The defect
DTNA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 BUSINESS CLASS M2, AND CORONADO, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CASCADIA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FONTAINE ULTRA LT FIFTH WHEELS AND MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 7, 2010, THROUGH MARCH 7, 2011. DURING THE COUPLING PROCESS ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PRE-MODIFICATION FONTAINE ULTRA LT FIFTH WHEELS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO PARTIALLY CLOSE THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK, AND IF RELYING ON A TUG TEST (PULL TEST), AND NOT PERFORMING THE REQUIRED VISUAL INSPECTION, THINK THAT THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK IS PROPERLY COUPLED TO THE TRAILER KING PIN, WHEN IN FACT, IT IS NOT.
The risk
IF THE TRACTOR IS NOT FULLY CONNECTED TO THE TRAILER, THE TRAILER MAY DISENGAGE WHILE IN USE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
FONTAINE NOTIFIED OWNERS IN FEBRUARY 2011, AND IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. FONTAINE IS IN THE PROCESS OF RETROFITTING ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FONTAINE AT 1-800-874-9780 OR DTNA AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Business Class M2 106V | 2011 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2011, 2012 |
| Freightliner Coronado | 2011 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner Business Class M2 106V | 2011 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2011 | 12 | 23 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2012 | 17 | 19 |
| Freightliner Coronado | 2011 | 0 | 18 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2011
8 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the trailer hitches; DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 134 campaigns in all.
| 11V482000 23 Sept 2011 | ALUMINUM TRAILER COMPANY |
| 11V460000 1 Sept 2011 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 11V461000 1 Sept 2011 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 11V437000 23 Aug 2011 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 11V388000 1 Aug 2011 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 11V209000 31 Mar 2011 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 11V002000 4 Jan 2011 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011