Complaint 2235032

Complaint Summary

WHEELS:HUB

Owner Narrative

I am requesting that NHTSA investigate a potentially serious and recurring safety defect involving Lippert trailer axles, wheel bearings, hubs, and inadequate factory lubrication. My original cargo trailer, equipped with Lippert axles, experienced repeated wheel-end, bearing, and axle-related problems. In March 2026, it suffered a catastrophic wheel-end/hub/bearing failure while traveling on the highway. The incident caused the tow vehicle and trailer to jackknife, damaged the trailer, tow vehicle, and cargo, and ultimately resulted in the trailer being declared a total loss.A replacement Lippert axle was subsequently installed. After only approximately 1,400 miles, the wheel end began smoking. Inspection revealed severely blackened/burnt grease, indicating excessive heat and another potential bearing/lubrication problem.Because of these repeated failures, when I purchased a brand-new 2026 36-foot enclosed cargo trailer in June 2026, also equipped with Lippert axles, I specifically requested that the bearings, hubs, spindles, and grease levels be inspected BEFORE I took possession or operated the trailer.That pre-delivery inspection revealed very little grease in the wheel-end assemblies and at least one bearing was already damaged. These conditions were discovered before I operated the new trailer, eliminating normal wear, mileage, or my maintenance as potential causes. My understanding is that Lippert supplies these axle assemblies to the trailer manufacturer already assembled. I therefore believe NHTSA should investigate Lippert's manufacturing, bearing installation, lubrication, assembly, and quality-control procedures. These conditions create a serious highway safety risk. Inadequate lubrication or defective bearings can cause overheating, bearing seizure, hub/spindle failure, wheel separation, fire, trailer instability, jackknifing, loss of control, serious injury, or death. This is now more than one Lippert-equipped trailer with serious bearing/lubr

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.