NHTSA Investigation RQ24007

2022-2023 Pratt Container Chassis Trailers

On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ24007), to investigate certain GN30402-EC-6P chassis trailers experiencing mid-beam bending and cracking. The subject chassis trailers were produced by Pratt Industries LLC (Pratt) prior to the December 2021 sale of the company to Pratt Intermodal Chassis (PIC). Trailers produced by PIC are covered by recall 23V767. On April 26, 2024, ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Pratt Industries LLC and PIC. On April 29, 2024, Pratt Industries LLC responded to the IR letter informing ODI that the company had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on April 17, 2024, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 24-bk-10820). On June 6, 2024, PIC responded in full to the IR letter, and included the Asset Purchase Agreement between Pratt and PIC, which indicates that the Seller (Pratt Industries LLC) retains responsibility for the chassis trailers built prior to the December 2021 sale. Because the responsible manufacturer, Pratt Industries LLC, has ceased operations, ODI is closing this investigation. Owners of GN30402-EC-6P chassis trailers built prior to December 2021 should have their trailers professionally inspected. As a guide, inspection and remediation information can be found at https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCONL-23V767-7974.pdf. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does or does not exist in these or any other Pratt Industries LLC chassis trailers. Additionally, the Agency notes that the Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C.A § 30120A states: “A manufacturer’s filing of a petition in bankruptcy under chapter 7 or chapter 11 of title 11 does not negate the manufacturer’s duty to comply with section 30112 or sections 30115 through 30120 of this title,” which include the recall provisions of the Act. The Agency reserves the right to take further action as warranted. To review the ODI report cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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.