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NHTSA Campaign 00V408000

TRAILER HITCHES

Issued by FEATHERLITE, INC. · Reported Dec 5, 2000 · 90 vehicles affected

What's wrong

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DOTSCO COUPLERS AND SAFETY CHAIN/FASTENER ASSEMBLIES. THE COUPLER LOCKING PIN THAT ENSURES THAT THE COUPLER REMAINS LOCKED CAN BE MISPLACED AND NOT INSTALLED BY THE OPERATOR. THE COUPLER LOCKING PIN ALSO HAD A SAFETY PIN, WHICH COULD BE MISPLACED OR COME LOOSE AND FALL OUT.

Consequence

SHOULD EITHER SITUATION HAPPEN, THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE COUPLER CAN MOVE UPWARD THUS ALLOWING THE LOCKING JAWS OF THE COUPLER TO OPEN ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE COUPLER TO RELEASE FROM THE BALL ON THE TOW VEHICLE. THE SAFETY CHAIN ASSEMBLIES MAY ALSO HAVE AN INADEQUATE FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE SAFETY CHAIN TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER IN THE EVENT THE TRAILER BECOMES UNCOUPLED, ALLOWING THE SAFETY CHAIN TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COUPLER AND SAFETY CHAIN/FASTENER KIT TO THESE TRAILERS.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
FEATHERLITE 4950 1997 90
FEATHERLITE 4950 1998 90
FEATHERLITE 4950 1999 90
FEATHERLITE 4950 2000 90
FEATHERLITE 4951 1997 90
FEATHERLITE 4951 1998 90
FEATHERLITE 4951 1999 90
FEATHERLITE 4951 2000 90

Source: NHTSA Campaign 00V408000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.