NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE11012
Preliminary Evaluation · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC · TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
Fontaine Ultra LT 5th Wheel False Latch
DTNA submitted a 573 Recall notice (11V-289) prior to the IR response date and therefore was granted permission to forgo submission of the IR response.Freightliner reported that Fontaine's TSB issued in March had resulted in the remedy of 55 percent of all subject vehicles with an additional 33% scheduled by the time of their 573 submission.Freightliner will issue another notification 1 July if 100% of the subject population is not remedied by that time.ODI is aware that the Ultra LT 5th wheel was also installed on several other OEM's vehicles.ODI will work with Fontaine and the manufacturers to ensure that the remaining vehicles are identified and remedied.
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.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- PE11012
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Component
- TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
- Opened
- Apr 15, 2011
- Closed
- Jun 27, 2011
- Associated recall campaign
- 11V289000
Vehicles named in this investigation
4 model years across 3 models
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.