Recall 10V596 affects 215 2011 Coachmen Freedom Express and Catalina coaches for steel wheel weld defects. Repair is free at any franchised Coachmen dealer.
Coachmen is recalling 215 2011 Freedom Express and Catalina coaches because certain 15-inch steel wheels have inadequate weld penetration between the outer ring and center plate. A wheel failure can lead to wheel loss and increase the risk of a crash or injury; the Coachmen dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The affected 2011 Coachmen Freedom Express and Catalina coaches use steel wheels with an outer rim, called the outer ring, welded to a center plate. The center plate is the flat section with the six-hole bolt pattern that fastens the wheel to the hub. That weld has to keep the rim and center plate working as one wheel while the coach is loaded and moving.
On the recalled wheels, the center plate was not aligned properly before welding. Because of that alignment problem, the weld between the outer ring and center plate did not penetrate deeply enough in some wheels. A shallow weld leaves less bonded metal holding those wheel sections together, so the wheel is not built to carry stress the way it was designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. Do not count on noise, vibration, or a visible change at the wheel to tell you the weld has started to separate.
Who's affected?
Covers the Freedom Express and Catalina trailer lines from the 2011 model year, with wheel hardware listed for each model.
| 2011 Coachmen Freedom Express | wheel hardware |
|---|---|
| 2011 Coachmen Catalina | wheel hardware |
| Units affected | 215 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific trailer.
What's the safety risk?
A wheel failure or wheel loss increases the risk of a crash or personal injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the recall repair soon and ask the dealer whether the trailer is safe to move before towing it. Repair will be free at any franchised Coachmen dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011 Coachmen Freedom Express or Catalina is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Coachmen dealer to ask about the free wheel replacement.
- Schedule the wheel replacement that fixes the inadequate wheel weld linked to wheel failure and wheel loss.
- Bring the recall notice if Coachmen mailed one. If not, reference recall number 10V596 when you call.
- Avoid highway travel and heavy loads until the replacement wheels are installed.
What happens at the repair
The recall repair is a wheel replacement for the affected 2011 Coachmen Freedom Express and Catalina coaches. At the dealer, a Coachmen technician replaces the steel wheels covered by the recall, rather than repairing the wheel weld area. The available remedy language says the replacement is free of charge, but the remedy status is not marked available here. Confirm parts and appointment handling with Coachmen or the servicing dealer before bringing the coach in.
Timeline
| November 24, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 14, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V596?
Recall 10V596 covers 215 2011 Coachmen Freedom Express and Catalina coaches with steel wheels that have inadequate weld penetration between the outer ring and center plate. A wheel failure or wheel loss increases crash or injury risk. Coachmen will replace the wheels free of charge.
What should I do if my 2011 Coachmen Freedom Express or Catalina is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific coach is included in recall 10V596. If it is, contact a franchised Coachmen dealer or Coachmen RV customer service at 1-800-453-6064 to arrange the free wheel replacement. Reference recall 10V596 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Coachmen's remedy is wheel replacement free of charge. Contact a franchised Coachmen dealer or Coachmen RV customer service at 1-800-453-6064 to arrange the repair.
What is the safety risk for recall 10V596?
The safety risk is wheel failure or wheel loss, which increases crash or injury risk. This recall involves inadequate weld penetration between the outer ring and center plate on certain steel wheels. If your VIN is included, arrange the free wheel replacement before towing the coach again.
What if I bought my Coachmen Freedom Express or Catalina used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific coach is included, then reference recall 10V596 when you contact a franchised Coachmen dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V596000 |
|---|---|
| Coachmen customer service | 1-800-453-6064 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V596 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V596000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →