2011 Trailstar Z9

Defect. TRACKER MARINE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 TRAILSTAR Z8 TRAILERS AND MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 TRAILSTAR Z9 TRAILERS, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 12, 2010, THROUGH NOVEMBER 10, 2011. THE BRAKE CALIPER PINS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION ALLOWING THEM TO COME LOOSE.

Risk. THE BRAKE CALIPER PINS COULD BACK OUT RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. TRACKER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CALIPER, AND REPAIR THE TRAILERS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRACKER MARINE AT 1-417-873-4588.

ON JULY 7, 2014, WE LEFT TO GO CAMPING TOWING OUR BOAT BENIND THE RV. WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN I-40 AND ABOUT 100 MILES FROM HOME WHEN WE NOTICED THE BOAT TRAILER WAS SWAYING. WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND DID A WALK AROUND THE TRAILER TO CHECK THE TIRES AND HITCH BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND CONTINUED TO CONCHAS LAKE STATE PARK, AN ADDITIONAL 90 MILES OR SO. WHEN I WENT TO UNHOOK THE BOAT I COULD NOT. TRACKER TRAILSTAR FEATURES A SWING AWAY TRAILER TONGUE THAT WAS LESS THAN 8" OFF THE GROUND. THE BOLT (ON THE PASSENGER SIDE) WHICH HAS A GREASE HOLE DOWN THE MIDDLE BROKE WITH ONLY A THIRD OF THE BOLT LEFT. THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE LOCKING PIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TONGUE WAS ALMOST GONE AND I WAS AN INCH OF WELD AWAY FROM LOSING THE BOAT TRAILER. I USED TO WORK IN THE FOUNDRY AT MERCURY MARINE AND AFTER LOOKING AT THE BOLIT, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE FOUNDRY MAY HAVE HARDENED THE BOLT TOO HARD. NEVERTHELESS THE BOAT DID BREAK AND IF I WAS TRAVELING ANY FURTHER DOWN THE HIGHWAY I BELIEVE THE TONGUE WOULD HAVE DISENGAGED FROM THE BODY OF THE TRAILER AND POSSIBLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON THIS TRAILER. *TR