Grand Design Review

[Brewhedd]

Hello all, thanks for the help I received from this site. There is a lot of valuable information available. Here is my final list of problems encountered in my first year or so of ownership. I have sold my Reflection for a few reasons, one of them being I am tired of the problems. Buying this RV has made me realize two things:
1- Don't buy an RV unless you really love the lifestyle because warranty work can involve numerous issues as well as being stressful, time consuming and transporting the unit to and from the dealer can be expensive. The industry is a joke, including dealers. The only things comparable are the cars and dealerships of the mid '70's.
2- Don't expect Grand Design to build a unit any different than another manufacturer. 95% of RV's are slapped together as fast as possible by employees paid piecework and it shows. You might end up with a unit built "right" but it's a roll of the dice. I'm not buying another one.
So, good bye and good luck.

Grand Design 312 BHTS Problems
Entry door hard to close and stay latched.
“Equalizer” in center of leaf springs has 2 fittings that can’t be greased.
Bathroom sink has small dent in front.
3 skirting braces not attached due to broken screws.
3 broken screws in slide out trim pieces.
Outside kitchen “door” wouldn’t lock and lock damaged drawer front.
Side lip edges of stove extending above counter top.
Finger pulls on both pocket doors fell out.
Latch on drop down bunk needed repair.
Sewer cap cracked and leaks.
Fresh water drain valve leaked.
Hot water heater exterior door not closing properly.
Shower enclosure wall at bottom not secured properly and bulging.
Shower enclosure walls not adhering to bathroom walls.
Shower enclosure doesn't fit properly causing bulging gaps to form at top.
Master bedroom door not closing properly due to opening too wide at bottom and walls out of plumb.
Master bedroom door trim and jamb cracked.
Window shades are too short and deforming the creases at top when opening.
Shower bottom "curb" framing is crooked.
Ceiling trim in bunkroom is loose.
Frame rusted at delivery, welds and surface rust.
Living room slide floor carpet (upper piece) was installed crooked,
1 ½ inches difference front to back.
Awning material retracts off center "bending" moving part of frame to rear.
Exterior of roof covering is molding at underlayment joints.
Light above docking station not working.
Living room slide noisy due to not being lubricated.
Shower door track at bottom corner not caulked properly causing leak.
Propane leak at regulator causing loss of all gas.
Recliners (2 connected) move and contact wall in rear, secured to floor with one screw.
Refrigerator leaking water out of bottom vent.
Plywood at back of refrigerator vibrating intermittently.
Water leaking between gutter and roof in a couple of areas.
Water heater flame goes out intermittently.
Two decals had the top clear layer delaminate.
No power to Head Unit, wire at factory crimp connection came out.

[fmartinmn]

Hello all, thanks for the help I received from this site. There is a lot of valuable information available. Here is my final list of problems encountered in my first year or so of ownership. I have sold my Reflection for a few reasons, one of them being I am tired of the problems. Buying this RV has made me realize two things:
1- Don't buy an RV unless you really love the lifestyle because warranty work can involve numerous issues as well as being stressful, time consuming and transporting the unit to and from the dealer can be expensive. The industry is a joke, including dealers. The only things comparable are the cars and dealerships of the mid '70's.
2- Don't expect Grand Design to build a unit any different than another manufacturer. 95% of RV's are slapped together as fast as possible by employees paid piecework and it shows. You might end up with a unit built "right" but it's a roll of the dice. I'm not buying another one.
So, good bye and good luck.

