Palomino COLUMBUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
2,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 to 2021 model years. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 39 complaints (74.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 31 | 79.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.1% |
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 | 29 |
| Wheels | 6 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Service Brakes: 29; Wheels: 6; Suspension: 3; Structure: 2; Tires: 2; Electrical System: 1; Service Brakes, Electric: 1; Structure:Body: 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 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (29). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 27; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10546092 · 2013-09-29 (September 29, 2013)
I HAVE NOTICED SINCE WE FIRST PURCHASED OUR COLUMBUS 340RK FIFTH WHEEL THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL ADEQUATE. HOWEVER, BEING A FIRST TIME OWNER OF SUCH A BIG TRAILER I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS NORMAL OR NOT. ON OR ABOUT 2 SEPTEMBER 2013 WE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DESCENDING A STEEP GRADE. UPON INSPECTING THE BRAKES I DISCOVERED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES HAD DEFECTIVE INNER WHEEL GREASE SEAL THAT ALLOWED GREASE TO COMPLETELY COAT THE BRAKES. I CALLED LIPPERT (LCI) TO REPORT MY SITUATION AND THE FACT THAT THERE WE…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560304 · 2014-01-16 (January 16, 2014)
THE LIPPERT 6K AXLE ON THE LISTED 5TH WHEEL TRAILER, WHEEL SEALS FAILED ALLOWING GREASE TO CONTAMINATE THE BRAKE SHOES, DIMINISHING OR ELIMINATING BRAKING ABILITY OF THE TRAILER. THIS IS AN ON GOING AND RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE AXLES, NOT JUST ON THE COLUMBUS/FOREST RIVER LINE. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10811184 · 2015-12-18 (December 18, 2015)
ON JULY 10, 2014 MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A COLUMBUS 340 RK FIFTH WHEEL MADE BY FOREST RIVER. UPON DELIVERY AUGUST 14TH 2014 WE NOTICED IMMEDIATE DEFECTS AND CALLED RV WHOLESALERS TO NOTIFY OF THE ISSUES. SINCE WE HAD A TRIPPED PLANNED WITH THE 5TH WHEEL TO DRIVE THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS MY WIFE AND I STATED WE WOULD TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIRS AFTER THE TRIP. DURING OUR TRIP I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE ISSUE. WE AGREED ON A REPAIR SHOP WHERE I DELIVERED THE 5TH WHEEL (SEPT 14,…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10811184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993683 · 2017-06-07 (June 7, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 PALOMINO COLUMBUS RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VOLTAGE WIRING MELTED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE CABIN. THE RV WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (RON HOOVER RV & MARINE OF WEST HOUSTON; 29029, KATY FWY, KATY, TX 77494; [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL TRANSFER SWITCH AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RV WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT LEFT A VOICE MESSAGE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT [phone removed], BUT THEY DID NOT RETURN THE CALL. THE MANUFAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993683 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2012: 0; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 0; 2021: 1