The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: DUMP TRAILERS WITH A BOLT-ON PINTLE HITCH MOUNTING PLATE. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE HITCH MOUNTING PLATE LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY.
The risk
FAILURE OF THE MOUNTING PLATE CAN RESULT IN THE REAR TRAILER DISCONNECTING FROM THE LEAD TRAILER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE REAR CROSS MEMBER AND MOUNT THE PINTLE HITCH DIRECTLY TO THE REAR CROSS MEMBER ELIMINATING THE BOLT-ON PINTLE HITCH MOUNTING PLATE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| RED River Trailer | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
Components: TRAILER HITCHES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| RED River Trailer | 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| RED River Trailer | 1993 | 0 | 1 |
| RED River Trailer | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| RED River Trailer | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| RED River Trailer | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| RED River Trailer | 1997 | 2 | 1 |
| RED River Trailer | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 1998
4 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the trailer hitches.
| 98V283000 5 Nov 1998 | GULF STREAM COACH INC. |
| 98V159000 15 Jul 1998 | FONTAINE TRAILER |
| 98V034000 25 Feb 1998 | EAST MANUFACTURING CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998