ZIEMAN MFG. CO. filed this campaign with NHTSA on 1980-01-22.
Recall campaignNHTSA 80V005000
Trailer hitches
Component
Trailer hitches
Manufacturer
ZIEMAN MFG. CO.
Vehicles affected
30
Reported to NHTSA
1980-01-22
Owners notified
1980-09-03
Defect description
THE DEFECT IS DUE TO A DESIGN ERROR IN THE COUPLING SYSTEM OF THE TRAILER AND TOWING VEHICLE. IN NORMAL OPERATION, THE SURGE BRAKE HITCH COUPLER ACTIVATES THE TRAILER BRAKES AS THE TOWING VEHICLE DECELERATES. A TRANSVERSE PIN, LOCATED IN THE REAR PART OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR, MAY PULL OUT OF THE FIXED EARS AT ITS EXTREME ENDS. THIS WOULD ALLOW TRAILER SEPARATION, EXCEPT FOR THE SAFETY CHAINS.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.
Notes
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRAILERS.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; SURGE BRAKE HITCH COUPLER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE SAFETY CHAINS BREAK, THE TRAILER WOULD ROLL FREEAND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PARTIAL SEPARATION COULD ALSO CAUSE LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
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.