NHTSA Investigation PE05023

TRAILER TONGUE BENDING/CRACKING

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON A CONSUMER COMPLAINT WHERE IT WASALLEGED THAT THE A-FRAMEPORTION OF THE TRAILER WAS BENDING AND/OR CRACKING WHILE THE TRAILER WAS BEING TOWED.THEORETICALLY, A TOTAL A-FRAME FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A TRAILER SEPARATION, ALTHOUGH NO SEPARATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. ODI CONTACTED THE COMPLAINANT AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DISCOVERED 17SIMILAR REPORTS.WEEKEND WARRIOR SUGGESTED THE TRAILERS WERE BEING ABUSED DURING OFF ROAD USAGE.SPECIFICALLY, THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT LOAD LEVELING SYSTEMS WERE NOT BEING UNHOOKED UPON LEAVING THE HIGHWAY AND, THEREFORE, THE A-FRAME WAS BEING SUBJECTED TO UNREASONABLE STRESS.ODI BELIEVES IT IS NOT ONLY FORESEEABLE, BUT ALSO REASONABLE, TO EXPECT OWNERS TO LEAVE THE LOAD LEVELING SYSTEM CONNECTEDUNDER THESE SITUATIONS.AFTER REVIEWING DRAWINGS ANDDISCUSSING THE REPORTS WITH WEEKEND WARRIOR, THEY HAVEAGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL THAT WILL PREVENT FUTURE A-FRAME PROBLEMS.WEEKEND WARRIOR WILL REINFORCE(WELD) THE A-ARMS AND INCREASE THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OFTHE SYSTEM FOR ALL MODEL YEAR 2001 - 2002 FS TRAILERS.A COPY OF THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IS ATTACHED.THIS ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.