RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 85V173000: TRAILER HITCHES

AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO. · Reported to NHTSA Dec 26, 1985

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Units potentially affectedThe manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles or items of equipment may contain the defect. It is not a count of failures, and not every unit in the range is necessarily affected.
500
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
2
Models covered
1
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Dec 26, 1985
Production Jan 1, 1984 – Apr 1, 1985

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

The risk

THESE CRACKS EVENTUALLY INCREASE AND FATIGUE THE TONGUE MOUNT TO THE POINT WHERE THE TRAILER COULD BREAK AWAY FROM THE CAR AND ROLL UNCONTROLLABLY ON THE HIGHWAY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

The remedy

REINFORCEMENT ANGLE PLATES WILL BE WELDED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE TONGUE MOUNT AND ANY OF THE POTENTIAL CRACK AREAS WHICH HAVE CRACKS WILL BE REWELDED.

Notes

SYSTEM: FRAME/STRUCTURE.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CAR TRAILER. DESCRIPTIONOF DEFECT: THE TONGUE MOUNT WELDS AT THE MAIN POINT OF ATTACHMENTTO THE TRAILER CRACKS DUE TO UNEXPECTED STRESSES.

A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.

Campaign details

Identifiers and dates as filed with NHTSA

Manufacturer
AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO.
Manufacturer's campaign number
Not recorded
NHTSA campaign number
85V173000
Units potentially affected
500
Report received
Dec 26, 1985
Production range
Jan 1, 1984 – Apr 1, 1985
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
Not recorded

Vehicles covered

2 model years across 1 model

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.