Grand Design 312 BHTS Problems
Entry door hard to close and stay latched.
“Equalizer” in center of leaf springs has 2 fittings that can’t be greased.
Bathroom sink has small dent in front.
3 skirting braces not attached due to broken screws.
3 broken screws in slide out trim pieces.
Outside kitchen “door” wouldn’t lock and lock damaged drawer front.
Side lip edges of stove extending above counter top.
Finger pulls on both pocket doors fell out.
Latch on drop down bunk needed repair.
Sewer cap cracked and leaks.
Fresh water drain valve leaked.
Hot water heater exterior door not closing properly.
Shower enclosure wall at bottom not secured properly and bulging.
Shower enclosure walls not adhering to bathroom walls.
Shower enclosure doesn't fit properly causing bulging gaps to form at top.
Master bedroom door not closing properly due to opening too wide at bottom and walls out of plumb.
Master bedroom door trim and jamb cracked.
Window shades are too short and deforming the creases at top when opening.
Shower bottom "curb" framing is crooked.
Ceiling trim in bunkroom is loose.
Frame rusted at delivery, welds and surface rust.
Living room slide floor carpet (upper piece) was installed crooked,
1 ½ inches difference front to back.
Awning material retracts off center "bending" moving part of frame to rear.
Exterior of roof covering is molding at underlayment joints.
Light above docking station not working.
Living room slide noisy due to not being lubricated.
Shower door track at bottom corner not caulked properly causing leak.
Propane leak at regulator causing loss of all gas.
Recliners (2 connected) move and contact wall in rear, secured to floor with one screw.
Refrigerator leaking water out of bottom vent.
Plywood at back of refrigerator vibrating intermittently.
Water leaking between gutter and roof in a couple of areas.
Water heater flame goes out intermittently.
Two decals had the top clear layer delaminate.
No power to Head Unit, wire at factory crimp connection came out.

Sorry it did not work out for you, our best to you and your family.

[bertschb]

For some people, the pros don't outweigh the cons. Sorry the RV life didn't work out for you. Stay safe.

[Txfivver]

Wow that's quite a list, not sure I could have dealt with that many problems either. I've read your posts on here over the last year and do feel bad for you, none of my 3 GD trailers had anywhere near those kind of problems. As others have expressed, good luck to you in your future hobbies and stay safe.

[SDBigDog55]

I would have used the Lemon Law on that TT. But he sold it, hope the new owner is understanding

[livinthelife]

I would have used the Lemon Law on that TT. But he sold it, hope the new owner is understanding

Only a few states have lemon laws for towable RVs.

[LIBBY123]

The RV industry is an odd one to me. I have only had my 22MLE for 6 weeks. So far it is ok. But in my research, it's crazy how an industry in general sells so many with issues. My experience is with alot of boats over the years. Cheap brands of boats have components that wear out quicker, but the better brands use better components that seem to last longer. Either cheap or a expensive boats that I have owned, I have never seen or heard of the actual structure failing as often as the RVs. A person would think that someone would come along and build a great RV with minimal repairs or upgrades needed, at a fair price.
Either way, I'm happy with the unit, just an odd industry.

[ajg617]

The RV industry is an odd one to me. I have only had my 22MLE for 6 weeks. So far it is ok. But in my research, it's crazy how an industry in general sells so many with issues. My experience is with alot of boats over the years. Cheap brands of boats have components that wear out quicker, but the better brands use better components that seem to last longer. Either cheap or a expensive boats that I have owned, I have never seen or heard of the actual structure failing as often as the RVs. A person would think that someone would come along and build a great RV with minimal repairs or upgrades needed, at a fair price.
Either way, I'm happy with the unit, just an odd industry.

Can't compare the two. I also sold sailboats - Irwin Yachts. Wasn't the best or most costly brand but they were solid and also hand-built each and every one. But, lives were at stake in the ocean. Never had a structural failure. Losses occurred when the vessel was in an environment which it didn't belong (operator error) like sailing through a hurricane - then they just sank in one piece. I often got calls from the Coast Guard looking for vessels that never arrived at there destination (and were never found) while transiting through a Nor'easter. They had no business being there. RVs? Well, there are roads and people who repair their own for the most part. Can't compare the two. Why bother making anything better? Vacation loss does not equal loss of life. Has any house ever been built that required minimal repairs and was sold at a fair price?

[Brewhedd]

I would have used the Lemon Law on that TT. But he sold it, hope the new owner is understanding

No lemon law here. New owner will be fine, problems fixed, just didn't want to wait and see what was down the road in a couple years. I don't sell stuff needing repair without disclosure. Cya.

[fmartinmn]

The RV industry is an odd one to me. I have only had my 22MLE for 6 weeks. So far it is ok. But in my research, it's crazy how an industry in general sells so many with issues. My experience is with alot of boats over the years. Cheap brands of boats have components that wear out quicker, but the better brands use better components that seem to last longer. Either cheap or a expensive boats that I have owned, I have never seen or heard of the actual structure failing as often as the RVs. A person would think that someone would come along and build a great RV with minimal repairs or upgrades needed, at a fair price.
Either way, I'm happy with the unit, just an odd industry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLHux4SuXbY Here is where the industry was in 2013. I found this very interesting and maybe telling. Not suggesting that this has any relevance to Grand Design today.