Grand Design REFLECTION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
20 distinct recall campaigns
1,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 73 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 144 complaints (35.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 52 | 36.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
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 | 51 |
| Unknown Or Other | 32 |
| Suspension | 28 |
| Structure | 21 |
| Structure:Body | 21 |
| Wheels | 10 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
Service Brakes: 51; Unknown Or Other: 32; Suspension: 28; Structure: 21; Structure:Body: 21; Wheels: 10; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 8; Electrical System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 71 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 71; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (71). 71 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2015: 7; 2016: 16; 2017: 27; 2018: 7; 2019: 4; 2020: 7; 2021: 9; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 29; 2025: 20; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10946448 · 2017-01-19 (January 19, 2017)
GREASE SEALS ON INNER HUB AND CAP ON OUTER HUB LEAKED GREASE INTO BRAKE SYSTEM AND CONTAMINATED THE BRAKES. COULD BE THE GREASE WAS TOO THIN, OVER PACKED OR GREASE SEALS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE CLEANED AND RESEALED MY BRAKES TWICE. LIPPERT WHO SUPPLIES THE AXLE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLIES TO GRAND DESIGN SENT ME NEW GREASE SEALS ONCE BUT DID NOT AGREE TO PAY FOR MY TIME AND OTHER SUPPLIES. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH IT QUICK ENOUGH THAT THE BRAKE SHOES HAD NOT BEEN CONTAMINATED YET. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THERE IS NO BRAKING ACTION ON THE TRAILER DUE TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10946448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10733047 · 2015-07-09 (July 9, 2015)
LIPPERT BRAKE SHOES AND MAGNETS CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE. GREASE SEAL BLEW OUT WITH EXCESSIVE GREASE AND/OR FAULTY SEALS. STOPPING ABILITY OF VEHICLE EXTREMELY IMPACTED AND DANGEROUS
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10733047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761146 · 2015-09-02 (September 2, 2015)
THE 5TH WHEEL WAS 2 1/2 MONTHS OLD. AFTER RETURNING FROM A 250 MILE TRIP WE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE BEDROOM SLIDE AND IT WOULDN'T OPEN. I PLUGGED IN THE ELECTRICAL PLUG AND OPENED THE SLIDE IN ORDER TO UNLOAD THE REMAINING CLOTHES, THEN I CLOSED THE SLIDE. THIS WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00PM. AT 10:45PM MY GIRLFRIEND HEARD THREE LOUD EXPLOSIONS AND WE RAN OUTSIDE TO FIND THE 5TH WHEEL TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I BELIEVE NOW THE EXPLOSIONS WERE THE TIRES ON THE 5TH WHEEL. THE FRAMES (BOTH OF THEM) THAT RUN THE LENGTH OF THE 5TH WHEEL WERE BENT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10761146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022362 · 2017-09-08 (September 8, 2017)
THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE ELECTRICAL LINE AND THE PROPANE LINE UNDER THE KITCHEN SIDE OUT BROKE AND THE PROPANE LINE RUBBED ON THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE CAUSING THE LINE TO CUT IN HALF AND PROPANE LEAKED OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11022362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11627853 · 2024-11-28 (November 28, 2024)
The welds for the rear wall framing have broken loose and the rear wall is shifting side to side. I assume after time it could fully detach from the trailer and fall into the roadway. The trailer has not been inspected yet, but there are other cases documented on the internet. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11627853 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1