The defect
CERTAIN TRAILERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE TRAILERS WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT ANTI-LOCKING BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ON THE FRONT AXLES.
The risk
THE USE OF CONVENTIONAL (NON-ABS) BRAKES ON THE FRONT AXLE COULD ALLOW A WHEEL LOCKUP THAT COULD IN TURN LEAD TO JACKKNIFING THE TRAILER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL ABS ON THE FRONT AXLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 25, 2003. 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 DOEPKER AT 1-306-598-2171.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Doepker Aluminum Bulker A-Train | 2003 |
| Doepker Steel Grain Bulker PUP | 2001, 2003 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doepker Aluminum Bulker A-Train | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Doepker Steel Grain Bulker PUP | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Doepker Steel Grain Bulker PUP | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 2003
42 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic.
| 03V521000 11 Dec 2003 | AMERICAN IRONHORSE MOTORCYCLE COMPANY |
| 03V525000 11 Dec 2003 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES (AMERICA) LTD |
| 03V496000 3 Dec 2003 | HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO |
| 03V474000 17 Nov 2003 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 03V476000 14 Nov 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V409000 21 Oct 2003 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES (AMERICA) LTD |
| 03V390000 10 Oct 2003 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 03V347000 17 Sept 2003 | FOREST RIVER, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003