NHTSA Complaint #10169948 — 2004 DUTCHMEN TRAILER

I HAVE A 2004 AEROLITE CUB 236 TRAVEL TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY DUTCHMEN. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING ON THE INSIDE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWED MANY OTHERS (VARIOUS BRANDS OF MFG'S.) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AXLES : AL-KO KOBER CORP. 21611 PROTECTA DR. P.O. BOX 1367 (46515) ELKHART, IN 46516 (574) 294-6651 IS AWARE OF A MANUFACTURING WELDING DEFECT IN THE YEARS OF 2003-2004 ON THEIR RUBBER TORSION AXLES. MANY HAVE STATED AL-KO HAS REPLACED THEIR AXLES DUE TO THIS DEFECT. THE DUTCHMEN WARRANTY IS UP ON THE TRAVEL TRAILER BUT AL-KO HAS A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THEIR AXLES. I CONTACTED AL-KO AND THEY SENT ME 2 REPLACEMENT AXLES UNDER WARRANTY. I AM TO REPLACE THE AXLES AND TIRES AT MY EXPENSE. AL-KO MIGHT HONOR TIRE AND LABOR REIMBURSEMENT IF I SHIP THE OLD AXLES AND TIRES BACK TO AL-KO AT MY EXPENSE FOR INSPECTION. THIS IS THE CASE WHETHER I DO THE WORK OR I HAVE A DEALER PERFORM THE WORK. THE AL-KO PACKING SLIP THAT CAME WITH THE TWO AXLES STATES THIS IS A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT AND TO BILL THE AXLES TO AERO COACH IN INDIANA. I HAVE CONTACTED DUTCHMEN MFG. AND THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF SUCH A THING AS THEM BEING BILLED FOR A WARRANTY ITEM. THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ON THEIR END. IN THE MEAN TIME THERE ARE MANY TRAILERS OUT THERE BLOWING TIRES DUE TO THESE DEFECTIVE AXLES. WHEN I ASKED WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY RECALL I GOT NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN "WHERE DO YOU WANT THE AXLES SHIPPED TO?" I HAVE TWO NEW AXLES AND 5 WORN TIRES THAT I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS THE TRAILER MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM RATHER IT IS THE AXLE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE IS NO LISTING FOR AL-KO KOBER SO I HAD TO FILE THIS UNDER DUTCHMEN. *JB