NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 Heartland Bighorn Recalls & Complaints

The 2011 Heartland Bighorn has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of October 21, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Heartland dealer.

Includes campaigns NHTSA files under the spelling "BIG HORN".

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 Heartland Bighorn. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2011 Heartland Bighorn owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2011 Heartland Bighorn, describing incidents dated May 1, 2010.

Most-cited components

Power Train 1 complaint

The complaint on file reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11428816 · Filed August 12, 2021
The contact owns a 2011 Heartland Big Horn. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when they noticed smoking coming from the left rear-axel. The contact got flagged by another vehicle to pull over. Once they did so the vehicle was then set on fire. The contact stated they put out…

Read the full complaint

Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable

NHTSA #17V750000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported November 22, 2017 · Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC

Potentially affected: 19,615 vehicles

Repair completion: 2.65% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

Owners notified January 15, 2018 · Vehicles built January 5, 2010 – March 19, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Elkridge, North Country, North Trail FW, 2011 Big Country, Bighorn, Caliber, Country Ridge, Cyclone, Edge, Focus, Graystone, Landmark, MPG, North Trail TT, Road Warrior, Sundance, Sundance TT, Sundance XLT FW, Sundance XLT TT, Trail Runner, 2018 Fuel TT, 2016-2018 Sundance XLT TT, and Torque TT recreational vehicles, equipped with certain Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Safety consequence

In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Heartland will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2018. Owners may contact Heartland customer service at 1-877-262-8032, or Kidde customer service toll free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Incorrect Tire Size Information/FMVSS 567

NHTSA #15V482000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported July 30, 2015 · Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC

Potentially affected: 1,680 vehicles

Repair completion: 8.51% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

Heartland campaign 99-01-23 · Owners notified September 29, 2015 · Vehicles built February 12, 2009 – March 28, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC (Heartland) is recalling certain trailers of various models and model years. Click on "All Products Associated With This Recall" for a complete list. The tire certification labels applied to the vehicles may contain inaccurate tire sizing and/or inflation information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Safety consequence

An owner or operator could rely on the inaccurate information in inflating the tires which could cause under or over inflation which, in turn, could lead to a tire failure or crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Heartland will notify owners, and dealers will send a replacement label with the correct information, free of charge. The recall began on September 29, 2015. Owners may contact Heartland customer service at 1-574-266-3988.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

AXLE ASSEMBLY/WHEEL END SEPARATION

NHTSA #10V461000 · Power Train — Axle Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported October 8, 2010 · HEARTLAND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, LLC

Potentially affected: 48 vehicles

Heartland campaign 99-01-03 · Owners notified October 20, 2010 · Vehicles built August 18, 2010 – September 3, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

HEARTLAND IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DEXTER AXLES. ON SOME AXLES, CRACKS COULD APPEAR IN THE SPINDLE WELD.

Safety consequence

THESE CRACKS CAN PROPAGATE AND CAUSE THE SPINDLE TO DETACH FROM THE AXLE TUBE, RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL END FROM THE VEHICLE, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD THAT INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH TO OTHER VEHICLES, AND COMPROMISES THE DRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

HEARTLAND IS WORKING WITH DEXTER AXLE AND WILL INSPECT THE AXLE SERIAL NUMBER AND REPLACE IT IF IT FALLS WITHIN THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE. REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HEARTLAND WARRANTY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-877-262-8032 OR DEXTER AXLE AT 1-800-400-2164.

Notes

HEARTLAND SAFETY RECALL NO. 99-01-03.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2011 Heartland Bighorn. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Heartland Bighorn.

Power Train

ODI #11428816

Fire

Incident: May 1, 2010 · Filed: August 12, 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Heartland Big Horn. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when they noticed smoking coming from the left rear-axel. The contact got flagged by another vehicle to pull over. Once they did so the vehicle was then set on fire. The contact stated they put out the fire with their own extinguisher. A police report was not filed. They were unable to have the vehicle towed therefore it remains where they had to pull over. There were no injuries and no medical attention was needed. A certified mechanic informed the contact that the rear-axel had failed and needed to be replaced. The rear axle had been replaced however the cease hub and bearing had been replaced twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.

Other Heartland Bighorn model years

Check your 2011 Heartland Bighorn VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Heartland Bighorn at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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