NHTSA Complaint #10415549 — 2010 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT

LIPPERT COMPONENT INDUSTRIES BUILDS FRAMES FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, TRAVEL TRAILERS, AND FIFTH WHEELS. THEY DID INSTALL (HAVE SINCE STOPPED INSTALLATION) AXLES WITH SEALED BEARING SYSTEMS AS PART OF THE FRAME BUILD. IN READING NUMEROUS MESSAGE BOARDS (AND THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE) THESE ARE EXTREMELY PRONE TO FAILURE AND FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE FIRES, LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRAILER, AND POSSIBLE WHEEL SEPARATION FROM TRAILER (FOR MORE EXPERIENCES SEARCH FOR SEALED BEARING SYSTEM ON THE WEB). LIPPERT IS AWARE OF THE HIGH FAILURE RATE AND THIS IS EVIDENCED BY HOW QUICKLY THEY WILL REPLACE NOT ONLY THE AXLE THAT CONTAINS THE FAILED BEARING, BUT ALL AXLES ON THE TRAILER AND THEY DO IT WITHOUT EVEN QUESTIONING THE FAILURE (THEY REPLACED BOTH AXLES ON MY TRAILER AS WELL . I FEEL (AS DO OTHERS) THAT LIPPERT SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THESE AXLES AS A FAILURE DOES CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MY TRAILER ONLY HAD 2800 MILES AND WAS ONLY 14 MONTHS OLD WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAVE SEEN OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THESE BEARINGS FAIL AFTER ONLY 1000 MILES. THE ONLY MAINTENANCE FOR THESE BEARINGS IS TO RAISE THE TRAILER AND CHECK THE WHEELS FOR EXCESSIVE PLAY, NO GREASING IS REQUIRED. *TR