The defect
Nu Wa Industries Inc. (Nu Wa) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Hitchhiker LS, Discover America and Champagne Edition fifth wheel recreational trailers manufactured August 2010 through February 2013, and equipped with Fastec-brand door locks. It may be possible to remove the key from the lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt.
The risk
If the deadbolt jams, the interior side of the door lock may also jam. A person inside the trailer at the time will then be locked in and be unable to exit the vehicle without using the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Nu Wa will notify owners, and Fastec will coordinate the inspection and replacement of the cylinders, as needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by the end of March 2014. Owners may contact Nu Wa Industries at 1-620-431-2088 or Fastec at 1-800-837-2505.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Hitchhiker Champagne Edition | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Hitchhiker Discover America | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Hitchhiker LS | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchhiker Champagne Edition | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Hitchhiker Champagne Edition | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| Hitchhiker Champagne Edition | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Hitchhiker Discover America | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Hitchhiker Discover America | 2012 | 0 | 2 |
| Hitchhiker Discover America | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Hitchhiker LS | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Hitchhiker LS | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| Hitchhiker LS | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
Other latches/locks/linkages recalls in 2014
18 of the 770 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2014 concerned the latches/locks/linkages; Nu Wa Industries, Inc. filed 2 campaigns in all.
| 14V776000 5 Dec 2014 | Doubletree RV |
| 14V698000 4 Nov 2014 | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. |
| 14V593000 24 Sept 2014 | General Motors LLC |
| 14V565000 15 Sept 2014 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 14V487000 7 Aug 2014 | Ferrari North America, Inc. |
| 14V467000 31 Jul 2014 | Jayco, Inc. |
| 14V202000 17 Apr 2014 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 14V093000 27 Feb 2014 | Northwest Custom Campers |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2014