The defect
CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS MAY HAVE AN INSUFFICIENT FRAME STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE PIN BOX.
The risk
OVER TIME STRESS CRACKS COULD BEGIN TO OCCUR AT THE FRAME INSERTION POINTS AND FRONT CROSS STRUCTURE SURROUNDING THE PIN BOX (HITCH). THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRAILER BECOMING PARTIALLY OR FULLY DETACHED FROM THE TOW VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT KIT TO THE FRAME STRUCTURE SURROUNDING THE PIN BOX. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CARRIAGE AT 1-800-895-0108.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Carriage Carri-Lite | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Carriage Lite Series | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carriage Carri-Lite | 1996 | 3 | 1 |
| Carriage Carri-Lite | 1997 | 4 | 1 |
| Carriage Carri-Lite | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Carriage Carri-Lite | 1999 | 6 | 3 |
| Carriage Lite Series | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| Carriage Lite Series | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Carriage Lite Series | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Carriage Lite Series | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Carriage Lite Series | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the trailer hitches.
| 02V337000 17 Dec 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V333000 3 Dec 2002 | UTILITY TRAILER MFG. CO. |
| 02V334000 3 Dec 2002 | JAYCO, 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 |
| 02V133000 9 May 2002 | PEERLESS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002