2001 Unknown Unknown Problems

What owners report

This mixed group of 2001 reports covers trailers, RVs, motorcycles, and passenger vehicles with no single make. The most common theme is tires that separate, split, or blow out, often on trailers and at highway speed. Other frequent themes are high-intensity or blue-tinted headlights that dazzle oncoming drivers, turn signals and bulbs that fail or flicker, and loss of steering or brake control at speed.

1. 1
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and sidewall failure

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 5,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2008

   Owners describe tread separating or breaking away from the tire, sidewalls splitting, and blowouts, often while driving at highway speed. These are often trailer, dolly or towing tires, and some describe belts showing through the tread. Complaints describe owners contacting the tire maker, with reimbursement sometimes offered. The sample fields list no mileage for these reports, but a tread separation report in the text gives figures between about 16,000 and 37,000 miles, and some tires were described as relatively new.

   What to check: Inspect trailer and towing tires for tread separation, bulges, or sidewall splits, and check the DOT date code to judge the tire's age. Ask whether the tires have been replaced after any tread or sidewall failure and what brand and load rating are fitted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I experienced two sidewall tire failures on my tow dolly which had nanco tires. One of the failures resulted in damage to my tow dolly and destruction of the wheel the tire was mounted on, and a grass fire on the expressway. These failures required replacement of both tires and one wheel after the second tire failed. I am concerned because wants the tire back to process the claim.”

   NHTSA complaint #10242672, filed 2008-09

   “Tire tread split 15 in. Stayed in campground 10 days. Coming out of camp ground at a stop sign a driver pulled along side & said something was wrong with my left rear tire on trailer. Found safe spot to pull over, checked tire & found it split. There is still lots of wear on the tire. It looks like a manufacture defect. All my tires are keep at recommended pressure with a tire gauge checked for accuracy.”

   NHTSA complaint #764423, filed 2002-07
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Trailer and RV parts breaking or detaching

   • 14 complaints (25%)
   • median 3,622 mi at 4.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2008

   Owners describe an axle bending at the hub, a leaf spring breaking through its bolt hole, a rear door failing during a trip, and a tilt bracket pin falling out on a rough road. Other reports describe propane tank welds breaking, and a plastic undercarriage cover cracking and dragging on the highway. Some owners say the failure came close to losing a trailer or its load. The sample fields list no mileage for these reports, and the failures are often described on rough roads or while towing.

   What to check: Inspect the axle, leaf springs, tilt brackets, and any welded tank mounts for cracks, bends, or missing pins before buying a trailer or RV. Ask for the axle rating and mounting documents, since a complaint describes an axle not mounted to match its load rating.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2001 kieferbuilt eagle xla. I used the trailer twice. The second time my horse was loaded in the rear stall. I was driving 15 MPH through a subdivision when the rear door failed and my horse was ejected onto the road. He suffered severe burns on his knees, fetlocks and stifles. He was raw to the carpus, and the rear extensor tendons were damaged. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10149910, filed 2006-02

   “I purchased a roadmaster trailer in 2001. The axle was not mounted properly according to the 3500 lb. Rating and width of trailer. I have technical documentation of this fault. Causing axle to bend at hub face.”

   NHTSA complaint #10046966, filed 2003-11
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights too bright or blue for oncoming drivers

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 60,316 mi at 3.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2006

   Complaints describe high-intensity, halogen, HID, blue-tinted, or very white headlights on other vehicles that dazzle oncoming drivers, especially on rural roads and in mountains. They say the glare takes a long time for the eyes to recover from, and a complaint links it to near collisions. Some ask for these lights to be restricted or recalled, and the complaints concern lighting design on new vehicles rather than a repair at a dealer. Mileage is not listed for these reports, and the complaints concern headlights on other vehicles rather than a specific car.

   What to check: Check the headlight aim and bulb type on the vehicle, since complaints focus on brightness and color. Ask whether any aftermarket or replacement bulbs have been fitted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The blue headlights are very dangerous and should be illegal. They are especially dangerous oin mountain driving. Oncoming cars with these lights blind the driver in an already dangerous conditions. Please stop the manfactures from installing these on new cars and have all cars with them recalled.”

