NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE86056
Preliminary Evaluation · COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. · SUSPENSION
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA 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.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
AXLE FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:IN A LETTER PROVIDED BY THECOMPLAINTANT, COACHMAN ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS NOT A RETROFIT PACKAGETHAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED BY COACHMAN RECREATIONAL VEHICLE COMPANY CONCERNINGTHE AXLE SYSTEM THAT WAS USED ON THIS PARTICULAR TRAILERS.WE DO KNOWTHAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE INSTALLED A STRAIGHT AXLESYSTEM UNDERNEATH THESE PARTICULAR TRAILERS REPLACING THE INDEPENDENTAXLE SYSTEMS.ANALYSIS:IT APPEARS THAT THE INDEPENDENT STUB AXLE USED BY COACHMEN ONTHE TRAVEL TRAILER MAY BE INADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR THE INTENDED USE.THEAREAS OF THE STUB AXLE THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS FAILING, THE SKETCHES OFTHE AXLE, AND COACHMEN'S INDICATION THAT THE AXLE SYSTEM MAY HAVE BEENREDESIGNED FOR CURRENT TAILERS, SUGGEST THAT THE AXLE SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE.STATUS:PREPARING IR.PROPOSED ACTION:OPEN PE; SEND COACHMAN A LIMITED SCOPE IR.
An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- PE86056
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
- Component
- SUSPENSION
- Opened
- May 12, 1986
- Closed
- Nov 13, 1986
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
8 model years across 1 model
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.