Hearing the word “recall” can make any RV owner’s stomach drop. It’s easy to assume a recall means your RV is unsafe or poorly built. But, in reality, recalls are often a sign that a manufacturer is doing the right thing—taking responsibility, being transparent, and proactively protecting owners.
Recalls happen across every industry—automotive, aviation, appliances, and, yes, RVs. With thousands of components coming from multiple suppliers, even well-built RVs can experience issues over time. What matters most is how the manufacturer responds when a problem is discovered.
Recalls are about safety, not shame
A recall does not automatically mean an RV brand makes “bad products.” It usually means:
- A potential safety issue was identified.
- The manufacturer investigated the concern.
- A fix was developed (or is being developed).
- Owners are notified so the issue can be corrected.
This process exists to protect RV owners, passengers, and others on the road. In many cases, recalls are issued before an incident even occurs based on testing data, supplier findings, warranty trends, or real-world feedback from customers and service centers.
How manufacturers like Grand Design handle recalls
RV manufacturers, such as Grand Design, work with multiple parties when a potential issue is identified, including:
- Component suppliers (axles, doors, suspension parts, appliances, etc.)
- Engineers and quality control teams
- Federal safety agencies
- Independent repair facilities and authorized service centers
This collaborative process helps determine:
- The root cause of the issue
- Which RVs are affected
- The safest and most effective repair
- How to notify owners and get repairs completed
When Grand Design issues a recall, it’s a sign that they are owning the problem, communicating with customers, and funding the repair to help ensure RV owners stay safe.
How recalls protect RV owners
Recalls are designed to:
- Address safety risks early
- Prevent breakdowns or accidents
- Ensure repairs are completed at no cost to the owner
- Maintain long-term reliability of the RV
Rather than ignoring an issue or quietly letting it slide, a recall puts the problem front and center—so it can be corrected properly.
The role of independent repair facilities
Manufacturers don’t handle recalls alone. They rely on qualified repair partners across the country to perform recall and warranty work. This is where independent facilities like us at California RV Specialists come in.
We work directly with manufacturers like Grand Design RV to:
- Perform recall repairs and warranty service
- Follow manufacturer repair procedures
- Coordinate approvals and documentation
- Help RV owners navigate the process
As an independent repair facility, our goal is to advocate for RV owners while ensuring repairs are completed correctly and safely. This partnership allows RV owners to get professional service locally, without having to travel back to a factory or dealership.
What RV owners should take away
If your RV is affected by a recall:
- It does not mean you bought a “bad RV.”
- It means the manufacturer is actively monitoring quality and safety.
- The repair is typically covered at no cost to you.
- Addressing recalls promptly helps protect your RV’s value and your safety.
Staying informed and taking care of recall repairs is part of responsible RV ownership—just like routine maintenance and inspections.
We’re here to help
California RV Specialists is proud to support RV owners by performing manufacturer warranty work and factory recalls, including for Grand Design RV. Our team works directly with manufacturers to help take care of RV owners and keep rigs safe on the road.
California RV Specialists
200 S. Cherokee Lane, Lodi, CA 95240
Phone: 209-263-7040
Email: service@calrvspecialists.com
Protect your RV, ensure repairs are done correctly, and travel with confidence—California RV Specialists is here to help.
• Grand Design RV – Owner recalls link
• Grand Design RV – Owners manuals link
• Grand Design RV – Parts lookup
To see all recent RV and RV-related recalls on RVtravel.com, click here.
RVT1249
“How manufacturers like Grand Design handle recalls”
Haha, what a bad example. A better idea is to go to the NHTSA site for the recall and read the Associated Documents, the docs the manufacturer filed. With the frame flex problem Grand Design listed things like shifted floors, cabinets, and displaced trim as a cosmetic problem. If it wasn’t for Lippert’s assertion that they believed the problem went deeper and that Grand Design was the only one with those problems when they build frames for many manufacturers the complaints likely would have gone nowhere.
See: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/GRAND%252520DESIGN/SOLITUDE#investigations
ALWAYS file an NHTSA complaint.
It’s great when a responsible manufacturer finds a problem and voluntarily issues a recall, but that seems to be pretty rare. When you encounter one, thank them profusely.
More commonly, companies are forced to issue recalls by regulatory agencies that have received numerous consumer complaints about safety-related issues. It shouldn’t take threats of legal action for recalls to happen, but it usually does.
For non-safety issues, such as false advertising, poor performance of the product, and such, it’s usually class-actions that force accountability. However, class actions are often more about making millions for law firms, while the affected product owners get a few bucks at most.
I understand the response someone has regarding a recall. It feels like a “GOTCHA!” But I place far more stock and confidence in a company willing to put their money where their mouth is & make things right by customers.
The overwhelming majority of RV Recalls are voluntary by MFGs. They could easily ignore a number of them but step up to make things right
I won’t defend the service side of the industry as a whole. Without question there are improvement opportunities there. But I won’t condemn someone who admits a fault and pays to correct it.
Most recalls are put in place because of complaints to the NHTSA, Attorney Generals office and BBB.
Most do not voluntarily issue a recall.
Plus, when they do, especially if it involves a safety issue, it may take months or longer for the manufacturer find a resolution. So you continue to use the RV/TT at your own risk, or park it and wait. Then wait again for the repair after parts are available, depending on the dealer.