RoadVitals

2013 Kaufman 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 Aug 8, 2019
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 7, 2013
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 2013 Kaufman Trailer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and other / unspecified 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

  • Tires & wheels266.7%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%

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
13V351000

TRAILER HITCHES

Aug 7, 2013
269 units potentially affected
The defect: Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. and Kaufman Trailers of NE, Inc. (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 gooseneck auto transport trailers and equipment trailers manufactured June 26, through August 6, 2013. These trailers are equipped with kingpins attched to square bottom plates which may crack over time, causing the button to separate from the bottom plate.
The risk: If the kingpin button separates, the trailer could become detached from the towing vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Kaufman will notify owners instructing them to inspect their trailers for kingpins with square bottom plates. Kaufman will ship replacement kingpins to owners of affected trailers, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact Kaufman at 1-336-790-6800.
Kaufman TrailersView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 8, 2019

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HYDRAULIC DUMP TRAILER FROM KAUFMAN TRAILER MANUFACTURER. WHEN I REQUESTED AN OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND USER MANUAL FROM THE COMPANY, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ONE AND DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY REQUEST FOR SAFETY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN WRITING AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO PROVIDE A USER MANUAL. A COMPETITOR TRAILER COMPANY BRI-MAR TRAILER MANUFACTURER PROVIDES A 146 PAGE OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND USER MANUAL. A FEW EXAMPLES OF CONCERN ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. INTRODUCTION/GENERAL INFORMATION 2. GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION. I COULD LIST MANY MORE BUT THE LIST IS ENDLESS. I AM NOT TRYING TO PUNISH THIS COMPANY I AM TRYING TO MAKE IT A BETTER COMPANY AND LESSEN IT'S LIABILITY AGAINST INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. THE COMPANY DOES PROVIDE TIRE AND AXLE MANUALS BUT THEY ARE COPIES PROVIDED BY THE TIRE AND AXLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S. KAUFMAN TRAILERS DOES NOT PROVIDE A USER, OPERATIONAL AND SAFETY MANUAL FOR THEIR PRODUCT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALREADY MADE SEVERAL MISTAKES USING THIS TRAILER FOR LACK OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTION, FORTUNATELY NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED BUT THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS INJURY. MY REQUEST IS A REASONABLE REQUEST AND WOULD NOT COST THE COMPANY ANY SUBSTANTIAL MONEY. ALL COST TO PRODUCE A USER MANUAL COULD BE EASILY MADE UP IN THE COST OF THE THE TRAILER. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOUR CONSUMER SAFETY ORGANIZATION WOULD TAKE A PROACTIVE POSITION AND AT LEAST LET THIS COMPANY KNOW THEY ARE BEING REPORTED AND REVIEWED FOR POSSIBLE SAFETY VIOLATIONS. I WOULD ALSO HOPE THAT THE FACT THESE COMPANY RETAIN ATTORNEYS WILL NOT DAMPEN YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE, [XXX] THE COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS IS AS FOLLOWS: KAUFMAN TRAILERS 702 N. SILVER STREET LEXINGTON, NC 27292 WWW.KAUFMANTRAILERS.COM MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER ARE AS FOLLOWS: EMAIL: [XXX] PHONE #: [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11242590
Incident
Oct 6, 2014
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH VOMA TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TOURING YTR06 TIRES, SIZE: ST235/80/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE BELT FAILED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ID
10732562
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
600 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TRAIL (NA) TIRES, SIZE ST225/75R15 LOW RIDGE D (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS HAULING SOMETHING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID
10638756
Incident
Sep 20, 2014
Mileage
38,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kaufman Trailer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018200—
2013Viewing310—
2012010—

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.