The defect
ON CERTAIN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH BEDROOM SLIDE OUT ROOMS, THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE HITCH PIN BOX MAY NOT BE OF ADEQUATE STRENGTH.
The risk
IF OVERLOADED, EXTENSIVE USE, ADDED HITCH WEIGHT, AND/OR ROAD UNEVENNESS, STRESS ON THE C-CHANNEL COULD CAUSE THE HITCH PIN BOX TO HAVE CROWNING OR STRESS FRACTURES CAUSING THE UPPER FRAME TO DROP DOWN MORE THAN ONE INCH WHEN CONNECTED TO THE TOW VEHICLE. THIS COULD AFFECT THE STEERING CAPABILITY OF THE TOWING VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL ADD A 2" X 3" X 86" 11 GAUGE STEEL TUBE TO THE EXISTING FRONT CROSS-MEMBER AND INSPECT/REPAIR ALL WELDS, JOINTS AND STRUCTURE OF THE UPPER FRAME DECKING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 15, 2004. 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 SUNNYBROOK AT 574-825-5250.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mobile Scout 33RKFS | 1997 |
| Sunnybrook 33RKFS | 1997 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Scout 33RKFS | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| Sunnybrook 33RKFS | 1997 | 1 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2004
10 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the trailer hitches; SUNNYBROOK RV INC. filed 8 campaigns in all.
| 04V581000 15 Dec 2004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V352000 20 Jul 2004 | FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. |
| 04V351000 16 Jul 2004 | THE LITTLE TRAILER COMPANY |
| 04V315000 2 Jul 2004 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V265000 17 Jun 2004 | STRICK CORPORATION |
| 04V197000 26 Apr 2004 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V157000 31 Mar 2004 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 04V115000 3 Mar 2004 | NATIONAL RV, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004