2016 Grand Design Momentum
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 10 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 11 Momentum model years with reports.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, appliance, refrigeratorJan 28, 2022
Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain 2013-2021 Momentum, Solitude, and Reflection recreational vehicles. A 110-volt wire in the refrigerator cabinet may be improperly secured, which could result in the wire contacting the refrigerator cooling unit, causing an electrical arc.
An electrical arc increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will inspect and replace any damaged wiring, and properly secure the wires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 21, 2022. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910026.
Campaign 22V038000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, recreational vehicle/trailer, lpg systemsMay 26, 2021
Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Imagine, Transcend, and Momentum travel trailers. The LP regulator that controls the LP gas pressure may fail, allowing excessive gas pressure that causes the appliance flame to increase.
Excessive gas pressure and a larger than intended appliance flame can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the LP regulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2021. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910023.
Campaign 21V393000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentNov 21, 2016
Grand Design RV (Grand Design) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Momentum toy haulers and Solitude recreational trailers manufactured July 8, 2014, to August 31, 2015, equipped with certain aluminum black ladders manufactured by Christianson Industries. These ladders have retractable hinges, each with a welded 'top hat' that can separate from the hinge.
If the hinges separate from the ladder while in use, the ladder may fall from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Grand Design will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket over the back of existing hinges, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910008.
Campaign 16V841000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsDec 8, 2015
Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain model year 2016 Momentum trailers, models 397th, 398M, and 388M, manufactured September 2, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected trailers may be equipped with a Federal Certification Label that lists an incorrect unloaded vehicle weight (UVW), causing the cargo carrying capacity (CCC) to be overstated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
If the operator loads vehicle per the information on the label, the vehicle may exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Grand Design will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label, free of charge. The recall began on January 11, 2016. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design's number for this recall is 910005.
Campaign 15V822000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
10 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2025
The front left slide stopped working 3 weeks ago. Something appeared to be wrong with the wall but I was not sure. Yesterday I noticed the front left portion of the frame was flexing a significant amount. I started inspecting the frame and I am seeing broken welds
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2025
Frame tore/broke at welds where upper deck(living room) attaches to frame. Fiberglass on exterior tore as a result.
Structure, Sep 30, 2024
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - The frame is failing. It is available to be inspected but must be inspected on site. The camper is no longer safe to drive. After we heard a loud pop when attaching to the truck and seeing the pinbox move into the nose of the camper, we don't feel comfortable moving it. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? After speaking to others who have this same problem, there's the possibilities ranging from exterior doors flying open during transit (stuff in our basement coming out and hitting other vehicles) to causing a major (possibly fatal) accident if the welding to the pinbox completely fails. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, they refuse to send a service technician to my location. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? These symptoms have shown since we bought the camper in March 2024, but we didn't know that they were symptoms of frame failure. - The exterior doors do not close properly anymore and don't seal properly. - The weather stripping on the sides of the filon fell out during transit and were loose in the wind. - A visible flex on the driver's side where the nose connects with the rest of the rig - Screws working themselves out - The pinbox is going inside the nose of the camper when attaching to the truck We've been in contact with Grand Design about this issue. Though we've stated that this camper is no longer safe to drive and have sent sufficient evidence of this issue they refuse to send a technician to my campsite to reinforce and transport this camper for repair. I have no safe way of transporting this rig to a dealership, but they insist that I drive it to be inspected.
Structure, Aug 22, 2024
after pulling the camper home from a trip, we noticed that the molding was separating from the frame, after further inspection, we found that a weld was broken up on the frame that you can view from the front propane storage compartment. We contacted Grand Design and Lippert, we were told from Lippert to contact GD, we did that and GD has scheduled an SRT team to inspect our unit at the end of September. IN the meantime, we had a certified welder come and look at it and he told us it is a structural issue and he said not to pull the camper anywhere else, as it is a safety concern!! GD is telling me that they don't think it is a safety concern, but they haven't even looked at our camper. When we took the camper off of the truck, the split on the side near another storage compartment was made bigger!
Other or unspecified, May 20, 2024
Our trailer is experiencing frame flex/and or frame failure. The front of the trailer is separating and also is affecting the bedroom sidewall. Also, the shackle broke and an equalizer broke. These are all know issues with Grand Design Momentums.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 8, 2024
The frame has failed on our rv it is flexing when being pulled and we are afraid it may fail completely and break free from the pull vehicle. They are calling this frame flex and seems to be common please don't wait until a complete failure happens and people get hurt to address this issue.
Wheels, Service brakes, Oct 9, 2018
MY 2016 GRAND DESIGN MOMENTUM 327M USES LIPPERT AXLES. THREE OF THE FOUR GREASE SEALS LEAKED AND WERE FOUND DURING A STATE INSPECTION. THE GREASE CONTAMINATED THE BRAKES. A 2018 STATE INSPECTION AGAIN SHOWED FAILED GREASE SEALS AND CONTAMINATED BRAKES. THE WARRANTY COVERED THE COST ON THE 2016 INSPECTION, BUT NOT THE 2018 INSPECTION. I CONTACTED GRAND DESIGN REGARDING THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT NEW MODELS WERE BUILT USING DEXTER AXLES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AS A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I AM CONCERNED THAT I HAVE A CAMPER WITH A 16,000+LB GVWR THAT HAS LEAKING SEALS AND POSSIBLY FAILED BRAKES. I REQUESTED NEW AXLES, BUT GRAND DESIGN DID NOT RESPOND. I AM REQUESTING THAT NHTSA ISSUE A RECALL TO REQUIRE THAT THE ISSUE IS FIXED BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND A CLASS ACTION SUIT ALREADY FILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE SO IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
Service brakes, May 8, 2017
AXLE SEALS LEAKED ALLOWING GREASE TO ENTER BRAKE DRUMS AND COAT SHOES, MAGNET AND DRUM. CONFIRMED BY LIPPERT COMPONENTS WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT GRAND DESIGN SERVICE SHOP.
Service brakes, Apr 2, 2017
THE GREASE SEALS ON THE DRUMS LEAKED FROM THE FACTORY AND ALLOWED THE BRAKES TO BE CONTAMINATED. MORE DETAILS ARE AT HTTP://WWW.GRANDDESIGNOWNERS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/8531-POLL-HOW-MANY-OF-YOU-HAVE-HAD-YOUR-GREASE-SEALS-FAIL?P=104942&VIEWFULL=1#POST104942
Service brakes, Aug 21, 2016
AFTER READING ON THE GRAND DESIGN OWNERS FORUM ABOUT LEAKING GREASE SEALS ON THE WHEELS, I DECIDED TO DO AN INSPECTION OF MY BRAKES. I HAVE PUT ONLY 500 MILES ON MY TRAILER SINCE TAKING DELIVERY ON JUNE 8, 2016. I ASSUME THAT THE TRAILER WAS DELIVERED TO OREGON BY TOWING IT FROM THE FACTORY. I REMOVED THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE DRUM AND SURE ENOUGH FOUND A FAILED GREASE SEAL AND GLOBS OF WHEEL BEARING GREASE ON THE DRUM, BRAKE SHOES AND MAGNET.