Trailer hitches
- Component
- Trailer hitches
- Manufacturer
- NATIONAL RV, INC.
- Vehicles affected
- 890
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2004-03-03
- Owners notified
- 2004-09-13
Defect description
ON CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS, THE SAFETY CHAINS ARE RATED TO 11,700 POUNDS DESPITE A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING IN EXCESS OF THIS RATING.
Safety risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN THE SAFETY CHAINS FAILING IN THE EVENT OF A SEPARATION OF THE TRAILER FROM THE TOW VEHICLE HITCH WHICH IN TURN WOULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE TRAVEL TRAILER.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SAFETY CHAINS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 13, 2004. 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 NATIONAL RV AT 1-800-999-7260. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA), AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT NATIONAL RV, INC. AND ITS HOLDING COMPANY, NATIONAL RV HOLDINGS, INC., HAVE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. NHTSA HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT OWNERS WHO WISH TO PURSUE CLAIMS RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THEIR NATIONAL RV VEHICLES MAY FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM WITH THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE DIVISION. THE CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS MATTER IS 07-17941. THE PROOF OF CLAIM FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE COURT'S WEBSITE <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.CACB.USCOURTS.GOV>HTTP://WWW.CACB.USCOURTS.GOV</A> . ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BANKRUPTCY AND ITS PROCEEDINGS MAY ALSO BE FOUND AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.OMNIMGT.COM/NATIONALRV>HTTP://WWW.OMNIMGT.COM/NATIONALRV</A> . NATIONAL RV'S PHONE NUMBER IS (951) 943-6007. INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY RECALLS ON NATIONAL RV'S PRODUCTS MAY BE FOUND AT WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV. THE NHTSA WISHES TO ADVISE OWNERS OF RECALLED PRODUCTS THAT, IN THE INTERESTS OF THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC, ALL SAFETY RECALL WORK SHOULD BE PERFORMED ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT.