides and failure to the frame. There was an unknown diagnosis related to the suspension. The vehicle was repaired to the original specifications, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11683454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Grand Design Solitude. The contact stated that while pulling into a campground she was informed to check the tires. The RV was taken to a tire center where it was discovered that the brakes had crumbled and there was a spring inside. Additionally, the equalizer was cracked. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH on the highway, a wheel on the RV detached. The RV was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the axle was cracked. The local dealer was contacted several times. The RV was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 10,080.
NHTSA complaint #11682444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Grand Design Solitude. The contact stated that while pulling into a campground she was informed to check the tires. The RV was taken to a tire center where it was discovered that the brakes had crumbled and there was a spring inside. Additionally, the equalizer was cracked. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH on the highway, a wheel on the RV detached. The RV was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the axle was cracked. The local dealer was contacted several times. The RV was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 10,080.
NHTSA complaint #11682444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frame failure due to bad welds. Walls separating from frame so bad that you can see the ground outside, flooring sagging in living room, cargo compartments will not close properly. Two sets of springs busted, one replacement of axle.
NHTSA complaint #11669412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Made it 451 miles in our brand new Grand Design Solitude 380FL and noticed it looked crooked and smoke started coming from the drivers side while going 70 mph down I24 in TN. Pulled over and had a torn tire on both sides, axle was coming off due to missing a U bolt and the leaf spring had come apart. Fortunately we were paying attention and caught this as the 16,000 lb trailer would have flipped taking our vehicle and us with it. Mechanic came out, noticed locking bolts were not used on U bolts that were still in place, he was unable to fix it. Grand Design sent a mechanic down the next evening to put the axle back on so we could take it to the dealership. Took to dealership, they were supposed to make it "road worthy" so we could get it to GD Headquarters. This is a new to us vehicle so exactly how it "feels" when towing was also new to us. Noticed part way in the 482 miles to GD that the brakes associated with the previously problematic axle were not working, lots of brake dust on our truck. Once at GD they inspected and fixed multiple issues this caused after quite a bit of fighting with them as they did not want us to bring it to them. They also found we had a major leak in the regulator on our propane tank, mechanics exact words "you guys are lucky you didn't blow up". Our safety was put in extreme danger multiple times, as was anyone that might have been around us. As said previously, the mechanics at Grand Design did go over the vehicle after fighting with their service manager repeatedly. She wanted to me send pictures and they would deal with it that way. There were no warning lamps or messages. There was smoke 3 days after we purchased this from the dealer brand new.
NHTSA complaint #11660135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is an ongoing problem. I have had multiple frame related issues with this 5th wheel RV. The bedroom closet wall separated causing items to fall into the opening, A crack developed that eventually reached 9 " in length in the sidewall by the bedroom slide. Most of the frame gussets supporting the rear and sides of the RV BENT and or the welds cracked. The floor sloped down at the edges due to improper support, Multiple times the propane doors opened while towing, Screws keep unscrewing from around the front of the RV. small cracks in the frame. The main bracket that holds the slide wall to the RV cracked and needed emergency welding while on the road, if it broke completely off the slide would come out while towing! After numerous attempts at getting Grand Design to fix this unit, I had to spend thousands of dollars to prove it was road worthy to tow it from Arizona to Indiana to their service center. They finally agreed to repair it. After 3 weeks we got it back with everything fixed or so we thought, less then 500 miles later the crack in the sidewall came back. After reaching out to Grand Design again they agreed to repair it again, 3 weeks later it was repair. Now the Wall the they repaired is moving, obviously something broke again. From the looks of it they didn't fix the problem just covered it up. The supports under the floor are bent and I had to put a 2x4 to support the floor, never fixed. We are full time in this RV and it gets towed all over the country. I have tried to reach out to Grand Design again for repairs but have been rebuffed in my attempt. This RV has been nothing but a disaster, having replaced a bent axle, numerous leaf springs and brakes. This RV was sold stating it was for Full Time living, we will attest that is not the case as they are not built well enough to sustain towing on the roadways of the U.S.A and Canada.
NHTSA complaint #11653640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My unit has had multiple frame failures. this is where the frame is literally breaking due to being under engineered by the manufacturer. There are many things that happen due to this. walls don't line up floors squeak, doors wont close. But the worst problem of all is the danger of towing. With a broken frame many things can happen including loss of life. This is what I fear the most. I have had this repaired once already by the factory and it is doing the same things again. I feel unsafe in and towing my unit.
