NHTSA Complaint #10345926 — 1998 COACHMEN TRAILER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 COACHMEN CATALINA LYTE 259RK TRAILER. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. HE THEN FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND NOT ALIGNED. THE DEALER SENT A MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THE CONTACT WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE AXLE AND THE BEARINGS WERE NOT SUITED FOR THE TRAILER. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. FOUR YEARS LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE AXLE, WHEEL ASSEMBLY, AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AXLE AND BEARINGS WERE NOT THE CORRECT SIZE FOR THE TRAILER. THE WHEEL BARINGS WERE RE-PACKED DURING THE DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.