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: 2 of 3 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.
Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Equipment. 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
3 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2019
Equipment
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HYDRAULIC DUMP TRAILER FROM KAUFMAN TRAILER MANUFACTURER. WHEN I REQUESTED AN OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND USER MANUAL FROM THE COMPANY, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ONE AND DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY REQUEST FOR SAFETY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN W…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HYDRAULIC DUMP TRAILER FROM KAUFMAN TRAILER MANUFACTURER. WHEN I REQUESTED AN OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND USER MANUAL FROM THE COMPANY, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ONE AND DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY REQUEST FOR SAFETY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE MANY SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN WRITING AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO PROVIDE A USER MANUAL. A COMPETITOR TRAILER COMPANY BRI-MAR TRAILER MANUFACTURER PROVIDES A 146 PAGE OPERATIONAL, SAFETY AND USER MANUAL. A FEW EXAMPLES OF CONCERN ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. INTRODUCTION/GENERAL INFORMATION 2. GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION. I COULD LIST MANY MORE BUT THE LIST IS ENDLESS. I AM NOT TRYING TO PUNISH THIS COMPANY I AM TRYING TO MAKE IT A BETTER COMPANY AND LESSEN IT'S LIABILITY AGAINST INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. THE COMPANY DOES PROVIDE TIRE AND AXLE MANUALS BUT THEY ARE COPIES PROVIDED BY THE TIRE AND AXLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S. KAUFMAN TRAILERS DOES NOT PROVIDE A USER, OPERATIONAL AND SAFETY MANUAL FOR THEIR PRODUCT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALREADY MADE SEVERAL MISTAKES USING THIS TRAILER FOR LACK OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTION, FORTUNATELY NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED BUT THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS INJURY. MY REQUEST IS A REASONABLE REQUEST AND WOULD NOT COST THE COMPANY ANY SUBSTANTIAL MONEY. ALL COST TO PRODUCE A USER MANUAL COULD BE EASILY MADE UP IN THE COST OF THE THE TRAILER. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOUR CONSUMER SAFETY ORGANIZATION WOULD TAKE A PROACTIVE POSITION AND AT LEAST LET THIS COMPANY KNOW THEY ARE BEING REPORTED AND REVIEWED FOR POSSIBLE SAFETY VIOLATIONS. I WOULD ALSO HOPE THAT THE FACT THESE COMPANY RETAIN ATTORNEYS WILL NOT DAMPEN YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE, [XXX] THE COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS IS AS FOLLOWS: KAUFMAN TRAILERS 702 N. SILVER STREET LEXINGTON, NC 27292 WWW.KAUFMANTRAILERS.COM MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER ARE AS FOLLOWS: EMAIL: [XXX] PHONE #: [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11242590
600 miles · Jul 7, 2015
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH VOMA TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TOURING YTR06 TIRES, SIZE: ST235/80/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE BELT FAILED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH VOMA TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TOURING YTR06 TIRES, SIZE: ST235/80/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE BELT FAILED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
NHTSA ODI #10732562
38,000 miles · Sep 24, 2014
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TRAIL (NA) TIRES, SIZE ST225/75R15 LOW RIDGE D (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAUFMAN TRAILER EQUIPPED WITH TRAIL EXPRESS POWER TRAIL (NA) TIRES, SIZE ST225/75R15 LOW RIDGE D (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS HAULING SOMETHING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. and Kaufman Trailers of NE, Inc. (Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 gooseneck auto transport trailers and equipment trailers manufactured June 26, through August 6, 2013. These trailers are equipped with kingpins attched to square bottom plates which may crack over time, causing the button to separate from the bottom plate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the kingpin button separates, the trailer could become detached from the towing vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kaufman will notify owners instructing them to inspect their trailers for kingpins with square bottom plates. Kaufman will ship replacement kingpins to owners of affected trailers, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact Kaufman 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.
2013 Kaufman Trailer Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year