Fontaine TRAILER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
450,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2004 model years. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 33.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Equipment: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 1; Suspension: 1; Tires: 1; Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1999: 1; 2001: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10095876 · 2004-10-16 (October 16, 2004)
IN FEBRUARY OF 1999 I PURCHASED A COBALT 226 AND AN EAGLE TRAILER. THIS EAGLE TRAILER WAS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR MY BOAT, IT HAS CARLISLE ST205/75R14 TIRES.. SINCE I LIVE IN PA, MY BOATING YEAR IS 3-4 MONTHS LONG AND BY BOAT IS STORED INDOORS DURING THE WINTER. MY AVERAGE MILEAGE EACH YEAR IS APPROX. 1000 MILES. IN MAY, 2002. I BLEW OUT THE FIRST TIRE. I DID NOT KNOW WHY AND THE TIRE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, SO WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW CARLISLE TIRE TO REPLACE IT. IN JULY THE SECOND BLEW OUT FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER IN AUGUST 2002. WITHIN THE LAST TWO BLO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 549498 · 1999-11-18 (November 18, 1999)
WIRING HARNESS FAILURE IS CAUSING LIGHTING AND ABS PROBLEMS. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 549498 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1
Year-by-year records
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 549498WIRING HARNESS FAILURE IS CAUSING LIGHTING AND ABS PROBLEMS. YH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Equipment | 150.0%ODI 562934WHILE DRIVING, A NYLON RACHET STRAP BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRAILER AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT#10-90-422) | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 150.0%ODI 562264WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, A PASSERBY SIGNALED CONSUMER TO PULL OVER, ONCE HE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF TRUCK, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRAILERS FIFTH WHEEL AXLE AROUND THE LEFT INSIDE TIRE, CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE TRAILER AND SAW FLAMES, CONSUMER TRIED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK ONLY THE TRAILER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE AN IGNITION SOURCE FOR THE FIRE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-92-339)*JB | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 102094221999 FONTAINE TRAILER AXLE BROKE CAUSING THE TWO REAR TIRES TO COME OFF THE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE TIRES CROSSED OVER THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NO GREASE ON THE BALL JOINTS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Tires | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10095876IN FEBRUARY OF 1999 I PURCHASED A COBALT 226 AND AN EAGLE TRAILER. THIS EAGLE TRAILER WAS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR MY BOAT, IT HAS CARLISLE ST205/75R14 TIRES.. SINCE I LIVE IN PA, MY BOATING YEAR IS 3-4 MONTHS LONG AND BY BOAT IS STORED INDOORS DURING THE WINTER. MY AVERAGE MILEAGE EACH YEAR IS APPROX. 1000 MILES. IN MAY, 2002. I BLEW OUT THE FIRST TIRE. I DID NOT KNOW WHY AND THE TIRE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, SO WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW CARLISLE TIRE TO REPLACE IT. IN JULY THE SECOND BLEW OUT FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER IN AUGUST 2002. WITHIN THE LAST TWO BLO… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10052029 · 450,000 miTHE FIFTH WHEEL SEPARATED AND THE TRAILER WENT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. THE SERVICE SHOP REBUILT THE FIFTH WHEEL, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE FIFTH WHEEL WAS CARRYING A LOAD AT TIME OF BOTH FAILURES. *AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly | Too few reports for a range | 450,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10052029 · 450,000 miTHE FIFTH WHEEL SEPARATED AND THE TRAILER WENT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. THE SERVICE SHOP REBUILT THE FIFTH WHEEL, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE FIFTH WHEEL WAS CARRYING A LOAD AT TIME OF BOTH FAILURES. *AK |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2003: 0 complaints · 2004: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Equipment | Power Train:Axle Assembly | Suspension | Tires | Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.