RoadVitals

1997 Fontaine 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.
2
Latest Sep 5, 2001
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 Jul 15, 1998
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Fontaine Trailer, most frequently naming the other / unspecified and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Other / unspecified150.0%
  • Powertrain (other)150.0%

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
98V159000

TRAILER HITCHES

Jul 15, 1998
50 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PLATFORM TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH KING PINS MARKED WITH CHA, CHN, & CHP AND SUPPLIED TO FONTAINE BY TEFACO. THE KING PIN SEPARATES AS SOON AS THE TRAILER IS APPLIED, ALLOWING THE TRAILER TO SEPARATE FROM THE TOW VEHICLE.
The risk: IF A TRAILER SEPARATES FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE, A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE KING PINS.
FONTAINE TRAILERView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 5, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, A NYLON RACHET STRAP BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRAILER AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-422)

NHTSA ID
562934
Incident
Jul 16, 2001
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 31, 2001
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, A PASSERBY SIGNALED CONSUMER TO PULL OVER, ONCE HE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF TRUCK, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRAILERS FIFTH WHEEL AXLE AROUND THE LEFT INSIDE TIRE, CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE TRAILER AND SAW FLAMES, CONSUMER TRIED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK ONLY THE TRAILER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE AN IGNITION SOURCE FOR THE FIRE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-92-339)*JB

NHTSA ID
562264
Incident
Jun 27, 2001

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Fontaine Trailer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004010—
2003020—
2002020—
2001010—
2000110—
1999310—
1998010—
1997Viewing210—

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.