The defect
KAFFENBARGER TRUCK EQUIPMENT (K-TEC) IS RECALLING 129 MY 2006-2008 INTERNATIONAL CLASS 8 TRUCK TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH SAF-HOLLAND SIMPLEX 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 THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER COULD DRIVE AWAY AND THE TRAILER COULD BECOME DISENGAGED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
K-TEC IS WORKING WITH SAF-HOLLAND. SAF-HOLLAND WILL SEND A REPAIR KIT TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAF-HOLLAND AT 1-888-396-6501 EXT. 4343 OR K-TEC AT 937-845-3804.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| K-TEC International | 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.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-TEC International | 2006 | 0 | 2 |
| K-TEC International | 2007 | 0 | 2 |
| K-TEC International | 2008 | 0 | 2 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2008
17 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the trailer hitches; KAFFENBARGER TRUCK EQUIPMENT COMPANY filed 2 campaigns in all.
| 08V678000 18 Dec 2008 | GREAT DANE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP |
| 08V596000 17 Nov 2008 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
| 08V567000 28 Oct 2008 | SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC. |
| 08V506000 2 Oct 2008 | XL SPECIALIZED TRAILERS, INC |
| 08V344000 28 Jul 2008 | KNAPHEIDE MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
| 08V242000 2 Jun 2008 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 08V215000 12 May 2008 | VERMEER MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
| 08V190000 25 Apr 2008 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008