The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS THAT ARE STAMPED WITH "T16X16K DOT 0496 RUDEVECA." THE WHEEL CENTER TO RIM WELDS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING THE RIM TO BREAK LOOSE FROM THE WHEEL CENTER.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE TRAILER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ditch Witch S5A | 1996, 1997 |
| Ditch Witch S5A1 | 1996, 1997 |
| Ditch Witch S5A2 | 1996, 1997 |
| Ditch Witch T12AE | 1996, 1997 |
| Ditch Witch T14AE | 1996, 1997 |
| Ditch Witch T14AH | 1996, 1997 |
| Ditch Witch T14AJT | 1996, 1997 |
Components: WHEELS:RIM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ditch Witch S5A | 1996 | 0 | 3 |
| Ditch Witch S5A | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Ditch Witch S5A1 | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch S5A1 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch S5A2 | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch S5A2 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch T12AE | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch T12AE | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch T14AE | 1996 | 0 | 3 |
| Ditch Witch T14AE | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Ditch Witch T14AH | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch T14AH | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Ditch Witch T14AJT | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| Ditch Witch T14AJT | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
Other wheels recalls in 1998
19 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the wheels; CHARLES MACHINE WORKS INC filed 9 campaigns in all.
| 98V120011 7 Dec 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V277000 4 Nov 1998 | GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC. |
| 98V248000 7 Oct 1998 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 98V193000 17 Aug 1998 | ELDORADO NATIONAL |
| 98V120012 10 Aug 1998 | TRAIL KING |
| 98V120010 7 Aug 1998 | BOYDSTUN |
| 98V120009 5 Aug 1998 | TALBERT MANUFACTURING, INC. |
| 98V120006 23 Jul 1998 | WALKER EQUIPMENT |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998