The defect
ON CERTAIN LIVESTOCK AND HORSE STEEL GOOSENECK TRAILERS, INADEQUATE REINFORCEMENT AND MATERIAL ON CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE TRAILER'S GOOSENECK ASSEMBLY CAN, OVER TIME, LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY.
The risk
FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR BOTH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILER FOR ANY INDICATIONS OF CRACKED WELDS ANYWHERE IN THE GOOSENECK AREA, LOOSE SIDE SHEET SKIN ANYWHERE ON THE GOOSENECK, OR ANY INDICATIONS THAT THE FLOOR ABOVE THE COUPLER STEM IS RAISED OR ELEVATED. A REINFORCEMENT PLATE WILL BE WELDED TO THE SIDE OF THE FRAME TUBE AND CORNER BRACE PLATES. ALSO, IF NEEDED, AN ADDITIONAL CROSS TUBE WILL BE ADDED ABOVE THE COUPLER ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 28, 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 FEATHERLITE AT 1-877-903-1444.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Featherlite Diamond D | 2001 |
| Featherlite STL | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Featherlite Diamond D | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Featherlite STL | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Featherlite STL | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the trailer hitches; FEATHERLITE, INC. filed 17 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. |
| 02V153000 12 Jun 2002 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 02V158000 12 Jun 2002 | SKYLINE CORPORATION |
| 02V133000 9 May 2002 | PEERLESS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002