The defect
THE DEFECT IS DUE TO A DESIGN ERROR IN THE COUPLING SYSTEM OF THE TRAILER AND TOWING VEHICLE. IN NORMAL OPERATION, THE SURGE BRAKE HITCH COUPLER ACTIVATES THE TRAILER BRAKES AS THE TOWING VEHICLE DECELERATES. A TRANSVERSE PIN, LOCATED IN THE REAR PART OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR, MAY PULL OUT OF THE FIXED EARS AT ITS EXTREME ENDS. THIS WOULD ALLOW TRAILER SEPARATION, EXCEPT FOR THE SAFETY CHAINS.
The remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|
Components: TRAILER HITCHES
Other trailer hitches recalls in 1980
4 of the 167 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1980 concerned the trailer hitches; ZIEMAN MFG. CO. filed 3 campaigns in all.
| 80V114000 2 Sept 1980 | AM GENERAL CORPORATION |
| 80V056000 8 May 1980 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 80V031000 21 Mar 1980 | FREIGHTLINER CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1980