The defect
Navistar, Inc. (Navistar) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 International ProStar trucks manufactured May 18, 2010, to April 5, 2013, 2012-2014 International LoneStar trucks manufactured September 7, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2011-2013 International TranStar trucks manufactured October 18, 2010, to February 20, 2013. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage.
The risk
If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Navistar will notify owners, and Fontaine dealers will replace the fifth wheel with an Ultra NT model fifth wheel, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2015. Owners may contact Navistar customer service at 1-800-448-7825, or Fontaine customer service at 1-844-597-7393.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| International Lonestar | 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| International ProStar | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| International Transtar | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Lonestar | 2012 | 0 | 9 |
| International Lonestar | 2013 | 0 | 10 |
| International Lonestar | 2014 | 0 | 4 |
| International ProStar | 2011 | 4 | 15 |
| International ProStar | 2012 | 6 | 18 |
| International ProStar | 2013 | 8 | 18 |
| International ProStar | 2014 | 3 | 10 |
| International Transtar | 2011 | 0 | 9 |
| International Transtar | 2012 | 0 | 11 |
| International Transtar | 2013 | 0 | 11 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2015
10 of the 863 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2015 concerned the trailer hitches; Navistar, Inc. filed 183 campaigns in all.
| 15V643000 13 Oct 2015 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 15V644000 13 Oct 2015 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
| 15V616000 1 Oct 2015 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 15V576000 16 Sept 2015 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 15V355000 9 Jun 2015 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company |
| 15V253000 28 Apr 2015 | Mastercraft Boat Company Inc |
| 15V151000 16 Mar 2015 | Spartan Tool, LLC |
| 15V139000 11 Mar 2015 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2015