The defect
PACCAR IS RECALLING 318 MY 2007-2009 KENWORTH T800, W900, AND PETERBILT 357, 365, 367, 378, 379, 384, 385, 386,388, AND 389 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH PREMIER TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLIES. THE PINTLE HITCH ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IN A MANNER RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF FATIGUE STRENGTH OF THE PIVOT PINS.
The risk
THIS REDUCTION OF FATIGUE STRENGTH COULD CAUSE THE PIVOT PIN TO CRACK AND EVENTUALLY BREAK, CAUSING THE TRAILER TO DETACH FROM THE TRUCK WHILE IN MOTION, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH THAT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE PIVOT PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: TRAILER HITCHES
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 2008
17 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the trailer hitches; PACCAR INCORPORATED filed 113 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