The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCK-TRACTOR MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONMET SIMPLEX STATIONARY OR SLIDING FIFTH-WHEEL, THE CLINCH PINS THAT RETAIN THE FIFTH-WHEEL PIVOT PINS MAY NOT BE FULLY INSTALLED.
The risk
THE FIFTH WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FIFTH WHEEL TO VERIFY THE CORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE CLINCH PIN AND PIVOT PIN. MISSING PINS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 15, 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 FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Business Class | 2002 |
| Freightliner Conventional | 2002 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2002 |
| Sterling L-Line | 2002 |
| Western Star | 2002 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner Business Class | 2002 | 0 | 5 |
| Freightliner Conventional | 2002 | 2 | 1 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Sterling L-Line | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Western Star | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the trailer hitches; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 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 |
| 02V133000 9 May 2002 | PEERLESS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002