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2016 Kaufman Mini Car Hauler

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

1 reports
8,500 miles · Oct 5, 2016
Service BrakesSuspension

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 LE…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10914092

Official recalls

2

16V764000 · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED Axle Assembly

Oct 21, 2016

Kaufman Trailers Group, LLC. (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 FE-3/7K-44 Mini Car Haulers manufactured January 1, 2015, to August 31, 2016. On the affected trailers, the spring eye may break off the spring and allow the axle to slide back and forth.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the axle slides back and forth, the tires on that axle may contact the fenders or the adjacent tires, possibly damaging the tires and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kaufman has notified owners and dealers will replace all of the springs on the affected trailers with a newly designed spring that has a thicker top leaf and rubber bushing with steel sleeve. The recall began on October 24, 2016. For help with this recall, owners may contact Kaufman at 1-336-790-2756.

16V635000 · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED Axle Assembly; Suspension:rear:springs

Sep 1, 2016

Kaufman Trailers (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mini 5-Car Hauler trailers, model FE-3/7K-44, manufactured July 1, 2015, to August 24, 2016. During use, the suspension spring eye may break, and allow the axle to slide back and forth.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the axle is able to slide back and forth, the tires on the sliding axle can contact either the fender or the adjacent tire, adversely affecting handling and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. will replace all springs on your trailer with a newly designed spring that has a thicker top leaf and rubber bushing with steel sleeve, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2016. Owners may contact Kaufman customer service at 1-336-790-6800.

Additional source detail variants (2)

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED Axle Assembly

Kaufman Trailers (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mini 5-Car Hauler trailers, model FE-3/7K-44, manufactured July 1, 2015, to August 24, 2016. During use, the suspension spring eye may break, and allow the axle to slide back and forth.

Consequence: If the axle is able to slide back and forth, the tires on the sliding axle can contact either the fender or the adjacent tire, adversely affecting handling and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. will replace all springs on your trailer with a newly designed spring that has a thicker top leaf and rubber bushing with steel sleeve, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2016. Owners may contact Kaufman customer service at 1-336-790-6800.

Suspension:rear:springs

Kaufman Trailers (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mini 5-Car Hauler trailers, model FE-3/7K-44, manufactured July 1, 2015, to August 24, 2016. During use, the suspension spring eye may break, and allow the axle to slide back and forth.

Consequence: If the axle is able to slide back and forth, the tires on the sliding axle can contact either the fender or the adjacent tire, adversely affecting handling and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. will replace all springs on your trailer with a newly designed spring that has a thicker top leaf and rubber bushing with steel sleeve, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2016. Owners may contact Kaufman customer service at 1-336-790-6800.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.