NHTSA Campaign 81V099000

TRAILER HITCHES

Issued by FREIGHTLINER CORP. · Reported Aug 25, 1981 · 70 vehicles affected

What's wrong

THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE PORTION OF THE TOWING ATTACHMENT MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE WELD IN A CRITICAL AREA. IF THE TRAILER HITCH SHOULD BECOME UNLATCHED OR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER TO BECOME SEPARATED, THE RESULTING FORCES COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE. A FAILURE OF THIS PART WOULD ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE TRUCK AND TRAILER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

UPON SEPARATION, THE TRAILER WOULD TRAVEL OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM COULD BRING IT TO A STOP. A VEHICLE ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 1979 70
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 1980 70
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 1981 70

Source: NHTSA Campaign 81V099000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.