2016 Kaufman Mini Car Hauler Recalls & Complaints

Incident: June 21, 2016 · Filed: October 5, 2016

I PURCHASED A KAUFMAN 5 CR MINI HAULER TO START A CAR HAULING TRANSPORTATION COMPANY. I DECIDED TO BUY NEW FROM THE MANUFACTURER SO AS TO AVOID ANY MAJOR MECHANICAL REPAIRS IN THE EARLY PART OF MY BUSINESS STARTUP AS WELL AS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARRANTY OFFERED BY KAUFMAN. AFTER ONLY 2 MONTHS OF USE (LIGHT USE AT THAT), THE LEAF SPRING ON MY TRAILER BROKE WHILE MY DRIVER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I CONTACTED KAUFMAN AND THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE EXPENSE ONLY AFTER TRYING TO ASSERT THAT MY DRIVER HAD MISHANDLED THE TRAILER. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR, MY TIRE CAME OFF THE AXLE AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY BEARING. KAUFMAN AGAIN REIMBURSED ME AFTER FIRST TRYING TO BLAME THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COMPANY THEY APPROVED ME TO GO TO FOR REPAIR. A WEEK LATER MY DRIVER NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE WHEELS ON THE AXLE WAS BURNING WHILE DRIVING TO MISSISSIPPI. WHEN HE PULLED OVER HE REALIZED THE TIRE WASN'T SPINNING. THIS WAS DUE TO A LOCKED BRAKING SYSTEM. KAUFMAN PAID ONE LAST TIME AND MENTIONED THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE REPAIRING THE UNIT ALTHOUGH ALL REPAIRS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE TIRE CAME OFF AGAIN WHILE HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS WAS DUE TO A WARPED BEARING HUB. KAUFMAN MADE ME PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT KAUFMAN DOES NOT MANUFACTURE ITS OWN AXLES. I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS PRIOR TO PURCHASE. THE MANUFACTURER, LIPPERT, HAS FILED RECALL AFTER RECALL FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS FOR ALL OF THESE ISSUES. I BELIEVE KAUFMAN IS WELL AWARE THAT THEY ARE PUTTING FAULTY PARTS ON THEIR TRAILER AND TRYING TO ABSOLVE THEMSELVES THROUGH THE USE OF NHTSA RECALL STANDARDS.