Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly
- Component
- Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly
- Manufacturer
- PACCAR INCORPORATED
- Vehicles affected
- 3,573
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2008-04-25
- Owners notified
- 2008-05-30
Defect description
PACCAR IS RECALLING 3,573 MY 2007 KENWORTH C500, T800, T600, T2000, AND W900 CHASSIS BUILT WITH PHILLIPS QCS II TRAILER CABLE CONNECTION AND TRAILER CABLE MOUNTING BRACKET WITH 'U-SHAPED' CUT OUT. CERTAIN TRAILER CABLE MOUNTING BRACKETS HAVE A 'U-SHAPED' CUT OUT THAT ONLY PARTIALLY SUPPORTS THE TRAILER CABLE CONNECTION. PARTIAL SUPPORT OF THE CABLE CONNECTION MAY ALLOW THE MOLDED BOOT AND ELECTRICAL GROUND PIN TO PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY PULL AWAY FROM THE 7-WAY SOCKET. PARTIAL OR COMPLETE DETACHMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTION CAN CAUSE REDUCED WATER RESISTANCE AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL GROUND. THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT THE OPERATOR'S KNOWLEDGE.
Safety risk
IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, OTHER MOTORISTS MAY NOT BE WARNED OF THE TRACTOR/TRAILER MOVEMENTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET BETWEEN THE FLEXIBLE BACK OF THE QCS II MOLDED BOOT AND THE FRAME BRACKET, AND REATTACH THE SUPPORTING BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY MAY 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.