RoadVitals

1999 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.
3
Latest Nov 15, 2007
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 Oct 28, 2003
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Fontaine Trailer, most frequently naming the electrical, suspension and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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
03V425000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

Oct 28, 2003
67 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX EC-30T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECU). IF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THE SHORT IS NOT REPAIRED, THE HIGH SIDE POWER SWITCH INSIDE THE ECU THAT CONTROLS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME THERMALLY STRESSED AND EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
The risk: IF THE POWER SWITCH SHORTS, IT CAN RESULT IN AN OVER-CURRENT CONDITION IN THE ECU AND LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
The remedy: BENDIX WILL PROVIDE A REMEDY KIT AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND ALSO PROVIDE A LABOR ALLOWANCE FOR THE REPAIR. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BENDIX AT 1-800-478-1793 OR FONTAINE AT 1-205-486-5251.
FONTAINE TRAILER COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Nov 15, 2007

1999 FONTAINE TRAILER AXLE BROKE CAUSING THE TWO REAR TIRES TO COME OFF THE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE TIRES CROSSED OVER THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NO GREASE ON THE BALL JOINTS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JB

NHTSA ID
10209422
Incident
Oct 23, 2007
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 16, 2004

IN FEBRUARY OF 1999 I PURCHASED A COBALT 226 AND AN EAGLE TRAILER. THIS EAGLE TRAILER WAS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR MY BOAT, IT HAS CARLISLE ST205/75R14 TIRES.. SINCE I LIVE IN PA, MY BOATING YEAR IS 3-4 MONTHS LONG AND BY BOAT IS STORED INDOORS DURING THE WINTER. MY AVERAGE MILEAGE EACH YEAR IS APPROX. 1000 MILES. IN MAY, 2002. I BLEW OUT THE FIRST TIRE. I DID NOT KNOW WHY AND THE TIRE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, SO WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW CARLISLE TIRE TO REPLACE IT. IN JULY THE SECOND BLEW OUT FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER IN AUGUST 2002. WITHIN THE LAST TWO BLOW OUTS, MY FIBER GLASS FENDERS WERE DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE BREAK INE AND ALL OF THE WIRES WERE RIPPED OUT OF THE TRAILER. WE AGAIN PURCHASED NEW CARLISLE TIRES . THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT OF THE TIRES TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. THE COST TO REPLACE MY FENDERS WAS $783 PLUS MY LABOR TO TAKE THE OLD ONES OFF, REPAIR THE BRAKE LINE AND REWIRE THE LIGHTS. FINALLY ON AUG 29,2004, I AM ABOUT TO TAKE MY BOAT TO THE LAKE AND MY WIFE, WHILE WINDING THE TRAILER UP TO HOOK IT UP TO THE TRUCK, NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE LOOKED CROOKED. I CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND THAT THE AMPLE TREAD WAS SEPARATED IN NUMEROUS PLACES. THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER ORIGINAL TIRE ON THE BOAT AND WHEN I LOOKED AT IT IT WAS IN THE SAME CONDITION. THIS TIME I HAD EVIDENCE TO TAKE TO THE CARLISLE DEALERSHIP. THEY SENT THE TIRES TO CARLISLE AND CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT CARLISLE SAID THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE 2 NEW ONES. I DO NOT HAVE A CHECK AS OF THIS DATE. WHEN I CHECK THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME TIRE STARTING BACK IN 2001 WITH STORIES MUCH THE SAME AS MINE. CARLISLE MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A POORLY MANUFACTURED TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10095876
Incident
Aug 29, 2004
Electrical
Filed Nov 18, 1999

WIRING HARNESS FAILURE IS CAUSING LIGHTING AND ABS PROBLEMS. YH

NHTSA ID
549498

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

030603

STRUCTURE

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PRODUCT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM AFFECTING MODEL TH55 GOOSENECKS WHICH COULD CRACK PREMATURELY IN THE WEB SECTION OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

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—
1999Viewing310—
1998010—
1997210—

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.