| NHTSA Campaign Number: |
00V408000 |
| Vehicle/Equipment Make: |
FEATHERLITE |
| Vehicle/Equipment Model: |
4950 |
| Model Year: |
1997 |
| Manufacturer Campaign Number: |
|
| Manufacturer Component Description: |
TRAILER HITCHES |
| Manufacturers Involved in Recall: |
FEATHERLITE, INC. |
| Manufacturered: |
19970220 - 20000227 |
| Type of Report: |
V (Vehicle, Equipment or Tire) |
| Potential Number of Units Affected: |
90 |
| Date Owner Notified By Manufacturer: |
20001220 |
| Recall Initiated By: |
20001220 |
| Manufacturer Responsible For Recall: |
FEATHERLITE, INC. |
| Report Received Date: |
20001205 |
| Record Creation Date: |
20001212 |
| Regulation Part Number: |
|
| Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number: |
|
| Defect Summary: |
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DOTSCO COUPLERS AND SAFETY CHAIN/FASTENER ASSEMBLIES. THE COUPLER LOCKING PIN THAT ENSURES THAT THE COUPLER REMAINS LOCKED CAN BE MISPLACED AND NOT INSTALLED BY THE OPERATOR. THE COUPLER LOCKING PIN ALSO HAD A SAFETY PIN, WHICH COULD BE MISPLACED OR COME LOOSE AND FALL OUT. |
| Consequence Summary: |
SHOULD EITHER SITUATION HAPPEN, THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE COUPLER CAN MOVE UPWARD THUS ALLOWING THE LOCKING JAWS OF THE COUPLER TO OPEN ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE COUPLER TO RELEASE FROM THE BALL ON THE TOW VEHICLE. THE SAFETY CHAIN ASSEMBLIES MAY ALSO HAVE AN INADEQUATE FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE SAFETY CHAIN TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER IN THE EVENT THE TRAILER BECOMES UNCOUPLED, ALLOWING THE SAFETY CHAIN TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER. |
| Corrective Summary: |
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COUPLER AND SAFETY CHAIN/FASTENER KIT TO THESE TRAILERS. |
