The defect
Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers (McElrath Trailers) is recalling certain 2013-2018 818I, 2017-2018 VX50-800, VX30-800, VX50-800LT, and VX30-800LT trailers. A weld on the trailer neck may fail.
The risk
Failure of this weld in the neck portion of the trailer could result in instability of the trailer causing a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
McElrath Trailers will notify owners and dealers will install reinforcements to the hitch area of the trailer frame, free of charge. The recall began on May 3, 2018. Owners may contact McElrath Trailers customer service at 1-864-814-2220.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mcelrath Trailers 818I | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | 2017, 2018 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | 2017, 2018 |
Components: STRUCTURE
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 818I | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers 818I | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers 818I | 2015 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers 818I | 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers 818I | 2017 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers 818I | 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | 2018 | 0 | 2 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
| Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | 2018 | 0 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 2018
63 of the 912 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2018 concerned the structure; Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers filed 4 campaigns in all.
| 18V915000 19 Dec 2018 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 18V886000 12 Dec 2018 | Gillig LLC |
| 18V878000 10 Dec 2018 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 18V877000 10 Dec 2018 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 18V849000 29 Nov 2018 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| 18V848000 28 Nov 2018 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 18V825000 21 Nov 2018 | Great Dane Trailers |
| 18V808000 15 Nov 2018 | Wabash National Corporation |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2018