FORD F-450 2008: TRAILER HITCHES

General Information

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 08V344000

Make Model Year
FORD F-450 2008
Date Owners Notified Date Received by ODI Date Added to Database
2008-08-15 2008-07-28 2008-07-29

Production Dates: 2006-10-23 - 2008-07-15

Manufacturers Involved: Knapheide Manufacturing Company

Component: TRAILER HITCHES

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 108

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

Summary

KNAPHEIDE IS RECALLING 108 MY 2006-2008 PRO SERIES TRUCK BEDS EQUIPPED WITH AN ICC BUMPER WHICH INCLUDED A PROVISION FOR A BALL HITCH. THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT WELD ATTACHING THE HITCH CHANNEL TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN BENDING OF THE HITCH CHANNEL OR THE HITCH COULD BE PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

KNAPHEIDE WILL OFFER TWO REMEDIES TO ITS CUSTOMERS: "1" FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT USE THE HITCH, THE HITCH WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK BED AND REPLACED WITH AN ICC BUMPER; OR "2" FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO NEED A HITCH, A RECEIVER HITCH ASSEMBLY WILL BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING HITCH ASSEMBLY AND ALL SUSPECT WELD JOINTS WILL BE RE WELDED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KNAPHEIDE AT 1-877-473-5763.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 'TTY: 1-800-424-9153'; OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.