2000 Stratos Boat Trailer

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BOAT TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS. THESE WHEELS HAVE A CHAMFERED CENTRAL HOLE WHERE THE AXLE SPINDLE PASSES THROUGH. ON SOME, THE CHAMFER IS TOO SHALLOW CAUSING THE WHEEL BEARING DUST CAP TO PROTRUDE BEHIND THE WHEEL. WHEN THIS CAP IS PROTRUDING, WHEEL LUG BOLT TORQUE WILL NOT REMAIN TIGHTENED.

Risk. IF UNDETECTED, WHEEL STUDS CAN BREAK ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. STRATOS HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. THE CORRECTION WAS TO REPLACE THESE WHEELS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 STRATOS BOAT TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 65 MPH, THE RIMS WOULD SHAKE AND THE LUG NUTS WOULD DETACH FROM THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LUG NUTS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

3 LUGS: BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT WHEEL OF THE TRAILER. STRATOS WAS AWARE OF THE THE PROBLEM. NHTSA BULLETIN 99V293000 STATED NOTIFICATION NOTICES WHERE TO GO OUT MARCH OF 2000. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HAD BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE A PROBLEM EXISTED AND THE WHEEL LUG BOLTS CAN COME LOOSE. WHY HAS THE PROBLEM NOT BEEN RESOLVED AND THE DEFECTIVE WHEELS RECALLED? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED FIRST?*AK