The defect
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A TEKONSHA TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS AND CONVERTER AND DISTRIBUTED BY GULF STATES TOYOTA (TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, AND MISSISSIPPI). THE CIRCUITRY USED IN THE CONVERTER, WHICH IS INADEQUATE TO MANAGE PROPERLY VEHICLE AND/OR TRAILER-SIDE VOLTAGE SPIKES. IF THE CONVERTER IS EXPOSED TO A VOLTAGE SPIKE, IT COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR OPEN CIRCUIT WITHIN THE CONVERTER.
The risk
THIS SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE CONVERTER, AND IF A TRAILER IS BEING TOWED AT THE TIME, CAN ALSO CAUSE INOPERATIVE TRAILER LIGHTS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AND CONVERTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 22, 2002. 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 GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 1-800-444-1074.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Gulf Toyota Tundra | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Toyota Tundra | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Gulf Toyota Tundra | 2000 | 5 | 2 |
| Gulf Toyota Tundra | 2001 | 1 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the trailer hitches; GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC. filed 11 campaigns in all.
| 02V337000 17 Dec 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V333000 3 Dec 2002 | UTILITY TRAILER MFG. CO. |
| 02V334000 3 Dec 2002 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 02V312000 19 Nov 2002 | CARRIAGE, INC. |
| 02V304000 12 Nov 2002 | GREAT DANE TRAILERS, INC. |
| 02V166000 17 Jun 2002 | FEATHERLITE, INC. |
| 02V153000 12 Jun 2002 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 02V158000 12 Jun 2002 | SKYLINE CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002