The defect
Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers (McElrath Trailers) is recalling certain 2015-2017 VX30-800 and VX50-800 trailers. The frame on the trailers may deform at the transition of straight and angled lateral portions, possibly resulting in the trailer neck separating from the rear portion of the trailer.
The risk
If the trailer neck separates from the rear of the trailer there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy
McElrath has notified owners, and dealers will add bracing to the trailer to reduce deflection in the side rails and tongue area, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2017. Owners may contact McElrath Trailers customer service at 1-864-814-2220. McElrath's number for this recall is VSB 154.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Components: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | 2015 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | 2016 | 0 | 2 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | 2015 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | 2016 | 0 | 2 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
Other structure recalls in 2017
38 of the 810 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2017 concerned the structure; Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers filed 4 campaigns in all.
| 17V832000 20 Dec 2017 | Wabash National Corporation |
| 17V798000 12 Dec 2017 | Corp. Micro Bird Inc. |
| 17V763000 29 Nov 2017 | Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC |
| 17V697000 3 Nov 2017 | Highland Ridge RV |
| 17V684000 27 Oct 2017 | East Manufacturing Corp. |
| 17V680000 26 Oct 2017 | Tremcar |
| 17V675000 25 Oct 2017 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 17V656000 16 Oct 2017 | Smeal Holding LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2017