I am reporting a potentially serious suspension safety defect involving my 2022 Sunset Park 19RD travel trailer, VIN [XXX]. The passenger-side leaf spring suffered a complete failure approximately one-half mile from our home. This is a critical suspension component, and a failure while traveling at highway speeds could potentially affect axle positioning, tire clearance, trailer stability and the driver's ability to safely control the trailer. After discovering the broken spring, I inspected the driver's-side suspension and found substantial corrosion and rust scaling on the remaining leaf-spring assembly and associated suspension hardware. The trailer has not been subjected to road-salt use that would reasonably explain the amount of corrosion observed. The intact driver's-side spring measures approximately 26-1/4 inches from mounting bolt to mounting bolt while the trailer is loaded. The trailer has a single Dexter D40 axle rated at 4,000 lbs. The trailer GVWR is also 4,000 lbs. I have photographs documenting the broken passenger-side spring, the fracture area, corrosion and scaling on the opposite suspension, spring dimensions, spring thickness, U-bolts and associated suspension hardware. The trailer was purchased new in XXX. Considering the age of the trailer, the failure of a critical suspension component, and the condition observed on the opposite side, I am concerned that there may be a premature suspension component, material, manufacturing or corrosion-protection issue. I have contacted Sunset Park RV and requested that the manufacturer investigate the failure and identify the original suspension components and specifications. I am retaining the failed spring and related components so they can be inspected if requested. We are preparing for a long winter trip in a few weeks, but we will not use the trailer for that trip until the suspension has been properly inspected and repaired. I am asking NHTSA to document and evaluate this i INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (
- NHTSA ID
- 11773546
- Incident
- Oct 25, 2026