Service brakes, air: slack adjusters: automatic
- Component
- Service brakes, air: slack adjusters: automatic
- Manufacturer
- KENTUCKY TRAILER MANUFACTURING
- Vehicles affected
- 313
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2011-04-18
- Owners notified
- 2011-05-16
Defect description
KENTUCKY TRAILER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 KY TRAILERS THAT WERE BUILT FROM OCTOBER 26, 2010, THROUGH MARCH 17, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH GUNITE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2011. DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE "KNITTING" OF THE IRON AT THE TIME OF CASTING, INADEQUATE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING CAN OCCUR, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HOUSING TO BREAK AT THE HANDLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING LOADS.
Safety risk
IF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING WERE TO BREAK, THE WHEEL BRAKE TO WHICH THE SLACK ADJUSTER IS ATTACHED WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY AND, IF MOUNTED ON THE STEER AXLE, THE VEHICLE COULD PULL TO ONE SIDE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
KENTUCKY TRAILERS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENTUCKY TRAILER AT 1-888-598-7245.