RoadVitals

2003 4-Star Trailers Horse Trailer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Aug 24, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Aug 31, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2003 4-Star Trailers Horse Trailer, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07V396000

EQUIPMENT

Aug 31, 2007
456 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH COVERED HAYRACKS, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE HAYRACK TO THE ROOF MOUNTING BRACKET MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE HAYRACK TO SEPARATE FROM THE TRAILER.
The risk: THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FASTENERS SECURING THE HAYRACK TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE ROOF OF THE TRAILER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT 4-STAR AT 1-800-848-3095.
4-STAR TRAILERS, INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE05044ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

LOOSE AXLE HARDWARE

Opened Aug 17, 2005
Closed Oct 19, 2005

ODI DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM DURING A SERVICE BULLETIN REVIEW.ON JULY 21, 2005, 4-STAR FORWARDED ODI A COPY OF A SERVICE LETTER RECENTLY SENT TO THEIR DEALERS AND OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO INSPECT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BRACKET BOLTS ON THE AXLE SUSPENSION.A LINE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS INSTALLED ON THE AXLE WERE NOT APPROPRIATELY TORQUED. ODI'S INVESTIGATION PROMPTED 4-STAR TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE AXLE CONFIGURATION AND ITS ATTACHING HARWARE.4-STAR HAS NOW CONCLUDED THAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ERRONEOUS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: STARTING WITH THE FIRST PRODUCTION TRAILER, A BRACE BAR WAS WELDED TO THE TRAILER'S FRAME TO ADD STABILITY TO THE FLOOR OF THE TRAILER.THE BAR WAS THEN BOLTED TO BRACKETS WITH LOCK NUTS AND THE BRACKETS WERE THEN WELDED TO THE AXLES.THEREFORE, THE ADDED STRENGTH SUPPLIED BY THE WELDS MAKES THE AMOUNT OF TORQUE IRRELEVANT.AT ODI'S REQUEST,4-STAR PROVIDED DATA AND EXAMINED TRAILERS FROM EACH MODEL YEAR AND PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORTS THEIR CLAIM.( CONTINUES ON PAGE 2)

SUSPENSION:REAR

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Aug 24, 2005
Crash reported

VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A HANNIGAN MOTORCYCLE TRAILER, SIERRA MODEL, MADE BY HANNIGAN MOTORSPORTS, 4044 HWY 641 SOUTH, MURRAY, KY 42071, (270) 753-4256. I HAD TO LIST ANOTHER MANUFACTURER BECAUSE HANNIGAN IS NOT LISTED AND YOU CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT A MANUFACTURER. TRAILER HAS UNUSUAL UNDERSIDE AERODYNAMICS THAT CAUSE ROAD DUST AND FINE SAND TO BE SUCKED FROM THE ROADWAY AND ON TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER JUST BEHIND THE WHEELS. DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT STARTED, AS THE AREA IS NOT READILY VISIBLE, BUT JUDJING FROM AFTER THE BODY WAS PENETRATED, THE EROSION IS VERY FAST AFTER THE GEL COAT PROTECTING THE FIBERGLASS IS WORN AWAY. OPENING THE TRAILER ON 21 JULY, 2005, HAVING JUST ENTERED ALASKA, THE INTERIOR WAS VERY DUSTY. AFTER UNLOADING I NOTICED TWO 6" HOLES IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE. NO REPAIR FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN TOK ALASKA, SO REPACKED TRAILER AND DROVE TO FAIRBANKS THE NEXT DAY. NO REPAIR FACILITY THERE EITHER AND ON ENTERING A PARKING LOT APPARENTLY GEAR INSIDE THE TRAILER WAS HANGIN DOWN AND CAUGHT THE CURB. TRAILER WENT AIRBORNE THEN LANDED LIKE AN ANCHOR. I WAS FLUNG FORWARD AND HIT THE WINDSCREEN. ON EXAMINATION THE HALD DAY'S DIVE HAD ERODED ANOTHER SQUARE FOOT OF THE BOTTOM, INCLUDING ALL FORWARD LEADING EDGES. HAD THAT OCCURED AT ANY SPEED, EXPECIALLY ON A CURVE, LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE. REPAIRED AS BEST I COULD WITH HEAVY RUBBER MAT AND DUCT TAPE AND WENT TO ANCHORAGE, WHERE THERE WAS A REPAIR FACILITY. PART I HAD TAPED AND RUBERIZED SURVIVED, BUT SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL EROSION TO THE FORWARD EDGES BEHIND THE AXLE. ENTIRE READ UNDERSIDE OF TRAILER REBUILT IN WASILA, AK, AND PROTECTIVE PLATE ADDED.

NHTSA ID
10134094
Incident
Jul 22, 2005

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

4-Star Trailers Horse Trailer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007110—
2006420—
2005321—
2004321—
2003Viewing111—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.