Car Problem DataNHTSA records

2000 Fontaine Trailer

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the trailer hitches › fifth wheel assembly. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Trailer Hitches › Fifth Wheel Assembly1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light03V425000
Filed Oct 28, 200367 vehiclesFontaine Trailer Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX EC-30T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECU). IF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THE SHORT IS NOT REPAIRED, THE HIGH SIDE POWER SWITCH INSIDE THE ECU THAT CONTROLS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME THERMALLY STRESSED AND EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Risk. IF THE POWER SWITCH SHORTS, IT CAN RESULT IN AN OVER-CURRENT CONDITION IN THE ECU AND LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy. BENDIX WILL PROVIDE A REMEDY KIT AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND ALSO PROVIDE A LABOR ALLOWANCE FOR THE REPAIR. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BENDIX AT 1-800-478-1793 OR FONTAINE AT 1-205-486-5251.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Trailer Hitches › Fifth Wheel Assembly
Filed Dec 29, 2003450,000 milesCA

THE FIFTH WHEEL SEPARATED AND THE TRAILER WENT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. THE SERVICE SHOP REBUILT THE FIFTH WHEEL, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE FIFTH WHEEL WAS CARRYING A LOAD AT TIME OF BOTH FAILURES. *AK

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20040100Routine
20030200Routine
20020200Routine
20010100Routine
2000 — this page1100Routine
19993100Routine
19980100Routine
19972110Routine

Compare every Trailer year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 28, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.