Filed Oct 21, 2016127 vehiclesKaufman Trailers Group, Llc.
Defect. Kaufman Trailers Group, LLC. (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 FE-3/7K-44 Mini Car Haulers manufactured January 1, 2015, to August 31, 2016. On the affected trailers, the spring eye may break off the spring and allow the axle to slide back and forth.
Risk. If the axle slides back and forth, the tires on that axle may contact the fenders or the adjacent tires, possibly damaging the tires and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Kaufman has notified owners and dealers will replace all of the springs on the affected trailers with a newly designed spring that has a thicker top leaf and rubber bushing with steel sleeve. The recall began on October 24, 2016. For help with this recall, owners may contact Kaufman at 1-336-790-2756.
Defect. Kaufman Trailers (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mini 5-Car Hauler trailers, model FE-3/7K-44, manufactured July 1, 2015, to August 24, 2016. During use, the suspension spring eye may break, and allow the axle to slide back and forth.
Risk. If the axle is able to slide back and forth, the tires on the sliding axle can contact either the fender or the adjacent tire, adversely affecting handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. will replace all springs on your trailer with a newly designed spring that has a thicker top leaf and rubber bushing with steel sleeve, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2016. Owners may contact Kaufman customer service at 1-336-790-6800.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Oct 5, 20168,500 milesTX
I PURCHASED A KAUFMAN 5 CR MINI HAULER TO START A CAR HAULING TRANSPORTATION COMPANY. I DECIDED TO BUY NEW FROM THE MANUFACTURER SO AS TO AVOID ANY MAJOR MECHANICAL REPAIRS IN THE EARLY PART OF MY BUSINESS STARTUP AS WELL AS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARRANTY OFFERED BY KAUFMAN. AFTER ONLY 2 MONTHS OF USE (LIGHT USE AT THAT), THE LEAF SPRING ON MY TRAILER BROKE WHILE MY DRIVER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED KAUFMAN AND THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE EXPENSE ONLY AFTER TRYING TO ASSERT THAT MY DRIVER HAD MISHANDLED THE TRAILER. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR, MY TIRE CAME OFF THE AXLE AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY BEARING. KAUFMAN AGAIN REIMBURSED ME AFTER FIRST TRYING TO BLAME THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COMPANY THEY APPROVED ME TO GO TO FOR REPAIR. A WEEK LATER MY DRIVER NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE WHEELS ON THE AXLE WAS BURNING WHILE DRIVING TO MISSISSIPPI. WHEN HE PULLED OVER HE REALIZED THE TIRE WASN'T SPINNING. THIS WAS DUE TO A LOCKED BRAKING SYSTEM. KAUFMAN PAID ONE LAST TIME AND MENTIONED THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE REPAIRING THE UNIT ALTHOUGH ALL REPAIRS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE TIRE CAME OFF AGAIN WHILE HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS WAS DUE TO A WARPED BEARING HUB. KAUFMAN MADE ME PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT KAUFMAN DOES NOT MANUFACTURE ITS OWN AXLES. I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS PRIOR TO PURCHASE. THE MANUFACTURER, LIPPERT, HAS FILED RECALL AFTER RECALL FOR THE PAST 5 Y
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 21, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.