Recall 80E010000: Trailer Hitches

NHTSA recall 80E010000 · announced May 16, 1980 · Fulton · 58,610 units affected

The problem

THE COUPLERS OR REPAIR KITS IN QUESTION WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A NUT WHICH MAY BE CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CRACKED NUT COMES LOOSE, THE COUPLER MAY SEPARATE FROM THE BALL OF THE TOWING VEHICLE. THE TRAILER WOULD THEN BE ATTACHED TO THE TOWING VEHICLE ONLY BY THE SAFETY CHAINS.

What to do

OWNER IS INSTRUCTED TO VISUALLY INSPECT NUTS, REPAIR KITS, AND/OR ASSEMBLED COUPLERS TO LOCATE AND REMOVE ANY CRACKED NUTS. MANUFACTURER WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT NUTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Official NHTSA recall notice →

Notes

VEHICLE CATEGORY: TRAILERS.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; COUPLERS AND COUPLER REPAIR KITS; FULTON, PART NOS. 11-200THROUGH 11-305, 22-200 THROUGH 22-300, 58-0101 THROUGH 59-0101.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: A TRAILER ATTACHED ONLY BY THE SAFETY CHAINS MAY CAUSELOSS OF CONTROL OF THE TOWING VEHICLE. IF THE SAFETY CHAINS BREAK, TRAILERWOULD SEPARATE AND RUN OUT OF CONTROL. IN EITHER CASE AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal, medical, or repair advice.