   NHTSA complaint #761615, filed 2002-05

   “My complaint is not related to a specifc automobile. It is a complaint related to the blue tinted headlights that are high intensity. These lamps pose a safety hazard for they cause the driver facing such an automobile to be distracted.”

   NHTSA complaint #753276, filed 2001-10
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Turn signals and light bulbs failing or flickering

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 60,316 mi at 3.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2007

   Owners describe turn signals and hazard lights that stop working, flicker, or work only intermittently, and bulbs that burn out repeatedly, including rear brake lights and headlamps. Complaints point to a multifunction switch that works only sometimes and to a trailer wiring cord that was too short for the turns. Some owners describe replacing the blinkers, lights and bulbs themselves. Where mileage is listed, failures are reported between about 52,000 and 69,000 miles, and the other reports give no mileage.

   What to check: Test every light and signal, including the hazard lights, and check whether the turn signal switch works consistently in each position. For a towed trailer, check the wiring cord length and connection, and ask whether bulbs or the switch have been replaced recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Numerous electrical problems and symptoms which includes various panel warning lights coming on my dash, radio system blackouts, car stalling on turns and shut down on the interstate 495 (washington dc area), rear brake lights bulb burnouts, and headlamp bulb replacements totaling 10 bulb replacements. The worst is now when they recommended a new transmission which I am assuming is not mechanical but some sort of electric problem with their computerized transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10102641, filed 2004-12, 68,632 miles

   “I have been told by my bmw certified mechanic , that my x5, 4.4 has many electrical issues , the air conditioner cuts on and off at high speeds at its own will, I am having issues with my electrical, hazard lights , they just quit working , I have problems, with my display , as well, as the other gentleman, I have problems with my inter-locking system working correctly ... I also have had to replace all of the blinkers, lights and turn signals. I have complained to bmw of north america , only to fall of def ears... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10164406, filed 2006-08, 52,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Loss of steering or brake control at speed

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 23,788 mi at 4.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2006

   Owners describe steering that becomes hard to control, handlebars that shake at highway speed, and brakes or the parking brake engaging or releasing unexpectedly while driving. Complaints describe near collisions, a skid after the parking brake engaged, a loss of steering after a power steering pump failed, and a collision with a deer after the brakes released when applied. According to the complaints, the dealer tried alignment, wheel balancing, and steering adjustments on a motorhome, with only some improvement. The only stated mileage in this group is about 23,800 miles, and the others list none.

   What to check: Ask for alignment, steering pump, and brake repair records, and test steering effort and brake response on a test drive, especially at highway speed. Check that the parking brake releases fully and does not engage while driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle: 2001 audi 1.8 liter tt quattro roadster: event: loss of control and failed power steering pump. During a slow speed exit from a public parking lot car became uncontrollable as I entered a public road. The vehicle proceeded straight as I was unable to turn the steering wheel . The car crossed the center line of a public street and almost hit an oncoming vehicle head on. The other driver was able to swerve and evade my uncontrollable vehicle or else there would have been a head-on collision. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10118190, filed 2005-04, 23,788 miles

   “While going down the road at 60mph the parking brake came on locking the rear wheels and bring the motorhome to skidding stop. The parking brake is electrically controled and the repair facility said there was a bad connector. When the parking brake comes on by its self while driving down the road at 60 MPH it creats a very hazardous situation. We were traveling on a rual road if we had been on an interstate it would probabely resulted in an accident. The motor home is on a 2001 workhorse chassie.”

   NHTSA complaint #742173, filed 2001-03

Buying note. This group mixes trailers, RVs, motorcycles, and passenger vehicles, so buyers should confirm the exact make, model, and equipment before applying these patterns to a specific vehicle. For trailers and towing equipment, check tire age and condition, axle and spring mounting, and the trailer wiring before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.