The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A SAF HOLLAND SIMPLEX FIFTH WHEEL, THE LEVER ARM PIVOT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN OVER TIGHTENED. AN OVER TIGHTENED PIVOT BOLT CAN DISTORT THE PIVOT BOLT SPACER SLEEVE, WHICH MAY PREVENT THE FIFTH WHEEL LATCH JAW FROM CLOSING AND LATCHING SECURELY AROUND THE TRAILER KING PIN.
The risk
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PIVOT BOLT CAN BECOME LOOSE WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER COULD DRIVE AWAY AND THE TRAILER COULD BECOME DISENGAGED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PIVOT BOLT AND SLEEVE WITH A HEX HEAD SHOULDER BOLT AND WASHER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volvo VHD | 2007, 2008 |
| Volvo VNL | 2007, 2008 |
| Volvo VNM | 2007, 2008 |
| Volvo VT | 2007, 2008 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo VHD | 2007 | 2 | 10 |
| Volvo VHD | 2008 | 2 | 10 |
| Volvo VNL | 2007 | 15 | 9 |
| Volvo VNL | 2008 | 3 | 12 |
| Volvo VNM | 2007 | 4 | 8 |
| Volvo VNM | 2008 | 1 | 10 |
| Volvo VT | 2007 | 1 | 9 |
| Volvo VT | 2008 | 0 | 11 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2007
15 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the trailer hitches; VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 20 campaigns in all.
| 07V530000 13 Nov 2007 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 07V497000 23 Oct 2007 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 07V444000 28 Sept 2007 | WILSON TRAILER COMPANY |
| 07V461000 28 Sept 2007 | GREAT DANE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP |
| 07V269000 26 Jun 2007 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 07V214000 15 May 2007 | PROHAULER TRAILERS, INC. |
| 07V187000 27 Apr 2007 | EZ LOADER CUSTOM BOAT TRAILERS, INC. |
| 07V170000 11 Apr 2007 | EXTREME ENGINEERING INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007