The defect
ON CERTAIN CARGO/TRAVEL TRAILERS, OVERLOADING AND INCORRECTLY POSITIONING CARGO IN THE REAR CARGO AREA CAN RESULT IN ALIGHT HITCH WEIGHT AND AFFECT STABILITY.
The risk
DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC TOW VEHICLE AND ITS HITCH EQUIPMENT, A SUFFICIENTLY LIGHT HITCH WEIGHT CAN RESULT IN SWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOO MUCH WEIGHT INCORRECTLY POSITIONED CAN ALSO RESULT IN SEVERE BENDING OF THE A-FRAME ASSEMBLY, FAILURE OF THE COUPLER ASSEMBLY, AND/OR FAILURE OF THE SAFETY CHAINS. THIS CAN CAUSE A CRASH INVOLVING THE TRAILER AND TOW VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRAILER, TOW VEHICLE AND HITCH EQUIPMENT; INSTALL NEW CARGO LOAD LIMIT LABELS AND PLACARDS IN THE CARGO AREA; FURNISH LOADING LIMIT INFORMATION; REPLACE THE COUPLER AND SAFETY CHAINS; AND REINFORCE THE A-FRAME. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THOR AT 1-888-697-8467. NOTE: THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERSEDES A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 04V243).
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thor California Frenzy | 2004, 2005 |
| Thor California Fury | 2005 |
| Thor California Jazz | 2004, 2005 |
| Thor California Tahoe | 2004, 2005 |
| Thor California Tahoe Fury | 2004 |
| Thor California Vortex | 2004, 2005 |
| Thor California Wanderer | 2004, 2005 |
Components: STRUCTURE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thor California Frenzy | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Thor California Frenzy | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| Thor California Fury | 2005 | 0 | 2 |
| Thor California Jazz | 2004 | 2 | 2 |
| Thor California Jazz | 2005 | 3 | 3 |
| Thor California Tahoe | 2004 | 1 | 2 |
| Thor California Tahoe | 2005 | 3 | 4 |
| Thor California Tahoe Fury | 2004 | 8 | 4 |
| Thor California Vortex | 2004 | 0 | 2 |
| Thor California Vortex | 2005 | 1 | 4 |
| Thor California Wanderer | 2004 | 1 | 2 |
| Thor California Wanderer | 2005 | 2 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 2006
25 of the 490 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2006 concerned the structure; THOR CALIFORNIA INC. filed 11 campaigns in all.
| 06V489000 21 Dec 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 06V483000 15 Dec 2006 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 06V466000 4 Dec 2006 | THOR CALIFORNIA INC. |
| 06V433000 15 Nov 2006 | EARTHROAMER, LLC |
| 06V431000 15 Nov 2006 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 06V415000 27 Oct 2006 | ELGIN SWEEPER COMPANY |
| 06V406000 25 Oct 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 06V389000 12 Oct 2006 | BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2006