The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCK-TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH HOLLAND SIMPLEX SE OR SE II FIFTH WHEELS, THE LATCH LEVER PIVOT BOLT ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TIGHTENED WHICH COULD DISTORT THE PIVOT BOLT SPACER SLEEVE. CORROSION OR CONTAMINATES IN THE PIVOT MAY CAUSE IT TO BIND AND PREVENT THE FIFTH WHEEL JAW FROM LATCHING SECURELY AROUND THE TRAILER KING PIN.
The risk
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FIFTH WHEEL MAY FAIL TO LATCH WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE. WHEN THE 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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 3, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Argosy | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Century ST | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Classic | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Classic XL | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Coronado | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner FLD | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner FLD120 | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Sterling L-Line | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2006, 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.
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2007
15 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the trailer hitches; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 07V497000 23 Oct 2007 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 07V496000 23 Oct 2007 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 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