FREIGHTLINER UNSPECIFIED 1981: TRAILER HITCHES

General Information

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 81V099000

Make Model Year
FREIGHTLINER UNSPECIFIED 1981
Date Owners Notified Date Received by ODI Date Added to Database
1983-07-07 1981-08-25 1981-08-27

Production Dates: 1979-09-01 - 1981-05-01

Manufacturers Involved: FREIGHTLINER LLC

Component: TRAILER HITCHES

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 70

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

Summary

THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE PORTION OF THE TOWING ATTACHMENT MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE WELD IN A CRITICAL AREA. IF THE TRAILER HITCH SHOULD BECOME UNLATCHED OR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER TO BECOME SEPARATED, THE RESULTING FORCES COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE. A FAILURE OF THIS PART WOULD ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE TRUCK AND TRAILER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

UPON SEPARATION, THE TRAILER WOULD TRAVEL OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM COULD BRING IT TO A STOP. A VEHICLE ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE.

Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS WITH TOW HITCH.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; SAFETY CHAIN BALE.