NHTSA Complaint #10483586 — 2011 GULF STREAM VISTA CRUISER

AFTER 6000 MILES OF USE, THE TIRE MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE (UNIT IS A TRAVEL TRAILER WITH 2 AXLES - FORE AND AFT) WAS NEAR BALD FROM THE CENTER INWARD. THE REMAINING 3 TIRES ON THE UNIT WERE WEARING NORMALLY, HAVING AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS TREAD LIFE REMAINING. AFTER DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM AS A BENT AXLE, THE SELLING DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, GULFSTREAM COACH OF NAPPANEE, INDIANA. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED THAT THE AXLE MUST HAVE BEEN BENT DURING USE AND GULFSTREAM WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE AXLE WAS MANUFACTURED BY LIPPERT COMPONENTS OF GOSHEN, INDIANA. WE WERE QUITE CERTAIN THAT WE DID NOT CAUSE THE AXLE TO BE BENT, BUT WERE UNABLE TO PROVE THIS (HOW COULD WE?). THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS LIPPERT AXLE AS USED ON GULFSTREAM VISA TRAILERS POSTED ON VARIOUS FORUMS (EXAMPLE - HTTP://WWW.GSOWNERS.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=4&T=3444). WE CONTEND THAT THESE AXLES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND THAT LIPPERT SHOULD AGREE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. *TR