The defect
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 52,740 MY 2006-2008 GL AND ML CLASS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FLEX-N-GATE TRAILER HITCH. SOME OF THE WELD SEAMS CONNECTING THE TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER TO THE ATTACHMENT BAR USED TO SECURE THE TRAILER HITCH TO THE BODY FRAME DO NOT MEET PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS.
The risk
THIS MAY RESULT IN THE TRAILE RHITCH RECEIVER SEPARATING FROM THE ATTACHMENT BAR, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD WHICH MAY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE TRAILER HITCH MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRAILER HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2008. OWENRS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GL | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: TRAILER HITCHES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GL | 2006 | 0 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL | 2007 | 3 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL | 2008 | 1 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML | 2006 | 3 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML | 2007 | 1 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML | 2008 | 2 | 2 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2008
17 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the trailer hitches; MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. filed 55 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 |
| 08V215000 12 May 2008 | VERMEER MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
| 08V190000 25 Apr 2008 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 08V188000 25 Apr 2008 | SILVER EAGLE MANUFACTURING |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008