NHTSA complaint #11645561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is a 5th wheel trailer by Grand Design ("GD"). We had significant frame movement due to improper construction and broken welds, resulting in: 1) Screws shearing off at the top of the nose cap, causing the roof to bubble and tear during transit. Roof and screws were replaced under warranty. 2) Entry door was misaligned and required adjustment to close properly (likely due to shifting of frame/body). Strike plate and lock adjusted. 3) Side door to propane tank compartment popped open during transit on the interstate. 4) Rubber strip covering siding/body screws under nose cap flew off during transit on the interstate. Rubber strip replaced. 5) Screws shearing off near hitch, causing siding under nose cap to sag. We were unable to reattach it ourselves with screws as recommended by GD because the frame no longer aligned properly. Front end taken apart and rebuilt, additional metal added by GD under warranty (refused to provide written details or to update weight). 6) Broken weld under front closets in front of nose cap (front bedroom model). GD initially denied welds were broken. Front end taken apart and rebuilt, additional metal added (refused to provide written details or to update weight) by GD under warranty. 7) Frame movement caused rear frame wall to detach and screws to pop out in interior (causing recliners to detach and move during transit). "Dimples" appeared on exterior lower siding ~4" up from rear on both sides. Unclear on specific damage, because GD will not fully explain in writing. GD added one ~4" piece of metal between the siding and rear wall framing on each side (picture attached) and replaced screws, under warranty. 8) Extreme wear on leaf springs, axels, and tires, caused by excessive movement due to broken/poorly engineered frame, requiring replacement. GD replaced parts, partially under warranty. GD stated the unit was not road worthy, but told us to haul it to them. They refused to send pictures of damage or repair other than the one.
NHTSA complaint #11644504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Resubmitting from 2/3/2025 as the first form was not received. Attn: [XXX] I am the original owner of this unit and there is approximately only 1,500 miles on my trailer. This Grand Design is a swap from the original 2019 Grand Design that I already had. When I am able to camp, when my trailer is not in the shop, we only camp about an hour away from home as I don't feel safe. We have been experiencing frame issues. There is excessive pin box movement (this is the OEM), cargo, main doors, as well as the kitchen slide out coming out during transport, separation of roof and nose cap (and other roof issues), axels have been replaced, multiple replacements of suspension components, wrinkling in my walls, saw dust and metals shavings found throughout the unit. l I have been in contact with Grand Design many times, but not much help. I have the feeling they are trying to delay any kind of repairs for their manufacture defects. These have been an ongoing issue since the day I brought this trailer home. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11643455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The steel Frame of the 5th wheel trailer developed broken welds and cracked metal tubing. This information should be included in the following current investigation. ODI PE24029
NHTSA complaint #11633748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
-Movement at the kingpin when lowered on tow vehicle along with door side wall and upper cap separations, major concern especially while traveling for us and other traffic -bedroom slide not coming all the way in remaining several inches out from where it’s suppose to this is the most recent issues added to our growing list) this is a major concern for us and other traffic while traveling -both exterior main doors and 2 cargo doors do not shut properly and pop open major concern while traveling (shifting door frames) -grease cap on same wheel has come off 3 times the first before we pulled out of the dealership and the 2nd within a couple hours after leaving the dealership also a big concern being part of the traveling part of this vehicle -water leaks in the upper deck, we don’t know where it’s coming from and found water dripping out from back side of kingpin and other places in the camper
NHTSA complaint #11633772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We are having issues with the frame flex failing, screws popping out from around the slides and also around the wheel wells. Seams on the exterior are pulling apart, roof is pulling away in several spots. The slides are pulling in crooked, external compartment doors open while traveling down the highway. Sawdust is noted in multiple spots in the interior of camper. We had the springs fall apart ( they literally fell off onto the highway!) and caused the axle to shift forward while driving down the interstate. Our camper was going sideways down the highway and caused a flat tire and left us stranded on the side of the highway. Thankfully we didn’t not hit any other vehicles. There is also a burning smell in the camper, the generator turns on and off randomly by itself.
NHTSA complaint #11632198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I noticed wall movement against installed cabinets in the front of the RV. Movement was indicated by the shaving of the wall material leaving "sawdust" all over the front RV bedroom area. Upon inspection half of the required lag bolts were installed and those installed were too small for the pre-drill holes. Frame inspection by a dealer indentified split side wall support rails on both sides of the RV. My inspection also found bent outriggers which has allowed both side of the RV floor to sag down on the outside of the camper.
NHTSA complaint #11626184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We have had multiple failures of the slides, the tsb that was supposed to fix the sagging problem in the kitchen has now also failed. Presently one of kitchen slides won’t extend. We have excessive frame flex. Recently Grand Design inspected the hitch area and re-welded 3 areas that had cracked and broken welds. Added the larger lag bolts per their service bulletin. They were unable to check the upper deck at the time due to not have the necessary tools to do that. The front cap has separated from the roof slightly. The rear wall has now started to separate from the side walls. We also have a broken part in the suspension. The interior walls have cracked by the kitchen slides. Grand Design has been notified complete with photos. I am awaiting their response. These issues began very early after purchase and have only gotten worse with time.
NHTSA complaint #11615399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.