RoadVitals

2009 Featherlite 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 16, 2012
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.
2
Latest Mar 1, 2011
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2009 Featherlite Trailer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Tires & wheels1100.0%

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

2 campaigns 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
11V396000

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

Mar 1, 2011
127 units potentially affected
The defect: FEATHERLITE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2012 FEATHERLITE TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLES THAT CONTAIN THE FAG BRAND BEARING SYSTEM. THE BEARING SYSTEM HAS EXHIBITED LOW DURABILITY LIFE IN CERTAIN VEHICLE APPLICATIONS.
The risk: PROLONGED USE OF THE SYSTEM IN THESE APPLICATIONS CAN RESULT IN THE DEGRADATION OF THE BEARING GREASE, THEREBY POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A BEARING FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT WHEEL END FIRE.
The remedy: FEATHERLITE HAS NOTIFIED OWNERS AND ARVINMERITOR IS PERFORMING THE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ARVINMERITOR'S ONTRAC PERFORMANCE PLUS CALL CENTER AT 1-866-668-7221 OR FEATHERLITE AT 1-563-547-6000.
FEATHERLITE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
10V573000

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Nov 18, 2010
4 units potentially affected
The defect: FEATHERLITE TRAILERS IS RECALLING CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
The risk: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.
The remedy: FEATHERLITE TRAILERS IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 9, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR FEATHERLITE TRAILERS AT 1-877-903-1444.
FEATHERLITE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 16, 2012

ON JULY 8, 2012 TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-81 MY ENCLOSED TRAILER SUFFERED A BLOWOUT OF A TOWMAX RADIAL TIRE, 225/75R/15 LOAD RANGE E. THE TRAILER IS A 24' WITH (2) 5200LB AXLES AND CARRYING A 3800LB CAR WITH AN ADDITIONAL 400LBS OF LUGGAGE AND EQUIPMENT. THE TOWMAX TIRE WAS INFLATED TO 80PSI PER THE SIDEWALL INSTRUCTIONS. IT HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. THE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE AND AS IT ROTATED, BEAT A HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE TRAILER AND TORE UP THE FENDER AND SOME EXTERIOR TRIM. I PURCHASED 4 TOWMAX RADIALS ON 08/09/11 FOR THIS TRAILER. THE TIRE WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRESTONE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO MILEAGE WARRANTY NOR DEFECT WARRANTY ON THE TIRE. I REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER BRAND. ON 8/12/2012, THE SAME TRAILER SUFFERED A TIRE BLOWOUT OF ANOTHER BRANDED TOWMAX TIRE. THIS TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 3200 MILES ON IT AND WAS ALSO INFLATED TO 80PSI PER THE SIDEWALL INSTRUCTIONS. THIS WAS ON I-75 AND THE FAILURE WAS ALSO A TREAD SEPARATION. I HAVE SAVED THIS TIRE FOR INSPECTION. THE DAMAGE THIS TIME WAS MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THE PREVIOUS BLOWOUT. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THIS TIRE YET, BUT WILL REPLACE WITH ANOTHER BRAND. ESTIMATED TRAILER DAMAGE - $2500. TO SUMMARIZE, I HAVE HAD 2 TIRE BLOWOUTS OF THE SAME BRAND TIRES THAT ARE ONE YEAR OLD WITH 2K AND 3K MILES ON THEM RESPECTIVELY. THE FAILURES ARE IN THE SAME AREAS OF THE TIRES BEING TREAD SEPARATION. I BELIEVE THESE ARE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RECALL OR REMOVAL FROM THE MARKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471212
Incident
Aug 12, 2012
Mileage
5,200 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Featherlite Trailer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012110—
2011020—
2010110—
2009Viewing120—
2008010—
2007010—
2006110—
2004110—
2002100—
2000020—
1999010—

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.