2022 Grand Design Solitude

The frame of our Grand Design Solitude has failed. As a result the front bedroom slide has begin to move out while towing and in turn destroyed the main bed and closet in the RV. This problem was noticed and reported to Grand Design in March of 2024. We were assured then that it was still safe to tow and to bring it to a dealership when we were able to. Because we are full time RVers, our first availability to bring the RV for service was June 7, 2024. We dropped the RV off at Blue Compass RV in Concord, NC where it was subsequently inspected and the referred to another Blue Compass dealership, in NC, because the repairs needed were more than the first dealership could handle. Once it was transported to the next Blue Compass dealership it was again taken apart and inspected and we were told it still could not be repaired at their facility because of the amount of damage. During this whole process, I as the owner was never given a report or work order about what was wrong with our RV or what steps may be necessary to repair it. From the second dealership it was referred back to Grand Design in Indiana. Once it reached their shop they were able to disassemble, inspect and make the 'repairs' in just 4 business days. This timeframe is very suspect given they told me they did not have access to their dealer systems - so they do not know what was wrong with it when they received it?! We are now being told that the repairs are complete, but still I do not know what ever happened to my RV. "Frame failure" is all that I know. I do not have any photos because O was never sent any of the dealer inspections where the frame broke. This process has dragged out now for more than 6 months! We are being kept in the dark and I have no confidence that Grand Design has made appropriate repairs to our RV. I know this is a major issue for their company right now and it feels as the consumer I am just being pushed through their process.

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.

While driving, the entire wheel detached from the front axle on the driver's side on 7/31/2024. I was unaware of the tire coming off until another motorist flagged me down. I pulled over to the next gas station where I found the entire wheel, hub, and tire including brakes had detached from the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle new and there has been no service done to the wheels and tires since purchased. Based on my contacts with the Grand Design dealership in my area as well as other mechanics I know, they suspect the castle nut must have come loose while driving which I have been told should not have failed. I was unable to locate the wheel after the incident as I was on an approximately 4 mile long bridge when the motorist flagged me down so I suspect it may have gone over the side of the bridge when I lost it. Attached repair invoice for repairs to get home, but additional cost is being incurred to replace the wheel and tire at this time.

Frame failure at the pin box, 2 cracked welds, missing lag screws on upper decking rails and wrong size, had dealer inspect and make repairs per Grand Design, these defects are putting me and my family, and other people on our highways at risk due to possibility of complete king pin failure and rv coming detached from tow vehicle, I personally feel that Grand Design and Lippert are covering up a severe defect on these frames and poor construction quality at the expense of the consumer, which has drastically decreased the value of my rv which I now feel is defective and just waiting for a serious accident every time I hitch it up to my vehicle. The way I was aware of issue was from other Solitude owners who were having same issues. I feel there should be a recall or buy back of these defective rv's to remove them from our highways before a fatality occurs.

This 2022 grand design solitude was used on one 200 mile trip other than going to the dealer for repairs and it has upper deck frame flex because it keeps shearing off the screws on the front filon. The frame flexes so much even empty that when it’s sitting on the front jacks the passenger side storage door is locked good , but when you put the weight on the truck 5th wheel to travel down the road, the door doesn’t stay locked and opens. The passenger side wall is sagged down, pulling away from the camper and the floor is sag down also on that side and screws are pushing through the floors. There’s a huge list of things wrong with this camper. Those are just a few. It is not safe for the roads.

We are experiencing signs of excessive frame flex like many others with similar Lippert frames. We have a squeaky floor in the front and rear. We have furniture rubbing in the front and pulling away from the wall. The stairs inside the door are rubbing as well. The rig makes excessive creaking noises while being towed. We have an appointment to take it to the Grand Design service center in June. Until that time, we will not be towing anywhere. We are frankly a little concerned about the 600 mile trip.

The outside and inside body parts started to separate. Frame failed. Yes it is available to be inspected upon request 5th wheel could have broken free from tow vehicle while traveling down the highway. . Problem was confirmed by the manufacturer, we were told to bring it in to the manufacturer service center. They confirmed the frame had failed. They deconstructed upper deck and then added supports and repaired the damaged areas of the frame. However we are unable to see what they have done. We have to hope the “fix” is enough to hold the frame together as we drive down the road . There are no warning lamps or messages you just have to be really aware of any changes in hitch moving and screws falling out, decals getting ruined around filon and on the inside is the furniture or stairs rubbing on the walls is the moulding twisted. Our roof popped after the first 6 months . There isn’t anything that screams a problem until it’s too late. We noticed things happening very quickly, however being new to a 5th wheel we thought a lot of what we were seeing was normal travel movement.

I have been experiencing floor squeaking for more than a year now. It's in the front of the fifth wheel in what is the bedroom. Extending into the hallway, and bathroom. I tried to contact grand design and was told it was ok and to add wood shims into the framing under the bedroom flooring. This only help minimally for a couple of weeks. Then the loudness and softness of the flooring has gotten worse. We also lost a wheel and tire due to a suspension failure resulting in the wheel to be ripped from the hub and axle while going down a two lane highway at approximately 40 mph. 8 lug bolts were sheared completely off the wet bolt holding the springs were also broken. I again contacted grand design and dexter the axle manufacturer and was denied coverage at both locations. I do believe I'm suffering from some amount of frame failure. However I cannot get grand design to agree to check on how bad the frame issue really is. I had a SRT from grand design work on my tv in December of 2022. However he never finished all the issues we had brought to grand designs attention. Now that was over a year and a half ago since we saw the SRT, I have tried to contact him numerous times I never heard back from the SRT. We just heard that grand design has extended all frame warranties from 2 years to 5 years effective immediately from the 2020 model year. However it doesn't cover second owners or anyone before the 2020 model year. The unit I have a 2022 GD Solitude 390 rk-r. I ordered this rv new from the factory with 8k axles and disc brakes to make sure I had the highest amount of structure under the rv that was available at the time. I believe and the science will bear out these 18k rv’s should have come with triple 8k axles. Not twin 7k axles and subgrade steel frame structures. There are going to be very serious accidents with these rv’s until they are all recalled, a third 8k axle added and beefed up Frame structure completed. These rv’s are the same as the momentum line has.