Known Recalls

Recall campaign · NHTSA 00V408000

Trailer hitches

FEATHERLITE, INC. filed this campaign with NHTSA on 2000-12-05.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V408000

Trailer hitches

Component
Trailer hitches
Manufacturer
FEATHERLITE, INC.
Vehicles affected
90
Reported to NHTSA
2000-12-05
Owners notified
2000-12-20

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2000.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FEATHERLITE AT 1-877-903-1444. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Scope of coverage

8 model years across 2 models.

ModelYears on record
FEATHERLITE 49502000 1999 1998 1997
FEATHERLITE 49512000 1999 1998 1997

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.