The defect
Silver Eagle Manufacturing Company (Silver Eagle) is recalling certain model year 1999-2001 VAST20W and 2001 CSL20W trailer converter dollies. The affected dollies were incorrectly built to have a hole in the center of the axle beam pointing downward. The hole at the bottom causes a stress crack in the tension side of the beam resulting in axle failure.
The risk
If the axle fails, the dolly could steer erratically, causing swerving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Silver Eagle will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their dollies for the position of the axle beam center hole. Anyone that has an affected dolly can get get a free replacement axle beam (installation is the owners responsibility) or $500 towards a replacement dolly for scrapping their old dolly. The recall began on September 20, 2013. Owners may contact Silver Eagle at 1-800-547-6792.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Silver Eagle CSL-20W | 2001 |
| Silver Eagle VAST-20W | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Eagle CSL-20W | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Silver Eagle VAST-20W | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Silver Eagle VAST-20W | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Silver Eagle VAST-20W | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
Other suspension recalls in 2013
24 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the suspension; Silver Eagle Manufacturing Company filed 4 campaigns in all.
| 13V628000 18 Dec 2013 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 13V622000 16 Dec 2013 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 13V560000 7 Nov 2013 | Terex Advance |
| 13V556000 6 Nov 2013 | Hyundai Motor Company |
| 13V550000 5 Nov 2013 | Kia Motors Corporation |
| 13V547000 31 Oct 2013 | Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America |
| 13V543000 31 Oct 2013 | Blue Bird Body Company |
| 13V545000 31 Oct 2013 | Blue Bird Body Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013