The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL TRAILER HITCH. THE TRAILER HITCH SIDE BRACKETS WERE MANUFACTURED USING MATERIAL WITH INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH.
The risk
BRACKETS BUILT WITHOUT PROPER MATERIAL COULD FATIGUE AND FRACTURE IN THE AREA WHERE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTS TO THE FRAME.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILER HITCHES AND REPLACE ANY TRAILER HITCH SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE CRACKING. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CRACKING EXISTS, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL TWO REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Dodge Ram | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Components: TRAILER HITCHES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Ram | 1998 | 483 | 13 |
| Dodge Ram | 1999 | 366 | 9 |
| Dodge Ram | 2000 | 147 | 6 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2000
18 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the trailer hitches; DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 203 campaigns in all.
| 00V408000 5 Dec 2000 | FEATHERLITE, INC. |
| 00V398000 27 Nov 2000 | COACHMEN RV COMPANY |
| 00V265006 2 Oct 2000 | WESTERN RV, INC. |
| 00V265004 29 Sept 2000 | FEATHERLITE, INC. |
| 00V265002 20 Sept 2000 | SPECTRE MANUFACTURING INC. |
| 00V265001 12 Sept 2000 | COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V241000 24 Aug 2000 | GLENDALE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES |
| 00V213000 4 Aug 2000 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000