Recall 15V198 covers 1,691 2015 Heartland fifth-wheel and travel trailers for entry-step rivets that can shear. Repair is free at any franchised Heartland dealer.
Heartland is recalling 1,691 2015 Bighorn, Cyclone, Edge, Elkridge, Landmark 365, Road Warrior, and Torque fifth wheel and travel trailers because a rivet in the quad entry steps can shear and make the steps give way. A failed step can cause a fall and personal injury; the Heartland dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The quad entry steps on the 2015 Heartland Bighorn, Cyclone, Edge, Elkridge, Landmark 365, Road Warrior, and Torque trailers are the folding exterior steps used to enter and exit the trailer. Each step assembly depends on rivets to hold the moving step structure together while it carries a person's weight. When the hardware stays tight, the steps should feel solid underfoot.
On recalled trailers with Hickory quad steps, one of those rivets can loosen or shear. Once that happens, the step assembly loses its support at that joint and can move when someone steps on it. Heartland's repair replaces the rivets with bolts, which are meant to hold the step assembly in place.
The warning sign is a step assembly that feels loose or unstable before it fails. If the steps shift, wobble, or give under your weight, treat that as the defect showing up and avoid using the steps until the repair is complete.
Who's affected?
Covers seven Heartland trailer lines in the 2015 model year, all listed under recreational vehicle/trailer equipment.
| 2015 Heartland Elkridge | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
|---|---|
| 2015 Heartland Road Warrior | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2015 Heartland Landmark 365 | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2015 Heartland Bighorn | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2015 Heartland Torque | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2015 Heartland Cyclone | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2015 Heartland Edge | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| Units affected | 1,691 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
A sheared rivet can let the quad step fail under a person using it, leading to a fall and personal injury. If the step feels loose or unstable, avoid using it and arrange service. Repair will be free at any franchised Heartland dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015 Heartland Bighorn, Cyclone, Edge, Elkridge, Landmark 365, Road Warrior, or Torque trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Heartland dealer and ask whether the free quad-step rivet repair is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the rivet-to-bolt replacement that fixes the quad entry step rivet that can shear and let the step give way.
- Bring the recall notice if Heartland mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V198 when you call.
- Use extra care on the quad entry steps until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Heartland's repair path is replacement of the defective rivets on the quad entry steps with bolts. Once the dealer repair is available, a Heartland technician replaces the rivets that allow the steps to give under use. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. When you call for service, use Heartland recall number 99-01-20 so the service desk can match the trailer to the correct step hardware repair.
Timeline
| April 3, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 13, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V198?
Recall 15V198 covers 1,691 2015 Heartland Bighorn, Cyclone, Edge, Elkridge, Landmark 365, Road Warrior, and Torque trailers with quad entry step rivets that can shear and fail. Heartland dealers replace the defective rivets with bolts for free.
What should I do if my 2015 Heartland Bighorn, Cyclone, Edge, Elkridge, Landmark 365, Road Warrior, or Torque is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 15V198. If it is, contact a Heartland dealer to schedule the quad entry step repair. Reference recall number 15V198 or Heartland recall number 99-01-20 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For this recall, Heartland dealers replace the defective step rivets with bolts free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The quad entry steps can give way while someone is using them. If the rivet shears and the step fails, the person on the step can fall, increasing the risk of personal injury. The repair replaces the rivets with bolts.
When did Heartland start the recall repair?
Heartland began the recall repair on April 13, 2015. Owners were notified, and dealers were instructed to replace the defective quad entry step rivets with bolts for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V198000 |
|---|---|
| Heartland customer service | 1-877-262-8032 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V198 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V198000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →