ZIEMAN D2 1979: TRAILER HITCHES

General Information

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 80V005000

Make Model Year
ZIEMAN D2 1979
Date Owners Notified Date Received by ODI Date Added to Database
1980-09-03 1980-01-22 1980-03-06

Production Dates: 1979-02-01 - 1980-01-01

Manufacturers Involved: MANSFIELD TIRE & RUBBER C

Component: TRAILER HITCHES

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 30

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

Summary

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.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.

Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRAILERS.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; SURGE BRAKE HITCH COUPLER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE SAFETY CHAINS BREAK, THE TRAILER WOULD ROLL FREEAND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PARTIAL SEPARATION COULD ALSO CAUSE LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.