The defect
ON CERTAIN STEEL DUMP TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH TWO-WAY TAILGATES WHICH CAN OPEN AS BOTH A CONVENTIONAL TOP SWING AND A SIDE DOOR "BARN DOOR" TAILGATE, WHEN OPERATED AS CONVENTIONAL OR TOP SWING MODE, THE HINGE/LATCH MECHANISM ON THE ROADSIDE REAR POST MAY FAIL TO CONTAIN THE TAILGATE LATCHING/PIVOT PIN. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TAILGATE TO SWING OPEN.
The risk
THE UNEXPECTED OPERATION OF THE TAILGATE MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER BODY AND IN PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
BENSON WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED TAILGATE LOCKING MECHANISM. 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 BENSON AT 1-877-489-9020.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Benson Bullet | 2003, 2004 |
| Benson Cannon | 2003, 2004 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benson Bullet | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Benson Bullet | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Benson Cannon | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Benson Cannon | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
Other structure recalls in 2003
21 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the structure; BENSON INTERNATIONAL, INC. filed 4 campaigns in all.
| 03V535000 18 Dec 2003 | BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC |
| 03V533000 12 Dec 2003 | TRAIL KING INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 03V439000 4 Nov 2003 | GLAVAL BUS DIVISION |
| 03V458000 24 Oct 2003 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 03V403000 16 Oct 2003 | MID BUS CORPORATION |
| 03V363000 8 Oct 2003 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 03V350000 26 Sept 2003 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 03V354000 23 Sept 2003 | IC CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003