LIPPERT 7000LB BRAKE AXLE Complaints

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

BRAKES ON THE HEAVIER RV TRAILER DON'WORK ON ALL THEM LIPPERT SAYS JAYCO USED TO LITE OF AXLE JAYCO SAYS LIPPERT AT FAULT.ALL I KNOW IS I AM OUT $4100 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM!!!! IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. STOP YOU WOULD WRECK

BRAKES ON THE HEAVIER RV TRAILER DON'WORK ON ALL THEM LIPPERT SAYS JAYCO USED TO LITE OF AXLE JAYCO SAYS LIPPERT AT FAULT.ALL I KNOW IS I AM OUT $4100 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM!!!!

LIPPERT AXLE SYSTEM AXLE MODEL NV-173547 AXLE RATING 7000 LBS. CONTRARY TO A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, THE LIPPERT SBS WHEEL/BEARINGS ARE NOT NEV-R- LUBE (SIMILAR BUT WITH SOME CRITICAL DIFFERENCES). ALSO THIS IS NOT THE KODIAK DISK BRAKE SYSTEM, IT IS THE DRUM BRAKE SYSTEM (THE ONLY THING KODIAK IS THE DUST CAP). IF YOU HAVE THE LIPPERT SBS (SEALED BEARING SYSTEM) YOU WILL HAVE BEARING FAILURE; THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN! THE MAIN PROBLEM IS NOT CHINESE BEARINGS (ALTHOUGH I AM SURE THAT DOESN'T HELP). IT IS A SERIOUSLY FLAWED DESIGN. THE BEARING WASHER DISTORTS TO A CONICAL SHAPE BY THE FORCES GENERATED WHILE RUNNING AND MANEUVERING. YOU CAN KEEP THE TORQUE CHECKED, BUT AFTER ABOUT 7000 MILES 100 SHARP TURNING MANEUVERS, THE BEARING WASHER IS SO DISTORTED INTO A CONICAL SHAPE THAT THE WASHER BOTTOMS OUT ON THE AXLE SHOULDER AND NO LONGER PROVIDES THE BEARING PRE-LOAD THAT IS REQUIRED. I HAVE HAD ONE BEARING FAILURE AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY, I HAVE RETORQUED THESE, BUT THEY NEVER STAY TIGHT, MY FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER WEIGHS ALMOST 13,000 POUNDS, THE WEIGHT IS STRESSING THE LARGE WASHER BEHIND THE AXLE NUT CAUSING THE AXLE NUT TO SPIN LOOSE, THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EVEN SOMEONE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *TR 11/14/12 *CN UPDATED 11/14/2012 *JS