The defect
ON CERTAIN BUMPER-PULL HORSE TRAILERS, THE SAFETY CABLES, USED TO MAINTAIN A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TRAILER AND TOW VEHICLE, ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH THIMBLES AND THUS DO NOT CONFORM TO SAE J684.
The risk
THE CABLE COULD FAIL ALLOWING THE TRAILER/TOW VEHICLE TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SAFETY CABLES WITH THIMBLES, WHICH CONFORM TO SAE J684. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 1, 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 HART AT 1-888-810-4278.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Hart Trailer | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hart Trailer | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Hart Trailer | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| Hart Trailer | 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| Hart Trailer | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| Hart Trailer | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Hart Trailer | 1999 | 3 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the trailer hitches; HART TRAILERS filed 2 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