2017 Grand Design REFLECTION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
1,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 25 complaints (72.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 72.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 18 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Service Brakes: 18; Suspension: 5; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2; Wheels: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2016: 3; 2017: 14; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10920095 · 2016-10-30 (October 30, 2016)
GREASE LEAKING FROM AXLE SEALS WITH EXTENSIVE CONTAMINATION OF BRAKES ON 2 OUT OF 4 WHEELS. A 3RD WHEEL IS JUST STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF GREASE LEAKING PAST SEAL WITH ONLY THE START OF CONTAMINATION OF BRAKE PAD. LIPPERT AXLE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. APPROXIMATELY 3,420 MILES SINCE MANUFACTURE OF TRAILER IN JUNE 2016. SAFETY CONCERN IS LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY ON A TRAILER WITH A GVWR OF 11,995 LBS. CONTAMINATION NOTED ON OCTOBER 30, 2016 WHEN OWNER PERFORMED INSPECTION OF AXLE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AFTER LEARNING OF NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10920095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10920407 · 2016-10-31 (October 31, 2016)
AT 1,850 MILES, THE BRAKES ON THIS UNIT WERE COMPLETELY SATURATED IN WHEEL BEARING GREASE CAUSING THEM TO BECOME INEFFECTIVE AT EVEN THE HIGHEST BRAKE CONTROLLER SETTING. ALL FOUR BRAKES WERE AFFECTED. A TRAILER OF THIS SIZE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE FUNCTIONING BRAKES. THE BRAKES ARE DESIGNED THAT THEY WILL STOP THE VEHICLE IF THE TRAILER BREAKS AWAY FROM THE TOW VEHICLE BY ACTIVATING A BATTERY CONTROLLED BREAK AWAY SWITCH. HOWEVER, SINCE THE BRAKES ARE CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IN A SAFE DISTANCE. THIS IS M…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10920407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11228422 · 2019-06-29 (June 29, 2019)
TWO SEPARATE ISSUES: 1. LIPPERT WHEEL BEARINGS LEAKED GREASE ALL OVER THE DRUM BRAKES WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES. LIPPERT REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE YEAR. 2. WITH BRAND NEW BRAKES PROPERLY ADJUSTED, BRAKES ARE STILL VERY WEAK. APPLYING 12 VOLTS FROM BRAKE CONTROLLER RESULTS IN MINIMAL BRAKING. SUSPECT UNDERSIZED FINAL WIRING TO BRAKES (20 GAUGE). BRAKES HAVE BEEN UNDERPERFORMING SINCE DAY 1. *DT*JB*DT*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228422 at NHTSA ↗