Freightliner Recall 81V099000: Trailer Hitches

NHTSA recall 81V099000 · announced August 25, 1981 · filed by Freightliner Corp. · 70 units affected

The problem

THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE PORTION OF THE TOWING ATTACHMENT MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE WELD IN A CRITICAL AREA. IF THE TRAILER HITCH SHOULD BECOME UNLATCHED OR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER TO BECOME SEPARATED, THE RESULTING FORCES COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE. A FAILURE OF THIS PART WOULD ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE TRUCK AND TRAILER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

What to do

UPON SEPARATION, THE TRAILER WOULD TRAVEL OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM COULD BRING IT TO A STOP. A VEHICLE ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE.

Official NHTSA recall notice →

Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS WITH TOW HITCH.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; SAFETY CHAIN BALE.

Vehicles covered by this recall

• 1979 Freightliner Freightliner
• 1980 Freightliner Freightliner
• 1981 Freightliner Freightliner

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